RIAA: "All Internet-users must pay us money!"

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

And how do you know which users use file-sharing services? How do they know that the user in question uses file-sharing to download RIAA-related material? What if someone uses Kazaa to download porn, why should he pay RIAA for that?

I think the jist of the article was that ISP's would be obligated to monitor traffic from certain file-trading networks and identify subscribers who are using those sites. How they intend to go about 'making' the ISP's comply with this, I don't know, maybe a law requiring it, or a court order because RIAA is suing an ISP for this information. Or perhaps RIAA is going to get all the backbone owners together, Worldcom, UUNET, GTE, et al. and require this in the terms of their contracts before they lease access to backbone infrastructure. I don't know, but it can be done.

We all pay a 'royalty' on recordable analog and digital cassette tapes, VHS, other recording media, and many countries pay a royalty on every CD-R blank, whether or not you use them to record copyrighted content, you still pay it.

Is this true in the US for anything other than blank so called music CDs? I know they passed this in Canada some years ago but so far as I know there is no royalty paid on US purchases of blank VHS and cassette media.

 

[docmanhattan]

You know what really strikes me about this article is that the RIAA is falling back on the legal system to get their way.

Instead of trying to develop an innovative way to restructure how music and money is distrubuted. Instead of re-defining their business model, they're simply restorting to legal coersion to get what they deem is their share of the money.

And the irony is that even if this type of fee was enacted to "file-sharing" users on ISP's, the artists would still get less money and the RIAA execs would maintina their status quo.

 

[Vic]

Well, of course they've turned to legal and legislative actions. They're terrified that we'll find out that we don't need them anymore, and they're trying to strike quickly and decisively before we realize.

 

[Night201]

My solution: Stop paying these stupid record artists millions of dollars. They just hand them money. "Here, we have a song which some guy wrote. You are going to sing it and we will pay you 10 million dollars. Then you can piss it away on drugs, alcohol, and cars."

Drop the price of cd's and people will buy them. The cost of cd's have gone up, not down. It's rediculous. And stop spending so much f'ing money on stupid videos that make no sense! God, some of these videos cost more than a freakin' full-length movie!

Go to a studio and make your cd. Fine. If you want to make money, go out and get on tour! Make your money from concerts. But most people don't, because they suck live or they mouth.

I have so much respect for bands that actually write their own music and spend years trying to make it big. Not some crappy corporate band which is put together overnight and they have their songs written for them. A$$holes!

I can go on and on, but I will stop here. Maybe I will add more later.

 

[vash]

The RIAA is the reason why I do not purchase or download music anymore. I do not want to support the RIAA by purchasing CDs, nor do I want to help shut down file sharing applications by using them and getting them shut down. As far as I'm concerned, music isn't important to me, therefore its not worth giving money to the RIAA.

vash

 

[Ultima]

Originally posted by: Mrburns2007
Broadband is expensive enough, how much more per month do you think people will pay.


The RIAA and corporations need to give up music altogether. Since the internet gives artist access to million of users there's no reason we need big record companies to distribute music anymore. All we need now is a good legitimate way to share files so that artist get some money for there music.

In the states you guys pay twice as much for half the service. Makes me wonder if there isn't some sort of hidden tax there already or if you all are just suckers.

 

[CurtCold]

Do they not realize the economy is slow now? Or course CD sales are down, people don't have jobs, or low wages, there not buying CD's their paying the damn bills and getting by. They need to go get bent.


"There is a large demand for broadband because of filesharing..."

What a crock of shiznit. I dloaded a helluva lot more stuff with my 56k modem than I probably will in 3 years of cable. I want broadband to surf the web, play games, watch videos, actually be able to get updates in a few minutes instead of 8 hours. This woman obviously has her head up her @$$, but doesn't even know it.

My hightschool Basketball coach---->"You hear that sucking sound? That's right, that's what it sounds like when your head is up your a$$!"

 

[BeauJangles]

I would definately buy CDs again if they were like $8-9 and actually had good music (or I could mix and match music) and at least 50% of that went to the artist. Until then, fsck them.

The RIAA and corporations need to give up music altogether. Since the internet gives artist access to million of users there's no reason we need big record companies to distribute music anymore. All we need now is a good legitimate way to share files so that artist get some money for there music.

I think you're right. I also wouldn't mind sending money directly to the artists (sorta like a paypal thing maybe, or having a good legit file sharing service)... Either way:

Until they change their policy of accusing their consumers of being criminals and ripping people off of their hard-earned money, I won't buy anything from them.

 

[Linflas]

They could sell the CDs for 50 cents and I wouldn't buy them until they discontinue their assault on my fair use rights. There is a hell of a lot more to this than just downloading music from the net.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

well like before, the 6% fall in sales is because there has been approximatly 6% less albums put out last year.

THE RIAA is making money hand over fist. They just aren't happy that their artisits aren't making good music, prompting people to buy their CD's.
Seriously, if the RIAA(a business) is allowed to tax us, there will be no stopping coporations from walking all over us. and i'll definatly leave the country if that ever happens. It's getting more and more about $$$$ for the people on the hill, and less and less about freedom of the people.

 

[tcsenter]

And why do you think people are bitching? I really don't understand why you keep defending the RIAA.

I'm not necessarily defending them in this instance. I just wanted to clarify that there was no support for the accusation by some that RIAA was seeking to make 'all internet users' pay a fee.

I generally support the positions of the recording industry, though not all of their intentions are admirable, because I find no merit whatsoever in the idea that because some item of luxury costs too much according to subjective opinion that you're entitled to steal it.

Its not as though we have a situation where consumers no longer prefer cars because they want bicycles, and General Motors is lobbying to kill the bicycle industry. Consumer WANT music and are getting it, they just don't want to pay for it because they can get it for free without risk.

If people could walk into a GM dealership and take a car without risk, you bet your ass that few if anyone would be buying cars.

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

And why do you think people are bitching? I really don't understand why you keep defending the RIAA.

I'm not necessarily defending them in this instance. I just wanted to clarify that there was no support for the accusation by some that RIAA was seeking to make 'all internet users' pay a fee.

I generally support the positions of the recording industry, though not all of their intentions are admirable, because I find no merit whatsoever in the idea that because some item of luxury costs too much according to subjective opinion that you're entitled to steal it.

Its not as though we have a situation where consumers no longer prefer cars because they want bicycles, and General Motors is lobbying to kill the bicycle industry. Consumer WANT music and are getting it, they just don't want to pay for it because they can get it for free without risk.

If people could walk into a GM dealership and take a car without risk, you bet your ass that few if anyone would be buying cars.

I agree with you 100% that people are not entitled to steal, but the general rule of thumb in business is you charge what the market will bear. All of this piracy business aside, given the economy, the lower number of musical releases and the lack of quality of these musical releases, it's hardly a surprise that the industry is down and that no one wants to pay such high prices for a CD. They (RIAA) are just using piracy as an excuse for their own poor business planning and then crying to Washington and the Federal courts that it's all the fault of piracy. Those being duped in Washington are then allowing a means for this industry, which has one of the worst business models, to extort money from the consumer who is forced to pay for product and service they are not even receiving. To me it's all just a scam perpetrated by the RIAA; piracy has little, very little, to do with the woes of the industry. The consumer is being treated like a whore and the RIAA is the john sticking it to them from behind and paying the pimps in Washington for the favor.

 

[codeyf]

Perhaps they should sue Al Gore....after all, he did invent the internet....