Thoms E. Weber weighs in on the entertainment biz's efforts to put a lock on all digital content (in their favor, of course):

Record companies should compete for music fans' loyalty

The entertainment industry would have you -- or Congress, at least -- believe that the situation proves how desperate things have become. That's why Hollywood pushes for misguided legislation to mandate copy-protection technology for PCs. (Visit www.digitalconsumer.org for more information.) There's no other way, entertainment executives argue, to ensure copyright owners get paid.

But they're wrong. Even as songs fly back and forth across the Internet, the current situation actually shows why the entertainment industry needs nothing more than the will to compete. Here's why.

It's all about persuading the average user. ...