It's actually simple: Think Distribution Channels! Let me put it a different way closer to home - In order to make this a fair comparison let's say you live in a world where by-in-large distribution channels have agreements with X to sell for a fee a product to Z let's call these distribution channels Y so (X -->Y -->Z) = X is the creator, Y is the authorized distributor and Z is the consumer.

Now, let's consider the economics of the same situation (money flow) (Z --pays-->Y ---pays-->X). Being that this is the defacto standard for distribution I think that you can answer this question for your self.

If stores sell meat and consumers buy meat for their families from stores. Would you except meat from a man who *freely offers it* from the trunk of his car? (I get the impression that this would make most people suspicious.)

How is a person to know.

Is it possible that the man selling the meat from his car is an authorized distributor of the content? (sure it's possible.)

Is it possible that this man is an unauthorized distributor of meat?
(highly-probable!)

Now, as a parent who I assume is concerned about your child violating the copyrights of some unknown entity. To use my previous example; "if your children are getting meat from the man who is *giving it away* from the trunk of his car.* I'll leave it up to you as a parent to make the value jugement in this.

There are established distribution channels for these things which include: (Purchasing CDs) from authorized sources for your children. (Signing up and paying a fee for services) which allows access to digital music.

"How do I expain that it is legal to hear a song played on a radio?"

Remember the formula (X ---> Y ---> Z) in the case of radio Y licenses the products from X for a fee Y = radio station attempts to build a subscriber base by offering Xs content. Y makes money from companies who wish to gain access to Ys subscriber base to pitch Ads.

a. X gets money from Y
b. Y broadcasts Xs content to Z
c. Y gets money from C = Companies wishing to push ads to Ys customer base.
d. C gets money from Z who purchases products and services based on those Ads

Don't you just love capitalism!

Hope this helps to clarify things.

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