Is it OK to Share Music?

You wouldn't steal a mobile.
You wouldn't steal a car, handbag etc.
You wouldn't leave a shop without paying for a CD. I hope.

But.....

Many of you probably share files on the internet, such as music and films, that are subject to copyright laws. Copyright gives the creator of a piece the right to say how it is distributed, broadcasted, copied and modified. So, sharing files over the internet that are protected by copyright is technically theft as the work has not been paid for.

A woman has been fined $200,000 US dollars for shraing files:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article3033364.ece

Apparently, it could haapen here too:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3395161.stm

Do you think file sharing is theft? Why?
Should people be prosecuted for sharing files that are copywritten?
Have you shared protected files? Would you feel guilty about doing so?
Why do people share files?
How could the industry prevent copyright infringement?

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