Musicians Oppose Anti-Piracy Measures In the UK 150
BluePeppers writes "The Guardian has a story, primarily about a deal that allows YouTube to broadcast music videos again, but also covering a coalition of artist unions that are opposing new legislation in the UK that would punish file sharers more severely. From the article: 'A coalition of bodies representing a range of stars including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, and Damon Albarn attacks the proposals as expensive, illogical and "extraordinarily negative." The Featured Artists Coalition, the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, and the Music Producers Guild have joined forces to oppose the proposals to reintroduce the threat of disconnection for persistent file sharers, which was ruled out in the government's Digital Britain report in June.""
We are doing it for the artists (Score:5, Funny)
I can see the Today Programme interview with the PRS (UK RIAA) now
John Humphries (you have NOTHING like him in the US): So you want people kicked off the internet for downloading copyrighted material. Why?
PRS: Because copyright theft is simply theft and its illegal and people should be punished accordingly
JH: But the government says that broadband access is becoming an essential tool in modern society, aren't your punishments a bit draconian?
PRS: John, These people are stealing literally billions from artists, its a massive industry in the UK that makes a lot of money for this country and these people are ruining it
JH: So this is about the artists? Not the publishing companies?
PRS: Absolutely John, these downloaders are just stealing from artists and if this continues there will be no more artists
JH: If that is the case why do three of the most successful artists in this country's history oppose your plans?
PRS: Errrr
JH: I mean if it really was about the artists then surely these people would be all for it. Or is it just about publishing companies that can't be bothered to handle a changing world and just want to dig their heels in and get fat from the restrictive contracts and stifling processes that have got them into this mess?
PRS: Errrr
JH: Lets face it you don't care about the artists, you just care about the money and more importantly you care about making money without having to change the way you work. Lots of companies have led the way in legal digital music but the publishing companies have not been amongst them. Isn't this just about old fashioned companies who can't change moaning about new technology and asking the government to bail them out
PRS: Errrr
JH: And now for the weather
Re:I love British humor (Score:4, Funny)
Blame Mandelson
That's Sith Lord Mandelson to you, peasant!
Re:Advertising (Score:1, Funny)
Didn't realize MTV was still airing music videos. I thought it was all BS reality shows and "parents trying to set their kids up with other kids" shows. I must be missing something BIG.
Re:I love British humor (Score:4, Funny)
organisations almost, but not quite, entirely unlike the MPAA
Fixed that for you.
Re:Good stuff... (Score:5, Funny)
PRS is the Performing Rights Society; the UK equivalent of the RIAA is the BPI. The PRS is more like ASCAP.
Score: 5, Acronym Overload
Re:I love British humor (Score:2, Funny)
The joys of NuLabour - Darling get promoted for being incompetant, Mandelson gets promoted for being corrupt.
Star Trek Triple? (Score:3, Funny)
Why does that list of people sound like the old Star Trek Triple?
"Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, and Damon Albarn"
sounds like:
"Jefferson, Lincoln, Alzaroth of Seti Alpha 6"