Interview with a 9-year old about music sharing, digital rights, etc. Link via Kottke.org:

Q: When you started using LimeWire, did anyone ever mention that if you did certain things you might be breaking some laws?

A: Why would they put it [music] on the internet and invent mp3 players if it was against the law?

Q: Do you think its legal or illegal to copy a CD or DVD?

A: Some men right, they sell you a DVD at the market but when you get home it doesn’t play, that’s illegal.

Q: Why is it illegal?

A: Duh!! Because they tell you it works and when you get it home it’s rubbish and jumps in the middle and its a waste of money!

Q: Do you think you should be paying for stuff off LimeWire? You have to buy CD’s from the shop…

A: You have to pay for CD’s because they’re actually on a disc not on the computer. My cousin, right, she uses LimeWire when she doesn’t have any money for CDs.

If you want to understand consumers, ask them. If you want to understand where the music industry is going in 10-20 years, ask 10 year olds.

We’re not asking because we want to know what they want (giving consumers what they say they want is in general a bad pillar for a sustainable business; instead, give them what they have not thought of yet but will want and need).

We’re asking them because they are the ones that will create the path for the music / photography / Internet industries. If we (those of us older than 10) can combine their viewpoints with our ability to interpret and create today, we can set the base for our survival tomorrow.