Head Of ATF To Direct RIAA Anti-Piracy 554
plasmastate writes "Via Fox News: Bradley A. Buckles, the director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, is moving over to the RIAA to hunt down music pirates. And visions of David Koresh danced in their heads..."
Phear! (Score:3, Funny)
Buckles (over blowhorn): "YOU MUSIC WHORING PIRATES, SEND THE MP3s AND OGGs OUT FIRST OR WE'LL BURN YOUR COMMUNIST MUSIC SHARING COMPOUNDS TO THE GROUND, WOMEN AND CHILDREN [cnn.com] BE DAMNED!!!!"
Re:Phear! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Phear! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:2, Insightful)
See, your problem is that you aren't willing to accept reality, instead focusing on keeping your grasp on falsehood. Come back when you know what "copyright infrigement" means AS WELL AS what "theft" means.
Or just don't come back, really.
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:2, Insightful)
2) I _know_ what copyright infringement is. See, I WORK for a living (writing software) and I understand economics. The fact that what I create isn't a physical artifact doesn't change my lost business when it is stolen. I feel (and this isn't any kind of personal attack) that a LOT of the slashdot folks have this whole 'money is bad' philosophy, whilst in school
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:5, Interesting)
Try studying the Austrian school of economics. Google for some of the Austrian economists who think intellectual property is an oxymoron (like Thomas Jefferson did).
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:2)
Seriously though: If I work for a month on a piece of code, why shouldn't I have exclusive rights to it if I want?
(this does NOT include something like extending GPL'd code. It only seems fair that I give something back if I'm working on top of someone else's code)
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:3, Interesting)
I think that it has something to do with a less-developed set of interpersonal skills, (common amongst tech folks) for combined with a bit of intellectual arrogance (also common).
Put down those flamethrowers, I'm a card carrying geek for many years. Taking offense won't change whether I'm right or wrong.
Unless 'here' means the US, in which case I agree, but don't have an explanation
(yup, I'm an american)
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:5, Insightful)
But seemingly, a lot of people here have an entitlement complex, where they think they can take whatever the fuck they want for no other reason than that they want it.
The same could be said for both sides . . .
RIAA: Believes it's entitled to racking in all the money it wants solely because it can.
Swappers: Believe they're entitled to racking in all the music they want solely because they can.
Blaming only the side that's obviously breaking the law is not incorrect, but is not likely to lead to a working solution (defined as a solution that both sides agree is reasonable) either.
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:5, Insightful)
So?
If you show it to someone, how does it follow that it would be intrinsically morally wrong if they made a copy of it? It's funny, after the centuries of philosophical debate over right and wrong through history, that this particular concept of having rights over distributing copies didn't pop up until the 17th century. It just must not have been as obvious to the great thinkers of history as it seems to be to you.
It is wrong only because it's wrong to break the law. The law in question was put in place for economic, not moral, reasons. It is not wrong to copy it just because you created it. You seem to have a false sense of entitlement. If you want to keep total control of it, don't show it to anyone.
I am not asking about elements of law, I am asking for a reason why my work should be any more stealable (?) than someone else's.
But elements of law are the only thing you've got. IP protection is not a "natural" right that transcends the law. If it were, it wouldn't have an expiration date.
I would argue that waaaaay too many people are eager to give away other people's rights.
And I'm questioning whether it was wise to expand your rights to the extent they've been expanded over the last few years. They didn't come from nowhere, your expanded rights came at the expense of the rights of others.
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:5, Insightful)
This is the basis of your argument; just like a philosopher starts with "I think, therefore I am". The whole point of my post was to question the validity of that assumption in the first place. You still don't understand what I'm trying to say.
Undoubtedly, the next response in this thread will start with "How can you question my axiom? I worked on it! I should control it!"
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:3, Interesting)
AAAARGH, this is a fucking stupid argument. If you don't pay him for the right to use it, you are taking JACK SHIT. You MAY be preventing the compensation from one sale, but the creator has not lost a damn thing.
Take this further: Say I am a painter. I sell my paintings for not a penny under $40,000. Joe Schtick thinks it's cool, but only works minimum wage. He takes a picture of it (which he could blow
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:3, Interesting)
You made the mistake of using "steal" instead of "copy". Let me correct it so I can properly reply:
If you are free to copy peoples work, for the most part, they won't make the work to begin with.
True.
You still have absolutely no inherent right to prevent someone from repeating (copying) an idea you have spoken to them. Or to prevent them from themselves drawing (copying) an image that they have seen, or t
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:5, Insightful)
Apparently you don't, since you keep confusing it with theft. It's not. [boycott-riaa.com]
First, copying is not stealing, it's copyright violation. Second, technology is changing the way business models need to work - a pay-per-copy scheme simply isn't viable any more. When conditions change, you can't depend on the government to prop up outdated business models - that's basic economics.
And BTW, I also work for a living creating software. I also create music, poetry, and stories, though I've yet to be paid a significant amount - and like most musicians and authors, probably never will - for those things.
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:3, Insightful)
Yes, copyright laws aren't perfect for this day and age but changing them so that you can legally download the latest 'music' from Metallica may not fulfill the goal of promoting "the progress of science and useful arts" either.
The ease of violating musical copyrights is still not a valid reason to change copyright laws. This is an argument that people continue to push. If the major argument was that copyright
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:3, Interesting)
Normally, markets in a capitalism are producer-led or consumer-led. Producer-led markets appear when a product is popular, and tend to lead to high prices. These are good: there must be some reason why the product is popular, and the producer gets rewarded for producing it. Consumer-led markets appear when a product isn't so popular so producers want to get it out the door, and tend to lead to low prices. These are good too: the consumers can buy their stuff for
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:5, Insightful)
Can you explain why you should be paid over and over again - for up to 50 years after your death - for once piece of work ?
Can you also explain how someone can "steal" something from you, yet you still have it ?
I don't think money is bad. I do, however, think the entire copyright system is fundamentally flawed.
LOVE Free Enterprise, HATE copyrights (Score:3, Insightful)
I love money, I love business, and I love free enterprise - which is why I hate copyrights. Copyrights are not about money and business, they are about controll.
In fact it is an insult to suggest otherwise. It would be like saying that I don't believe in free enterprise and business because I don't want to own slaves on the plantation. What a crock!!!
Besides I seem to renember that when IBM couldn't hold intellectual property rights over the PC interface, then a economic explosion happened in the PC i
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:2, Insightful)
example:
Alice rips a CD (she bought) and sends it to Bob.
Who got robbed of something now?
Actually, in my case (and in the case of most people I know) filesharing (and getting music from friends) has greatly increased the number of CD's I buy by allowing me to easily discover more music.
Of course, most of the music I buy is from non-RIAA labels so they have a reason to sue me anyway.
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:5, Insightful)
The artist was deprived of the money Bob would have otherwise spent. It does matter how you look at it.
Now, if you think the whole concept of licensing is wrong, well... I can see your point (I disagree with it, but such is the world). If you are just taking it because it is free, all other arguments are kinda weak.
My problem has always been this: In the heyday of file sharing (2000 or so), I worked in a lab and saw the students downloading thousands of mp3s a day, and the whole "well, if I like it I'll buy it" argument was never voiced. A friend is a DJ (mp3J?) that uses all stolen songs on his laptop instead of CDs. He certainly didn't buy any.
When I see that pattern repeated enough times, I have no sympathy for what I (as a 'non-tangible' content creator) see as thieves.
I can handle that folks have differing ways of looking at things. It just gets REALLY old when people (not you) get all self righteous when they are violating strong social mores.
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:2, Insightful)
Yes, your point is valid, but only to a certain extent. I
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:5, Insightful)
This assumes that the artist was entitled to Bob's money in the first place. Using this logic, it could well be said that if Bob was going to purchase a CD, but saw a really nice chess set and used the CD money to purchase that instead of the CD, the chess set manufacturer has 'robbed' the artist of a sale. The artist was going to get Bob's money, but someone else's actions (the creation and marketing of the chess set) cancelled an otherwise-guaranteed sale.
If you really want to see how the artist is deprived of money, you should check into how much the record industry takes (as a matter of general practice) out of the artist's cut of album sales to cover the cost of broken records using a model which was created when vinyl records were sold. Nevermind the fact that the percentage of CDs broken during shipping is a mere fraction of the number of vinyl records that were broken; they're taking the same cut. Or perhaps you could look at how the industry manipulates artists' contracts using high-powered lawyers to ensure that artists are locked into a single company for eternity without even the option of going out on their own. When an artist is contracted to produce 5 albums, the recording company will often ignore albums that don't sell well, keeping the artist locked into a perpetual contract that actually hinders their ability to create new content. The record company makes a bunch of money from the first album, but gives the artist next to nothing from it, citing "recording, studio, manufacturing, shipping, marketing, promotional costs, etc", then shelves the next 5 or 6 albums when it becomes clear they're not selling as well as the first, but then tells the artist that they've only created one album. And don't go thinking that this only happens rarely, or to small artists. The Dixie Chicks just recently had to sue their label to get more than $4million that was owed to them. If memory serves, they recorded an album that went platinum, for which their label refused to pay them. Talk about real theft.
"My problem has always been this: In the heyday of file sharing (2000 or so), I worked in a lab and saw the students downloading thousands of mp3s a day, and the whole "well, if I like it I'll buy it" argument was never voiced. A friend is a DJ (mp3J?) that uses all stolen songs on his laptop instead of CDs. He certainly didn't buy any."
The "I'm just demoing it" argument has always been a bit weak, though not entirely inaccurate. While there are some folks who really do buy more music when they download, I'm certain that, at least a majority, do not. That being said, I think the real problem is that when people look at a CD, they're thinking less about an artist making it, and more about a multi-national conglomerate mega-corp that produced it and is trying to sell it to them at extremely inflated prices. My personal argument in this whole thing is that I will not put my money into the hands of corrupt organizations that should have been broken up decades ago, with their top brass jailed on RICO violations. They've now grown so bold as to demand to be exempt from all anti-trust lawsuits. This is like the mafia demanding to be exempt from murder prosecutions. I suppose the logic is, "we've been breaking these laws for so long, why don't you just stop bugging us about it?". I do buy CDs, T-shirts, concert tickets, etc from non-RIAA affiliated bands that I like. That is how I show my support. If Metallica wants another dollar from me (I've bought their stuff in the past), they'd best get away from their RIAA whore of a label and stop treating their fans like garbage. I absolutely support the rights of artists and others to make a profit from their intellectual property. What I do not support in any way are corrupt organizations (as defined under US Federal RICO statutes). I will not pay them money, and I will not support t
Re:Sigh, bring on the negative mods... (Score:4, Interesting)
Well, there's my two cents.
Pay it forward, not back (Score:3, Interesting)
Then take a few hours and spend them making the world more like that.
Then if you feel like it, write your hero a letter and tell them what you did. That part is optional.
Simple to say, hard to do.
Re:oh SIGH.. I'm an arrogant prick (Score:2)
And insults from someone who won't take responsibility for their comments means jack to any reasonable adult.
Wonderful! The incompetance continues.... (Score:4, Insightful)
Exactly the kind of incompetance that you can now expect from the RIAA. Not that they were competant before.
Re:Wonderful! The incompetance continues.... (Score:2, Insightful)
I don't agree with religious nuts (or "White Sepratists"), but i disagree with a gov't that would attack it's own people on trumped up charges (like claiming child abuse and illegal drug manufacturing). It's not a coincidence that Terry McVeigh bombed Oklahoma City on April 19th, the anniversary of the Waco massacre.
Re:Wonderful! The incompetance continues.... (Score:5, Informative)
It was more than that. They had a quarter million $ in unpaid bills outstanding. Even the real estate they were sitting on was no longer theirs.
None of that's a serious or violent crime, of course.
Re:Wonderful! The incompetance continues.... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Wonderful! The incompetance continues.... (Score:5, Insightful)
A quarter of a million dollars in unpaid bills is peanuts these days, and lots of people squat on land they don't own. It's generally up to the creditors and the land owners to try to enforce their rights themselves.
Re:Wonderful! The incompetance continues.... (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm not sure what exactly this is supposed to mean. While clearly, the Davidians had no qualms about owning and promoting guns, that is certainly not the official viewpoint of the Seventh-Day Adventist church.
Here are a few official statements from the SDA church on related topics:
Assault Weapons [adventist.org]
Peace [adventist.org]
Call for peace [adventist.org]
Ultimately however, it is an individuals choice, and gun ownership and use is not really a big
Re:Wonderful! The incompetance continues.... (Score:5, Informative)
It's too bad that little kids died. They didn't choose to stand behind Koresh.
-B
Re:Wonderful! The incompetance continues.... (Score:3, Funny)
It's not a coincidence either that Osama Bin Laden crashed two airliners into the Towers on September 11th, the 20th anniversary of Dylan Klebold, one of the Columbine shooters.
And is it really a coincidence that George Walker Bush toppled the Iraqi government on April 9th, the 21th anniversary of Eric Harris, the other Columbine shooter?
Oh, and Timothy (his first name was Timothy, not Terry
Re:Wonderful! The incompetance continues.... (Score:3, Insightful)
The US government current base of power in world politics is that it can and will destroy anything that gets in the way of US desires. It frankly established this authority by being the only country to ever drop an atomic bomb on another country. To this day it has maintained this power by showing little mercy to people, countries, or other forces that do not tow that US line.
There are some people that want to challenge this authority directly. These people b
Re:Wonderful! The incompetance continues.... (Score:3, Informative)
9/11 happened because there was no 'well armed local militia' present on the planes. Everyone is required to give their guns up before they board the plane. If good people had been allowed to bring their weapons onto the plane, the hijackers (who did not have concealed carry permits nor would
ATF - Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll (Score:4, Funny)
Well.. (Score:4, Funny)
.. look at the bright side, while his jackboots are busy stomping out piracy, the world will again be safe for boozers, smokers and gun collectors.
Re:Well.. (Score:2)
Replacement... (Score:4, Funny)
I heard they have Himmler on ice. I think he'd feel right at home.
Re:Replacement... (Score:5, Funny)
oh man (Score:4, Funny)
Now gun owners get the bad publicity and rep of the RIAA via remote association.
I actually don't know much about the guy... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:I actually don't know much about the guy... (Score:5, Informative)
his ATF Bio [atf.gov]
But in all honesty, his presence should neither make someone worry more or less. More notably at this moment it would seem to just be a change in strategy (as what happens when different controlers take the wheel). We will see more Lawsuits, but perhaps in directions we haven't seen yet. I don't know a great deal about this guy, but it seems at though he is just like any other in that position, the only thing different will be his game plan.
Re:I actually don't know much about the guy... (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm not the tinfoil hat type but this hiring raises some serious questions about the RIAA's strategy. If they had hired from the Justice Department, it would be a continuation of their current strategy of suing people.
But hiring from an agency involved in policing and undercover operations may signal a significant strategy change. Perhaps they will be lobbying for the government to take policing actions. That is, the kick down the "criminal's" door and seize their computer type. Alright that last sentence was a little tinfoil hat like. But my point is that the RIAA may be looking for the government to undertake the task of tracking down file sharers and filing criminal cases instead of civil ones.
Corruption in the ATF (Score:2, Interesting)
If there has ever been one government department that I haven't cared for (excl. IRS), it would be the ATF. I think that the ATF is probably one of the more corrupt government agencies that we have, and it absolutely frightens me that the director of the ATF is now headed on over to the RIAA.
I guess only the future will tell of what is going to happen with the RIAA, and their relentless battle against pirates.
Government-endorsed monopoly (Score:5, Insightful)
But of course, being an association of sane, properly-american capitalist corporations, it ain't restricted the same way as official Government depts. *Cough* What do you call a government-endorsed monopoly already ?
Re:Corruption in the ATF (Score:5, Interesting)
The FBI, for example, has been bungling up cases left and right - but we largely seem to ignore it or excuse it as "honest mistakes anyone could have made". I mean, look at the recent case with the random shootings in the Northeastern states. Their top criminal profilers all described the culprit completely wrong! They've wasted large amounts of time and money chasing after such minor things as "illegal warez distribution" on computer bulletin board systems and the Internet. They seem to have a bloodlust for anyone remotely possibly doing anything somewhat related to child porn, too - and there's a really *good* chance lots of innocent people are sitting in prisons around the country right now over their overzealousness in this area.
The ATF, of course, has done a number of inexcusable things - including raids at night on the *wrong house address*, and stomping on people's pets and killing them as part of their searches for people and drugs. The Waco thing was simply the most televised fiasco of theirs, but far from the exception to the rule of how they manage to overstep their bounds and screw things up.
There is, of course, plenty of reason to suspect the CIA of doing very questionable things too -- but by their nature, it's harder to pinpoint them most of the time.
The old saying, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." certainly holds true.
fitting representation (Score:2, Funny)
Re:fitting representation (Score:2, Funny)
Will we laugh... (Score:5, Insightful)
So... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:So... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:So... (Score:3, Funny)
Trogdor!
Trogdor!
C'mon... that sig can't be coincidence, considering the thread's topic.
A turn of events (Score:3, Insightful)
What else does he get up to? (Score:2)
This guy is a fucking scumbucket.
What's next, head of the CIA?
Freeze! (Score:4, Funny)
Wow (Score:2, Insightful)
Something wrong here... (Score:5, Insightful)
These guys are going to make Bill Gates look good. At least he tries to play the good cop and convince you he is selling a service. The RIAA is just a bully.
Re:Something wrong here... (Score:5, Funny)
Already been done. By the British against the American rebels. These fighters were known as Hessians.
Considering (Score:2, Insightful)
Considering that the RIAA is not a law enforcement agency or even a government entity, wouldn't they be doing a little bit better finding someone with some experience in civil suits. What can a former ATF director offer to this private organization?
next in line... (Score:2)
Next, we'll all get to wear gold stars...
Great (Score:5, Funny)
Judging by the reports that I have read, we can expect the following healines soon.
ATF RAIDS HOME
(ATF press release) In an effort to stamp out musical piracy, which leads to terrorism - the ATF today raided the home of Amanda Johnson (age 12) and her brother brad (age 9). Both pirates were taken down. One of the pirates was shot in the raid when he attacked the ATF agents with a fluid projectile weapon. The ATF agent is expected to make a full recovery, while the pirate is listed in stable but critical condition.
"We're just trying to protect our American way of life", said Butch Howitzer. "These pirates are destroying the ability of the RIAA to run a good monopoly, besides, if this piracy thing gets out of hand we might actually have to pay artists. Ticketmaster and the record label executives can't afford this. Lets be honest, the money these pirates steal prevents a record executive from getting the thereapy they need every day."
AngryPeopleRule [angrypeoplerule.com]
Terrific... (Score:2)
SOBs.
Wait a sec... Is there a way to perhaps require music to be attached to email? Like, you allow people to download your music off your website with the proviso they attach it to any emails they send, (doesn't have to be much, a midi file doi
The truth is stranger than fiction (Score:5, Funny)
Yay, more useless tactics by the RIAA (Score:2, Insightful)
No significance whatsoever.
The reality is Jesus Christ himself could be reborn, float above the skyscrapers of NYC and proclaim to the world "Oh, my children, those who doth pirate thine audio workings of thy peers shall suffer eternal damnation" and people would STILL download music.
The solution? Stop being so goddamn comp
looks out window... (Score:5, Funny)
Despite all the predictable wise cracks (Score:5, Informative)
The sort of problems that people are joking about us facing because of Buckles should be attributed to his predecessors, not him.
Course, he did receive from Ashcroft, he can't be too clean.
Good news for file swappers (Score:2, Funny)
Wisdom from trey parker (Score:3, Funny)
ATF agent: [talks into a communicator] Code 7. We believe we have found the compound. Request immediate backup. [the ATF lead looks at the house again]
Barbrady: [immediate indeed, appears in the lead's sights] Okay, so just what is going on here, people?
ATF lead: Get down! [pulls him into position along with the others]
Barbrady: What?
ATF lead: It's just like we told you, officer! There's a religious cult in there that plans to commit mass suicide when the meteor shower starts. [resumes viewing, but is interrupted]
Barbrady: Are you sure?
ATF lead: Of course we're sure! [points out the initials on his cap] We're the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms! It's our job to know what these fanatics do!
Barbrady: So what does the ATF do when religious fanatics are gonna commit mass suicide?
ATF lead: Oh, don't worry! We won't let that happen! Even if it means we have to kill each and every one of them.
ATF- what an odd agency... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:ATF- what an odd agency... (Score:4, Insightful)
All 3 are taxable/controlled items
All 3 are routinely smuggled items
Illegal trade in all 3 is by the same cartels/organized crime groups/Mafiosi
It's cheaper and safer than having an agency for each.
Re:ATF- what an odd agency... (Score:3, Funny)
UnAmerican laws and restrictions. You can merge it with the FCC, expand it's mission to "software stewardship" and have something that Stalin would have admired.
Re:ATF- what an odd agency... (Score:3, Funny)
Maybe they're going squirrel hunting on that particular trip. "Look! A North Bitterroot Bushytail! Get the C4!"
Re:ATF- what an odd agency... (Score:5, Informative)
Here ya go! (Score:5, Funny)
Isn't this what was asked for? (Score:4, Insightful)
While the RIAA is making pirates into veritable Robin Hoods who look pitiful when the lawsuit comes in the mail, one is hard pressed to critisize them for protecting their copyrights.
Rednecks Rejoice! (Score:5, Funny)
Shoot on sight (Score:4, Funny)
...danced in their heads? (Score:2)
music filesharing is good... (Score:2, Informative)
A more compelling concern... (Score:5, Insightful)
Perhaps off topic, but of interest none the less.
I suspect we should be more concerned with who the fellows replacement will be. Although the RIAA might like to conduct personal raids they don't yet have the legal right to do so.
The ATF on the other hand not only does but has a nice long history of being a bit heavy handed.
Regardless of which side of the various debates you weigh in on most reasonable people will admit that those we entrust with enforcing the laws SHOULD be held to a higher standard of conduct and a higher level of public oversight.
O.K. Calling the attendants to turn up my thorazine drip now...
Re:A more compelling concern... (Score:3, Insightful)
Newsflash: MAE-West blown up to thwart mp3 piracy! (Score:5, Funny)
"I believe that we have stopped to illegal tranfer of copyrighted materials in the most effective and timely manner possible", stated Bradley A. Buckles, head of the Anti-Piracy Unit of the Recording Industry Association of America and former director of the ATF.
"It is truly unfortunate that half of the US now has to go on without internet access just because of the actions of a few unscrupulous file traders" Buckles continues, "File swapping really does hurt everyone."
MAE-West was one of two major network traffic exchange points in the United States. The other, MAE-East, is in Vienna, Virginia.
When asked about MAE-East, Buckles said, "We'll blow that up too, if it turns out that kazaaliteuser@KaZaA is using that for illegal file sharing."
The RIAA now is pleased to announce in partnership with AT&T and PG&E the formal unveiling of "MediaNet". MediaNet is a network that connects your electrical system with the sewer system to form a massive computer network that can be billed per election transferred. Additionally, packet headers are decoded to determine to origin of traffic and impose any and all necessary foreign and domestic tarrifs and taxes.
We will be installing new meters alongside the ones you already have and you will be billed automatically for the webpages you access. MP3 ID3 tags are automatically read and you will be charged "fair market value" for any files transferred. When copyrighted images or sound clips load, users will also be charged "fair market value" for a single use right to view and hear them.
We believe that MediaNet will be a great success and will provide millions of homes and businesses with a valuable metered internet lifeline.
MediaNet service is a mandatory addition to your current utilities. Basic use fees will start at $50/month*
* Basic use fees do not include state data tax, universal MediaNet tax, interstate data transfer surcharge, or billing meter rental fees.
Re:Newsflash: MAE-West blown up to thwart mp3 pira (Score:3, Funny)
I'm sure you meant electron, but the typo's funnier anyway.
File Sharing == the new prohibition ? (Score:3, Interesting)
Private FTP servers = the new speakeasies?
Cheers, mate!
one picture is worth 10,000 words.. (Score:4, Funny)
New Director, New Challenges (Score:3, Funny)
just to put things in perspective... (Score:5, Insightful)
128K MP3s as uploaded to P2P networks are substantially identical to the 128K MP3s which provide the content you hear on analog FM radio. In fact, using a tuner card, you can even record them back to 128K MP3s and store them on your hard drive, just as you can record them to analog cassette tape and trade them to your friends.
The difference between listening via download or FM radio?
There is no proof that 128K MP3s are more effective or less effective in promoting the sale of CDs whether broadcast over the radio or downloaded from the Internet. The same set of ears decides based on them whether or not to buy the CD or not. The latest Eminem album was "pre-released" unofficially over P2P a month before official release at record stores. Because of this, customers who wanted to hear it at better than 128K MP3 quality were ready to buy as soon as the CDs hit retail and it immediately hit #1.
What did Eminem lose from the "theft" of his music? Nobody associated with the RIAA or any record label has explained this to us, and I've heard no complaints from Eminem about this.
In fairness, Madonna's latest got pre-released and it tanked. However, Madonna has yet to explain why she thinks it wouldn't have gone into the dumper in the absence of pre-release via the Net.
One difference? FM radio stations are paid by RIAA labels to carry music promotional content, while via P2P, listeners host the music on servers at their own expense and transfer the music at their own bandwidth expense.
Another difference? Getting digital content via FM radio is legal. Getting the identical content via the Internet isn't.
Why?
The *AA companies bought off a shitload of politicians openly through campaign contributions to make the law that way.
Why would the *AA companies want to cut one promo distribution channel that the listeners pay for instead of them?
Effectively, only the RIAA companies have access to FM as a music promotional channel. The indie musicians and labels are priced out of the market. The indie musicians and labels can afford to distribute promotional tracks via P2P. That's why the RIAA has done its best to destroy P2P and Internet Radio in the hands of individuals and small organizations.
I don't mind protecting the legitimate rights of artists to profit from their work in the least. However, I have no interest in interfering with the ability of indie artists to promote their work via the Internet, and less than no interest in wasting taxpayer money to prop up the obsolete and dying business model of the RIAA and soon, the MPAA member companies.
What about PIRACY!!!?
128K MP3s are promotional giveaways of no intrinsic value. The product is the physical CD, and that's what people pay for.. Counterfeit CDs of anything you can find in a record stores are available in Asia, pressed at Asian CD manufacturing facilities and sold openly all over Asia and in some cases, even in the USA. If the *AA really wanted to stop PIRACY!!!, they'd be pressuring US politicians to stop the manufacture of counterfeit CDs in Asia. There are many kinds of pressure the US government could be putting on Asian governments to stop this. Why isn't this happening? Ask Hilary Rosen yourself.
If you want to call P2P and Internet Radio theft, be my guest, but please smash your FM radio over your head first.
Re:just to put things in perspective... (Score:4, Insightful)
The real reason is they fear losing control over the distribution of media and control over artists and fans alike. P2P forces them to realize that their partnerships, contracts and lawyers aren't and never were neccessary and that no one -least of all artists - needs any of them.
Why steal the music? (Score:5, Insightful)
Well... steal is such a harsh word, I prefer something different. But I'll get to that later on.
Why P2P music and more?
When I was in my upper teen and college years I had a great interest in music. I had a very wide range of music interests that covered several types of classical music, rock, jazz, country (a little), and a whole variety of music forms that didn't even have a name yet. I think now they're lumped into the New-Age acid jazz something or other...
But I would learn about this music by cruising halls in the dorms listening to what other people where playing and checking out music collections of friends of mine.
And stuff I liked I could buy at the local store for anywhere from $2 to $10 in circa 1985.
Fast forward 18 years.
I don't live in a dorm anymore so it's hard to hear other peoples stereos. But I do listen to the radio. Have you? Do you know what's on the radio? Considering it's all owned by one company, ClearChannel the selection is limited to approximately four groups: Classic Rock, Rock - which is really just Pop, Country - which is a bastardization of Rock, and Rap. Flame on if you want, but make sure you've been listening to music for >30 years first.
Now for every station that is in one of these catagories, there are a list of songs (heard of Top 40?) that are played on a regular basis. This frequency is such that by the time I get home on Tuesday I know the lyrics of all the songs that came out on Monday.
Kind of limited on my selections of music that are available through public means of acquisitiion. Meaning, in order to seek music legally, I am limited to very narrow vectors of music.
So, I go to the music stores to seek my wide range of music. Guess what I find there? The same shit that I heard on the way over and now it's running better than $20 a pop. I actually tried to just buy a CD based on a precious small sample I heard once. It lasted about 3 hours before I threw it out. CD music is too expensive to purchase on the basis of, "Maybe this will be good to listen to". Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a better way of doing it.
So, where does that leave us?
Conclusion: If you want to explore the world of music, publicly available radio stations and music stores will not provide you with anything better than cattle food. If you want to find more variety, the only place you might find it is in P2P music community. To date, there is no better medium through which to experience a variety of music and find what you really like.
For my tastes, P2P is a great place to borrow music to learn what I like. Then I can make a more targeted attempt to get the music via the internet rather than getting it through the likes of Best Buy (which won't ever happen because they have no selection).
Unfortunately, all this RIAA activity is simply causing me to try new things like:
Wait a minute... (Score:3, Interesting)
Aren't these the same guys that were so successful in Waco, TX; Ruby Ridge, and don't forget their best success in history -- prohibition!!!
So, when are we actually going to get around to boycotting all radio and music sales in America?
There is no way in hell any of this will ever change until there is a concerted effort to make a point to them. Not buying music will not work.
Sure the music industry took a dump almost to the day they shut down napster. But they blamed it on illegal music sharing, not a fact of the music buyers just lost their single best means of identifying what they want to buy. Why? Because no body told them in clear terms.
If you want to get through to RIAA/MPAA then it's going to be a matter of boycott, boycott, boycott. Make it political, make it public, make it noticable, make it known.
Personally, I do not intend on purchasing a HDTV simply because that media will no longer allow me to record television shows.
I have been so overwhelmed with commercials that it's easier for me to learn how to not watch TV and not listen to the Radio than to put up with the constant babble.
I suggest we all give it a try, but do it all at once under a concerted boycotting effort.
Re:one word (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:one word (Score:5, Insightful)
The man isn't quite ready to retire, but he's probably tired of being at the ATF. So these people hire him.
I'm pretty sure he's not going to be able to form squads of gun-toting "enforcers" to go around and search for pirated music.
While I don't necessarily agree with their tactics (%99 of their lawsuits have been pretty bunk), they do make a valid point: copying this stuff willy-nilly without regard to the copyright is illegal. Just because you bought one CD doesn't mean that you can give copies away to everyone you know, nor does it automagically grant you the right to copy all the CDs of your friends.
Now, if you're only downloading music by indie bands or that has been specifically put up for legal download (itunes comes to mind), what do you have to worry about?
If you're going to turn around and tell me that it's your right to download all the music you want and that the copyrights placed on the music is null and void, then I'd have to respectfully disagree with you.
I'm really not trying to troll here. I'm just failing to see why this should be a cause for alarm.
Re:one word (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:one word (Score:2)
Doesn't scare me in the least. I'm not sharing anything from the RIAA. Hell, I'm not even downloading anything that has to do with the RIAA.
Cripes. I'm not BUYING anything that has to do with the RIAA.
Re:I saw this ad at the bottom of the article: (Score:5, Funny)
There is a representative from Microsoft coming next Tuesday to make sure all of those boxes have the illicit software reinstalled with appropriate Microsoft American-Made technology.
I'd just as soon report YOU, too, as look at you. Fucking thieves.
Re:I saw this ad at the bottom of the article: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:David Koresh? (Score:2, Offtopic)
Some of those "gullible fucks" were small children. In the unlikely event that you ever find a woman gullible enough and ugly enough to accept you, and if you actually succeed in breeding, I wonder if you will regard your own children as "gullible fucks."
Re:invasion of privacy (Score:3, Insightful)
Where exactly did it say they were going to take our rights away? And which rights? The right to trade copyrighted material?
Come on. So a new suit is going to run the axis of evil that is the RIAA, remind me how that makes PHB's turn away from open source products?
Re:ATF? That can't be good... (Score:2)
I see you're upholding the long Slashdot tradition of presuming to lecture about something you don't understand yourself.
Google first! Or just watch the first 20 seconds of any DVD...
In both the US and EU [infoworld.com], copyright infringement is criminal! [copyright.gov]