This week the IRgA releases its latest report "Digital Services and the Reprographer," in which we were honored to collaborate with companies from across the industry. In the report, we are quoted comparing the music industry with the reprographics industry.
“From a digital management perspective, the reprographics industry is experiencing what the music industry faced a few years ago with Napster. Products and services flow freely in a confusing marketplace waiting for someone to establish a trusted portal like iTunes. Whoever can offer an easy-to-use, customizable, hip and community solution will dominate the marketplace.”
Last week, our IRgA friends from Plan Express endorse the report and responded by sending out a plea to the industry that "free downloads to customers (are) a major threat to the viablity of our industry."We have long agreed, (REPROTRENDS 12.30.06)and believe our industry is still struggling with adjusting to current market trends. Plan Express further adds that they believed that free download's were "just as great a threat to our industry as “Napster” and “Kazaa” were not too long ago."
As you know, the music industry responded aggressively and effectively to “file sharing” systems, and we believe that offering “free downloads” to customers is a major threat to the viability of our industry. (Plan Express)
It' great to see that more companies are beginning to see the future and are reacting with conviction and clarity.