RIAA Now Targeting Retailers 490
merodach writes "According to this story on Headlinenews.com the RIAA is now targeting retailers in it's 'war on piracy.' I think everyone will agree this is something that should be done if the retailer is deliberately pirating. The thing I wonder about in hearing this news is how many of the retailers include used copy stores. With the way the RIAA and some artists *cough*Garth Brooks*cough* have labeled these stores as pirates and theives in the past it seems likely they would be the biggest targets. Have any in the /. crowd actually seen one of the letters sent or know how many of the targeted businesses are used stores? Further - how would the RIAA know how much to demand in 'settlement fees' and is it possible these are being used to shut down the mom-and-pop outfits that trade in used CDs?"
CNN tradition of misinformation continues (Score:4, Insightful)
Don't forget duplicity! (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Don't forget duplicity! (Score:5, Informative)
CNN reported that there were 421 burners involved. CNN was wrong. There were 156.
The RIAA's press release used "new accounting math" to turn the 156 actual units into the equal of 421 units of "normal speed" drives, whatever speed the RIAA felt like was normal. CNN took the funny number and reported it with standard units, therefore making the public thinking the operation was close to triple the size it really was.
Re:Don't forget duplicity! (Score:5, Funny)
So let CNN know they're WRONG... (Score:3, Insightful)
Here's a thought:
People should e-mail CNN [cnn.com] or Associated Press [mailto] about their shoddy article [cnn.com] and let them know we prefer reading news reports from people who can regurgitate press releases accurately?
Good catch (Score:5, Insightful)
Don't get me wrong, I can't stand lazy journalists. Some simply copy press releases into their stories. It is galling when you catch them at it. As soon as you have some expertise in an area, or even read enough, news that previously looked credible falls apart.
That's a reason to be very distrustful of reporting on legal proceedings. It is so easy to blow the details, especially if you're being lobbied by one side or the other and not trying to hard in the first place. Making deadline becomes everything.
There are some great reporters, learn their names, follow them if they change employment. Linda Greenhouse at the Times is a superb legal reporter, and a very good writer for everyone. Here [nytimes.com] is her 12/11/02 report on a free speech and cross burning case (this has more in common with the DMCA than you might think!).
Re:Watch FOX instead. (Score:2)
CNN wasn't wrong, the AP was. Given, CNN didn't recheck the facts, but unless the original article was done by a CNN reporter who is a member of the AP, then it's not quite the same.
Fox link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,73219,00.html [foxnews.com]
CNN link: http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/17/music
up next - shrink wrap licenses for CD's... (Score:4, Funny)
you have bought the new Britney Spears CD...congratulations on your excellent choice and fine musical selection...
LEGALESE: - This CD may not be resold or reproduced in any matter...opening this CD certifies that you agree to this stipulation.
----
and the legal warning will be on the inside of the CD...bastards..
on the bright side, that should galvanize mainstream support against them...maybe only a small percentage download mp3's, but I'm willing to be a higher proportion of people use used mom and pop shops....if for no other reason then to acquire out of print material...shut those down and America will maybe open their eyes...
of course...they do buy Britney Spears...how smart can they be...
RB
My solution (Score:5, Funny)
2)Sell the original with a copy CD with the tracks in mp3/ogg/whatever as a backup/digital medium copy.
3)Shovel millions to lawyers.
4)Counter sue for violating fair use.
5)After losing every court battle give up and bitch about it on slashdot.
Re:up next - shrink wrap licenses for CD's... (Score:2)
Re:up next - shrink wrap licenses for CD's... (Score:2)
Re:up next - shrink wrap licenses for CD's... (Score:4, Informative)
The courts ruled, to simplify, that the normal terms of copyright were more powerful than the attempted contract. The purchase of a book (or in your example, a CD) is a copyright transactions, and is subject to the rules of copyright.
So does this mean we have nothing to fear? No, here is what they can do instead. They create a CD with some type of limit against reproduction and/or resale (I don't quite know how they would do the last, perhaps burn a computer system ID onto the disc). The protection does not have to be foolproof, just good enough to meet the legal definition of "effective".
Once they have done that, it would be illegal (thanks to the DMCA) for you to circumvent the protection. That is precisely why the companies want to push "copy protected" CDs, because it allows them to use the full force of the DMCA to limit your actions and presumably make them more money (by giving them more power).
Only fair... (Score:3, Funny)
Well, that's only fair. I mean, it's pretty obvious they've lost their own...
Used CD/DVD stores in Chicago (Score:5, Informative)
Anyone have details about this? I can't find anything on google. Who is the "they?" Is this Illinois law, or Chicago or Cook County? Is this even true that I would have to have my photo and SSN taken when I buy a used DVD? Are the RIAA and MPAA behind this? What the hell is going on?
Re:Used CD/DVD stores in Chicago (Score:5, Insightful)
The intent is to dissuade CD stores from purchasing 200 CDs from an unknown source who "just happens to decide he doesn't like any of his collection anymore," as well as to stop thieves from getting rid of CDs in this manner.
Some friends of mine had their house broken into and lost bunches of CDs and stereo equipment. The cops had a list of the stolen CDs which matched up nearly identically with a bunch of newly acquired CDs at a used CD store. The thief was caught because the store kept records of who they purchased CDs from.
I haven't seen this Chicago law, though, so I could be blowing smoke...
Re:Used CD/DVD stores in Chicago (Score:3, Informative)
The short answer to the part about the SSN is probably not. As this site [cpsr.org] points out, there are specific restrictions on the use of the Social Security Number, and you generally don't need to give it. From the site:
"In addition, that section makes it illegal for Federal, state, and local government agencies to deny any rights, privileges or benefits to individuals who refuse to provide their SSNs unless the disclosure is required by Federal statute, or the disclosure is to an agency for use in a record system which required the SSN before 1975. ( 5 USC 552a note)."
More than likely, when they're talking about "personally identifiable information", they're talking about simple things like name, address, telephone number. Basically, they want to be able to find the person should there be a problem with the sale at a later date. I personally don't see where they have any right to require this, but unless you have the funds to fight it in court, chances are you have little choice.
Welcome to the land of the free, now please step this way so we can get your name, address, telephone number, date of birth, social security number, current occupation, annual income, political allegiances, place of origin, ethnicity, financial history, medical history, criminal history, political beliefs, religious beliefs, shopping habits, list of friends and aquantences, sexual preferences, and a list of books you like to read. In addition, we would also ask that you be fingerprinted, submit to a retinal scan and a polygraph, give a blood sample, hair sample, handwriting sample, urine sample, and wear this GPS-enabled chip under the skin of your left arm after we stamp your barcode there.
Re:Used CD/DVD stores in Chicago (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Used CD/DVD stores in Chicago (Score:4, Informative)
So I'm guessing that the law in Chicago (if there really is such a law) has more to do with burglary than with IP violations. Aren't Pawn shops required to keep similar logs?
When I lived in Chgo... (Score:3, Interesting)
Who is "they"? I thought it was by local ordinance, the city of Chicago, maybe Cook County. You can find out from an affected merchant or City Hall. They *might* be online.
Oh hey, I'm right [chi.il.us]. Check for more news on this, especially challenges anyone has raised.
Anyway, extending a pawn shop reg to used DVD stores is not much of a stretch, so perhaps this is the City again. It sounds legal and reasonable under the City's police powers but, again, intrusive. Although the basic idea is OK, I imagine the fight would go to just how much information is collected. The details are critical. Don't forget to contact your aldermen and the mayor's office if you need to.
Re:Used CD/DVD stores in Chicago (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Used CD/DVD stores in Chicago (Score:4, Interesting)
In the US, it's illegal for the government to ask you for this information without a law stating they can, and they have to explain to you why they need it and quote the law authorizing it.
None of this applies to the private world. A company is perfectly within their rights to ask you for your SSN as part of a transaction.
But you're also perfectly within your rights to refuse. In many cases, it just means escellating to a manager to see why they'd need something like your SSN, and whether they could use something else instead. In other cases, it means walking out and taking your business elsewhere.
Sometimes they just want a unique ID number and aren't smart enough to come up with something better than your SSN, and the clerks just don't know any better.
Re:Colleges (Score:2, Interesting)
They certainly do. I worked with applications records once, and the SSN is certainly in there. It's not mandatory - people can choose to not give it, although I don't know if we advertised this. We had lots of international applications which didn't have SSNs. We would just make up a number for these people, and for anyone in the US that didn't want to give out their SSN.
Note that you have to give out your SSN when applying for federal student aid, but that's usually a separate thing....
Re:Used CD/DVD stores in Chicago (Score:2)
Some states use the SSN as your driver license number (VA does).
A few years back they began giving us the option to use a non-SSN serial number instead. I jumped right on that, but I'm not sure how hard they work to make licensees aware of the option.
hmm (Score:4, Insightful)
Call me a cynic, but this is a handy opportunity to:
It's about time! (Score:3, Insightful)
Back-in-the-day it would torque me to no end buying discount tapes (cassett thank you) in retail stores, only to open them and find they were obvious, cheep bootlegs even before playing them twice before breaking.
Wait? (Score:5, Interesting)
Now, if I remember correctly, 90% of record companies belong to the RIAA. What about the 10%? what gives the RIAA the right to pretend to represent that last 10%?
Re:Wait? (Score:2)
Are you implying that it's any different at $MEGACHAINSTORE? If I walk into BestBuy and get some CD, all I own is a plastic and aluminum disc (plus CD art). If it were otherwise, I could legally replace the CDs I damage for a pittance.
WalMart (Score:4, Interesting)
It took a while (and I had to go pretty far up the chain of command) to assure them that Congress never wrote "All businesses have to give refunds/returns except WalMart" in the DMCA.
Something to be on the look-out for.
Re:WalMart (Score:2, Informative)
Re:WalMart (Score:3, Insightful)
If you buy a CD, you know that you are paying $17 for the 2 hits on it. The other 10~12 songs are just fluf. If you don't like it, don't buy music.
If you buy software, the requirements are listed on the box. If you decide that the game wasn't worth it (Diakatana), too bad. You should have waited for the review before you bought the game.
Basicly, it is too easy for anyone to buy a CD or a game, make a copy, and then return the original. There is no real way for a retailer to demand integrity from the customer. And a few bad customers will eat away at the profit margin till the companies you love are no longer able to produce products you value.
I think this is why DRM will prevail. When the RIAA has the music locked down, then you can return a crap CD just because it was crap. When palladium has software locked down, you can return a game just because it crashes. Until then, the retailer will continue to think you are a thief.
Re:WalMart (Score:3, Insightful)
Just remember that DRM isn't about the consumer at all. In fact, it's barely even about people. It's about large corporations demanding too much money for shitty music.
Re:WalMart (Score:4, Informative)
There is a lot of hype that gets thrown our way to purchase particular music and software titles. The marketing drones try everything to convince us that something is great and that we must buy it. I say then that they should stand behind their product and offer a refund if it truly doesn't live up to your expectation. Would this get abused by some? Sure. Do I care? Not really. If they want my money then they can earn it.
Re:WalMart (Score:2)
In general your comment is a bit too consumer hostile for me to buy into. I think the retail market will be better off if they concentrate more on what keeps their customers happy and coming back. If you see the same slob returning with disk after disk that's another matter..... they're not a customer
Re:WalMart (Score:2, Insightful)
I don't. I also don't pirate music. Conincidentally, since I stopped, music sales have dropped (no, I don't buy that much music). I now hear the RIAA saying that the drop in sales is due to pirating. Uh huh. How about the economy? Payola and the lack of good, diverse music? Lack of choice, i.e. genres, musicians? The high cost of a CD? I easily about about 20 CDs every 3 months; not much, but still more than probably is typical over the total US population, including your grandmother. Now I buy zero. Zilch. Nada.
Their business model sucks. Their campaign of bitching at the consumer sucks. Now they are taking it to the retailer. Guess what? They're going to hear from the consumer. It's going to be the slamming of their wallets shut. Why would I dare dish out $15 for a CD on the off chance that it's defective, sucks, or outlandish? I won't. Consumers won't. Or if they do, they will seek out, however slowly, retailers who do accept returns.
"There is no real way for a retailer to demand integrity from the customer."
If they think that way, that person you call a customer is nothing more to them than a consumer.
That is why sales are also known as transactions, a sale or exchange, be goods for money, goods for goods, or some other. Integrity is IN the exchange. If you as the retailer sells a good, I hope you take money. I as a customer expect you to sell me a quality and as stated product. If you don't accept returns, I don't do business with you.
You want that right and don't accept returns, fine. I won't buy from you. I hear you whining that sales are slow, don't blame me. That's YOUR fault. If Walmart doesn't accept returns of DVDs or CDs, I will never, ever buy from Walmart a DVD or CD.
For example, Buy.com for awhile didn't do DVD exchanges; when I found out, I stopped buying DVDs from them. They changed their policy (maybe they changed it back again) and I return for exchange 2 DVDs that had problems (cracked case on one, bad press or something on the other).
I also question how come your right to make a dollar does not supersede my right to return merchandise which was obtained from a government (usually state in the US) licensed business. A store may be a private venture, but it also has to abide by public rules. If you reject returns and become a scrooge, don't be surprised if people buy less.
The RIAA is learning that if they don't adapt, they are going to get burned. Let them go after retailers. People will just stop buying music and spend their money elsewhere.
"When palladium has software locked down, you can return a game just because it crashes."
Foolish one. What if the EULA states you can't? What are you going to do then? You just dished out $44.99 + tax for the game. Darn. You're going to eat the cost. Cost of being a consumer while pretending you're a customer, after all.
Although you are right in the sense that DRM technology is a problem. I look at DRM like tax laws--it introduces a host of problem, feeds a big money sucking organization, and propels forward a set of experts a la professionals that earn big bucks themselves to figure it all out. The common person is such an idiot and such sheep.
I used to buy cd's (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:I used to buy cd's (Score:3, Informative)
However, be aware that it's not totally unlimited now. There are a number of posts on CNET from customers who have had their accounts terminated after downloading too much in too short a time, and when I asked (quite politely) their customer service department about this, I got a response back that started:
"Although EMusic is an 'unlimited' service, there have to be some restrictions on this policy. EMusic is similar to a buffet advertised as 'all you can eat.' For the restaurant to be successful, it has to have reasonable limitations that apply to people that stay too long, eat more than their fair share -- or waste food."
So their definition of unlimited means unlimited up until a limit. They claim in their e-mail that it's "more than 2,000 tracks in a 30-day period", I haven't personally tested this myself.
At least in the time since I got their e-mail (November 23rd), they've changed the "Unlimited" on their webpage to say "Unlimited*".
Re:I used to buy cd's (Score:3, Interesting)
1. Ask to talk to the manager of the store. Explain the CD won't play. Get another one to replace it. If it will not play, ask for another one. Continue until either they give you your money back or you get one which will play.
2. If the manager won't do #1, then call the district office. Nothing makes a manager more willing to bend over backwards than to have someone higher up telling him to kiss your...er...feet.
3. If #2 doesn't work, then call the state office.
4. If #3 doesn't work, call the regional office.
5. If #4 doesn't work, call the national office.
6. By this time you should already either have your money back or five or six CDs as they try to appease you.
7. If #6 hasn't happened, then write a letter to the president of the corporation care of their national office. Presidents do NOT like to be disturbed by peasants....er customers and, truth to tell, I've never had to go past this point.
8. However! IANAL says: "Because CDs are sold shrinkwrapped they can not be listened to (in most major stores) before they are purchased and thus fall under the auspices of state and federal laws which guarantee that, if you are not satisfied with your purchase, you may return it." This is where the big controversy comes from. People are buying CDs and games, copying them, and then returning them for a refund. That isn't right. Either buy it and live with the outrageous costs or boycott it and live without the CD/game. Anything else is illegal. (And yeah - I know - second hand games, CDs, etc....blah blah blah. I'm talking about first time purchases at a store. Not over the internet, from your neighbor's dog, or whatever.)
There is no such thing as "You can't have your money back" in retail. My mom used to work for Montgomery Wards - ladies underwear. People would bring back underwear they'd worn for the past ten years and ask for brand new replacements! One lady only had the elastic left. The cloth had rotted away. Doesn't that strike you as going a bit overboard on the "Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back?" I do and I've never worked for Montgomery Wards.
There is no mention of 'used' anywhere (Score:5, Insightful)
RTFA first.
I think it's good they turn to something they can actually enforce. It's much easier to walk into Bob's Illegal CDs and bust the poor Bob than some dynamically assigned IP of a poor script kiddy.
[sarcastick grin]Go RIAA[/sarcastic grin]
Re:There is no mention of 'used' anywhere (Score:3, Interesting)
Honestly have you ever been to a retail store which deals in pirated CDs? Is this really a problem in Amerika today? If I was a retailer who had to make rent and keep customers happy I'd probably find it easier to play by the rules and sell legit stock. The ONLY place I have ever seen pirated software for open sale was on the streets on NYC. I find it hard to believe that the problem is as widespread as it is being portrayed by the RIAA.
And while I'm on the topic the notion that used CDs are a "pirate market" because the license only applies to the first sale is insane and hypocritical. If all they are is alumiminum disks (completely unconnected to the license agreement) then I should be able to copy/transmit/backup the physical media at will and there should be a mechanism for me to sell my legally purchased license. Possesion is 9/10 of the law.
alex
Re:There is no mention of 'used' anywhere (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:There is no mention of 'used' anywhere (Score:3, Informative)
and to answer you question, I've been in used cd shops in every major city in Florida & have never seen non-legit CD for sale.
Jaysyn
Re:There is no mention of 'used' anywhere (Score:3, Informative)
Re:There is no mention of 'used' anywhere (Score:2)
(I mean, duh, which one will generate more kneejerk response?)
So the choice is clear. "used" is the right word.
Please... (Score:4, Insightful)
wild speculation from the source (Score:2)
Counterfeit CDs sold across the United States cost music companies $300 million a year, the RIAA said. The numbers are increasing as the equipment to make counterfeit copies becomes cheaper and smaller, according to industry statistics.
"This new initiative should serve as a clarion call for retail outlets of all shapes and sizes that we take music piracy seriously, and they need to get their house in order," said Hilary Rosen, the association's chief executive officer. "No one should think they operate below the radar anymore."
Where the hell did they get that 300,000,000 from? Did they send a knowlegable person into a reasonable statistical sampling of the world's gasoline stations, compile lists of pirated songs, and present the evidence? Or did Hilary stop into a gas station on the way back from Vegas and notice a bunch of CDs she could not recognize? Sorry, I don't buy the number or RIAA's ability to distinguish between a legitimate CD, from India for example, and a "pirate."
This does bode poorly for anyone trying to make their way without RIAA help. They are a racket that follows anticompetive practices such as RIAA only shops, payola and all that.
RIAA! Get the Salvation Pirate Army!!! (Score:4, Funny)
I say Hillary should go on down to the Salvation Army and get into a fight with a drunk about whether or not he can buy those "New Kids on The Block" and "Menudo" cassettes.
Maybe they'll take her in the back room and beat her head with a 40 Oz. 'till the white meat shows.
Sigh...dare to dream...
Legit? (Score:3, Insightful)
Seems like some of these are actions would be legitimate. The problem, of course, is where to draw the line. Personally, I think as soon as you start burning CD's for profit then you are pirating. Burning for your own use? That's when the overzealousness kicks in.
My own personal theoary as to why CD sales are down has to do with local bands. Your local garage band can now make tonnes of CD's of their music fairly cheaply, by-passing the usual media outlets. People buy the music they want from the concerts they go to, and the particular bands that interest them.
Until the record labels realize that, however, they are going to continue to bleed green.
*sigh* (Score:5, Interesting)
I guess the "equivalent of 421 compact disc burners" has now officially become 421 compact disc burners.
+1 for the RIAA spinmeister team.
-1 for truth.
Re:*sigh* (Score:2)
Re:*sigh* (Score:2)
Re:*sigh* (Score:2)
Counterfeit vs Used (Score:2)
I think it is probaly quite likely that used CD stores would be more likely to sell illegally copied CD's than the local Walmart.
Small companies and individuals do small simple obvious crimes.
Large companies and rich individuals do larger, more complex crimes.
Wait a minute (Score:2)
Now, if anybody has proof that this is what the RIAA is trying, I'd love to hear about it and will contribute to their legal defense fund, but let's not jump to conclusions.
Garth Brooks *ahem* (Score:5, Funny)
Shame on you!
Re:Garth Brooks *ahem* (Score:2)
Desparate Measures (Score:4, Insightful)
First they went after colleges and universities, saying that they helped spread piracy by giving students access to fat Internet pipes with which to download songs from Napster. A few colleges panicked and took steps to cut off access to P2P networks, but for the most part that strategy fizzled into the ether.
Then they went after the P2P networks with moderate success, Napster mainly taking the fall for all of them. Gnutella is untouched, KaZaa still runs free and Usenet is a varitable goldmine if you're patient enough.
Then they actually tried getting the students. A couple students got hit with suits (some kid from Yale if I remember), but on the whole everyone laughed at them. Success here was minimal.
So the suits now all sit in some big office around a huge oval table, licking their wounds and wiping the egg off their collective faces. They get the idea that maybe retailers are "helping piracy" by way of their employees. So now they're sending intimidating letters to companies hoping that they get some attention on CNN and BBC World News in their latest efforts to stop piracy.
One of these days, after all of their avenues have been cut off and all of the barrels are dry, they'll hopefully realize that consumers want something different.
Re:Desparate Measures (Score:3, Informative)
I used to use Gnutella quite heavily, but it just got worse and worse. I stopped using it to try some other networks. After a couple of months, I was getting frustrated with all the alternatives, and tried to go back to Gnutella. Even more flooded with fake files and nonsense searches (my servent had a thing that could show peoples search requests) than before, to the extent that they seemed to make up the majority of what appeared. After about 20 minutes of this, I just gave up and haven't gone back- I've got better things I could be doing with my time.
As it happens, after that, I ended up giving GNUnet [ovmj.org] yet another go, as its promise had seemed so great- the only thing was, I'd not got the damn thing to work before, too buggy and all the configuration for it was too unclear. But LO! With version 0.4.7 (still current), I got it configured correctly and it worked PROPERLY. I managed to download files! Hurrah!
As there wasn't huge amounts of content, I'm trying to collect a load of it to put onto the network, as the more stuff is available, the more people will stick with it! I recommend to anyone reading this (who uses Linux or unix, etc, as GNUnet doesn't work on Windows yet) to have a try with it, but to bear in mind that it's still in development and still needs work, on the GTK GUI for example. To stay vaguely on-topic, kick the RIAA in the nackers by sticking your MP3s and OGGs on the network- they should be unable to know you did it, let alone prove it (anonymity and deniability is the point of GNUnet), so they won't be able to have you sentenced to death or sold into slavery for it. Please remember, if you want to be decent and help the network run better, choose to allow content migration, I do.
That was a GNUnet information broadcast. Thank-you for listening ;)
Oh, and before I go, why would you not want to use, say KaZaA or Fasttrack (or the other one that uses the same system)? Well obviously these aren't really anonymous, exposing people sharing any content to the wrath of organisation FOO, and maybe more to the point, they use partly centralised systems and are run wholly by specific companies whom the RIAA and their ilk can also go after, and possibly put out of business, or force to reveal details of their users. IIRC, court cases along these lines are happening now. Does that sound a safe choice to go with?
Can't wait til they come after me (Score:2, Insightful)
Corner sandwich shop ripping off poor music execs (Score:5, Interesting)
Just last week I went down to Geraldi's, my favorite local mom and pop sub shop (seating capacity of about 8, counting the outside table) here in downtown Portand, and noticed a handwritten sign taped to one of the coolers. It reads Now, I guess I'm still ambivalent/undecided about the greater argument here, but this particular injunction - visited upon a struggling and honest small business owner - just struck me as being thorough to the point of malice.
Obviously the owner isn't making any additional sandwich sales from having RIAA-approved background music playing as opposed to the TV news or whatever. Certainly not $265/year's worth.
turn it around... (Score:2)
Maybe some famous anonymous slashdot internet & music lawyer might want to comment?
Re:Corner sandwich shop ripping off poor music exe (Score:5, Insightful)
Tell the people who run Geraldi's - as well as the owners of other local stores - to get into the local music scene in your city, and to buy the CDs of unsigned local musicians. Tell them to talk with the musicians and get their approval and blessing to play their music in those local stores and restaurants.
It's free publicity for the musicians, especially if the merchants put up a sign indicating what CDs they are playing that day (and how to get your own/where to go to listen to a live show), and the merchants provide an interesting feature to attract more customers.
Then, when Hilary Rosen shows up at Geraldi's and says, I thought I told you to stop playing music here or pay our licensing fees, he can tell her to go fsck herself.
Re:Corner sandwich shop ripping off poor music exe (Score:4, Informative)
To add to this advice: remember that the ASCAP and BMI licenses are in principle for the songwriters, not the performers. You'll have to be very careful not to play anything that's even remotely close to a cover of a copyrighted song.
Re:details (Score:2)
Playing CD's in your store is definitely considered public performance by the law, and you need a special license to play it. Even funeral homes that play copyrighted music that the families bring in at ceremonies are required to have that yearly license. The law is very clear on this and law enforcement will definitely go after it as copyright violation is criminal for some reason that I've never understood.
What about the lack of new material being released (Score:2, Interesting)
Distortion of the truth is nothing new. Politicians, newspapers and even myself are guilty of it by omitting facts or over emphasis of point. But all three of us have some accountability, in my case either my manager or my wife.
Can a group like the EFF get a test case going (like in the original BetaMax case) to see what the courts would decide. Then the FUD would die right off.
I forget where I read it. It would have been either
Re:What about the lack of new material being relea (Score:3, Interesting)
I submitted this very interesting piece yesterday but it was rejected.
yes this will help fight piracy (Score:2)
copy it from someone else.
And we expected anything less? (Score:2, Interesting)
Declining sales ? (Score:4, Informative)
of course their declining record sales have nothing to do with the public is now fed up of mass marketed pop music where record contracts are won not by original musical talent and song writing , but by nieve and desperate [will-youngonline.com] individuals in f***ing competitions [popidolusa.com] while real talent falls into the gutter, leaving a trail of destruction [sky.com] in its path while the instigators [ananova.com] get rich.
The only thing killing music [bbc.co.uk] is not kids downloading mp3's or pirating dvds at market stalls
why is it that so many companies have so much contempt for their customers and choose to be greedy instead of actually concentrating on superior products ?
What a world, what a world... (Score:5, Insightful)
Then they can go after Walmart because they re-release some of their products after editing the content.
After that, might as well go after Borders & FYE, because of those machines that let you listen to the music before you buy. After all, not buying a CD because it sucks is bad for business.
RIAA Business Plan (Score:3, Funny)
Does that mean they'll finally go away?
Re:RIAA Business Plan (Score:2)
I hear the MPAA has money....
how used cd piracy works (Score:3, Interesting)
customer a sells a cd to the shop. shop marks up the cd 20 to 50%. then sells to customer b. customer b copies the cd at home (or several selected songs) and returns the cd. the result is that customer b gets his or her music for a couple of bucks all of which goes to the shop.
the problem for the riaa is that the shop never has an illegal cd, never has to copy them. and i sincerely doubt that used cd shops keep records of their customers. and even if they did, the riaa has no grounds to simply requisition customer lists and search their residences.
Just me? (Score:2)
No organization whose sole motive is greed will ever last. Microsoft started traveling down this path and is now learning about it the hard way on many fronts... which is cool, because they are learning and trying to adjust. RIAA, on the other hand, is incapable of adjusting their greediness because it is their only reason for existence.
I wish they would just hurry up and die.
A way to adjust the prices yourself? (Score:2)
The article states that cd sales have descreased slightly over the last two years. While obviously some of this is due to piracy, I believe that the majority of the drop is due to A) The fact that cd's are just too expensive for B) The crap that artists are putting out now.
The second point being why I am in favor of individual track purchase online.
Anyway, one way to bring the average price down would be to simply purchase a CD new, rip the tracks and then sell the disk to a used cd store. The cd store is not in violation so they should be safe. So now what you've done is effectively saved a couple dollars off the CD's retail price, and given someone else the opportunity to buy a physically brand new disk for a discounted price.
While this does involve an illegal act on the original buyers part, do the ends justify the means? If the RIAA is told anonymously en mass that people who engage in this behavior would stop is cd prices were actually worth paying, maybe it could happen...
Not going after normal music stores (Score:2, Insightful)
The most interesting part of that article (Score:2, Insightful)
Well, in the CNN article [cnn.com] this story links to, that has become simply "421 compact disc burners." No mention of "equivalency" anywhere.
Sigh.
Re:The most interesting part of that article (Score:2)
Their next target might be Tower (Score:2)
I'm not easy to shock but that seems pretty "out there" to me.
Convenience stores & Gas Stations (Score:4, Insightful)
I thought they were something specifically produced for this market, but after reading the article I think the RIAA has the right to go after these guys. Its one thing to make copies for personal use, but entirely another to mass produce and sell them in a convenience store chain.
This is pathetic (Score:2)
more FUD (Score:5, Insightful)
Rather they seem to be using this as an opportunity to intimidate alternative outlets and spread their unique interpretation fo the truth. I always find it amusing that they continue to blame various forms of piracy for the decline of sales, even in light of continuing revelations to the contrary [theregister.co.uk]. Of course, the sad thing is that the report just regurgitate the alleged facts.
The RIAA is probably most concerned about lack of control. They went through a lot of trouble insuring that they had control over the record stores. They have lost some of that control though discounters, but managed to minimize the loss through marketing deals. This is just another symptom of their compulsive control behavior. It is impossible to control all these little outlets, and therefor their price fixing policies [com.com] will not be as effective.
Clearly, the media is not going to fix this. The congress is not going to fix this. I encourage everyone to go out into their communities and find independent music. Buy tickets to local concerts at local venues. Buy the CDs. Do not copy the music. We will only create a new market if we are willing to support the new market.
What about barter? (Score:2)
Now the RIAA will have to sue the libraries. (Score:4, Funny)
Oh, wait, we had better call the MPAA because I just found out you can get the books that some movies are based on, then you can take them home and type them into Word and print them out. Maybe they should sue MS for creating a software program that can be used to copy copyrighted material.
I'm glad we have some responsibe organizations looking out for our interests.
Isn't this what we want them to do? (Score:2)
The RIAA and MPAA could make a fortune just walking down the streets of downtown Manhattan. Every block has someone selling first-run movies on video and the latest, "hot" CDs on a card table. This would keep them busy for a long, long time.
price of CD's (Score:2, Interesting)
When I was In Russia (Score:3, Insightful)
An article soon to come... (Score:4, Funny)
And, I just can't wait until the day I have to pay royalties for a cd that I have already purchased.
Setting the story straight, maybe. (Score:2)
I don't believe this has anything to do with mp3s, or the DMCA.
Mix tapes (Score:4, Interesting)
I wonder if the RIAA is going to go after these people, and if this is going to raise an uproar in the Black community; these tapes seem to be part of the culture.
RIAA Death Throes (Score:3, Interesting)
The RIAA is a doomed vampire that knows it is about to turn into dust and blow away. It is frantically looking around for any exposed vein it can still suck before the sun comes up.
Nice.
By listening to this song, you agree to the terms (Score:3, Insightful)
I think the RIAA needs to take a step back from the glue machine, as the fumes are obviously affecting them. You idiots EXIST to provide us with entertainment, that's what we pay you for... not to be called thieves and have even the most basic of property rights twisted and abused to the point where our founding fathers would run screaming in terror. The people who run the RIAA are EVIL "tin-plated dictators with delusions of godhood" (fair-use quote, *ptttb*), and their monopolistic hold over the recording industry needs to be broken.
Re:FIRST POST! (Score:5, Insightful)
The Slashdot crowd may be familiar with them, but I guarantee that 99% of the music-buying public has never even heard of them. And I'm sure the RIAA likes it that way.
Re:FIRST POST! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:FIRST POST! (Score:2)
So... if I bring a CD in from China (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:UHHH (Score:2)
Re:UHHH (Score:2, Funny)
Re:I thought it was Elvis Costello (Score:2)
I knew Mozart. I worked in the Senaye with Mozart. Brittany, you're no Wolfgang Amadeus mozart!
--
And I'm no Lloyd Bentsen, but you get the idea.
Re:Just as we feared... (Score:2)
What fantasy world are you living in, buddy?
Re:Well of course they're pirates . . . (Score:2)