I can't believe you all missed the Steve's point. Control freaks the lot of you.

Steve rightly views copying and giving CDs as a form of marketing -- and he doesn't have to pay for it. As a result he loses the sale of a CD he wasn't going to get anyway and gains some fans who buy tickets for shows and CDs.

Copyright is all about control and zip about maximising your income. In the end it is only an appearance of control because very few have the resources to enforce it. Continue living in your controlled little cell if you like, but you'll make more money and spread your music wider taking Steve's approach.

Embrace freedom and Creative commons. Down with stifling, straight laced 20th century, strict copyright.