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If you work to reform the copyright laws, you can make the sharing of any file legal.

Here are some steps you can take to do this:

• Speak Out
• Vote
• Write to Your Elected Representatives
• Donate Money to Political Campaigns
• Support Campaign Finance Reform
• Join the Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Practice Civil Disobedience

The reason I ask you to googlebomb my article in my signature here is that I'm trying to educate the peer-to-peer network users. I attract the readers by offerring links to lots of free, legal downloads, but give them a political education while I've got their attention.

If you work to reform the copyright laws, you can make the sharing of any file legal.

Here are some steps you can take to do this:

• Speak Out
• Vote
• Write to Your Elected Representatives
• Donate Money to Political Campaigns
• Support Campaign Finance Reform
• Join the Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Practice Civil Disobedience

The reason I ask you to googlebomb my article in my signature here is that I'm trying to educate the peer-to-peer network users. I attract the readers by offerring links to lots of free, legal downloads, but give them a political education while I've got their attention.

If you work to reform the copyright laws, you can make the sharing of any file legal.

Here are some steps you can take to do this:

• Speak Out
• Vote
• Write to Your Elected Representatives
• Donate Money to Political Campaigns
• Support Campaign Finance Reform
• Join the Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Practice Civil Disobedience

The reason I ask you to googlebomb my article in my signature here is that I'm trying to educate the peer-to-peer network users. I attract the readers by offerring links to lots of free, legal downloads, but give them a political education while I've got their attention.

If you work to reform the copyright laws, you can make the sharing of any file legal.

Here are some steps you can take to do this:

• Speak Out
• Vote
• Write to Your Elected Representatives
• Donate Money to Political Campaigns
• Support Campaign Finance Reform
• Join the Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Practice Civil Disobedience

The reason I ask you to googlebomb my article in my signature here is that I'm trying to educate the peer-to-peer network users. I attract the readers by offerring links to lots of free, legal downloads, but give them a political education while I've got their attention.

If you work to reform the copyright laws, you can make the sharing of any file legal.

Here are some steps you can take to do this:

• Speak Out
• Vote
• Write to Your Elected Representatives
• Donate Money to Political Campaigns
• Support Campaign Finance Reform
• Join the Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Practice Civil Disobedience

The reason I ask you to googlebomb my article in my signature here is that I'm trying to educate the peer-to-peer network users. I attract the readers by offerring links to lots of free, legal downloads, but give them a political education while I've got their attention.

Congress could repeal the copyright laws tomorrow, if you could get enough votes to do so. That's more of a possibility than you might think, if you consider that more Americans use peer-to-peer networks than voted for George Bush.

My article suggests a number of steps you can take to bring about much needed copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

I want every American peer-to-peer network user to read my article by the time of the elections. Presently it gets about 2000 readers a day, but needs to get read about a hundred times more frequently to achieve my goal. If you feel as I do that what I have to say is important, then you can help by linking to my article from your own website, weblog or from message boards.

You'll see from my sig that I've been asking readers to Googlebomb it with the phrase "free music downloads". This has been pretty successful so far, with my article now ranking #3 at Google for that query. It's getting about 800 search engine referrals each day for "free music downloads".

My article has a Creative Commons license if you'd like to mirror it.

Congress could repeal the copyright laws tomorrow, if you could get enough votes to do so. That's more of a possibility than you might think, if you consider that more Americans use peer-to-peer networks than voted for George Bush.

My article suggests a number of steps you can take to bring about much needed copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

I want every American peer-to-peer network user to read my article by the time of the elections. Presently it gets about 2000 readers a day, but needs to get read about a hundred times more frequently to achieve my goal. If you feel as I do that what I have to say is important, then you can help by linking to my article from your own website, weblog or from message boards.

You'll see from my sig that I've been asking readers to Googlebomb it with the phrase "free music downloads". This has been pretty successful so far, with my article now ranking #3 at Google for that query. It's getting about 800 search engine referrals each day for "free music downloads".

My article has a Creative Commons license if you'd like to mirror it.

Congress could repeal the copyright laws tomorrow, if you could get enough votes to do so. That's more of a possibility than you might think, if you consider that more Americans use peer-to-peer networks than voted for George Bush.

My article suggests a number of steps you can take to bring about much needed copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

I want every American peer-to-peer network user to read my article by the time of the elections. Presently it gets about 2000 readers a day, but needs to get read about a hundred times more frequently to achieve my goal. If you feel as I do that what I have to say is important, then you can help by linking to my article from your own website, weblog or from message boards.

You'll see from my sig that I've been asking readers to Googlebomb it with the phrase "free music downloads". This has been pretty successful so far, with my article now ranking #3 at Google for that query. It's getting about 800 search engine referrals each day for "free music downloads".

My article has a Creative Commons license if you'd like to mirror it.

From the introduction:

You don't need to worry about getting sued by the Recording Industry Assocation of America or arrested by the FBI if you download legal music. Many independent and unsigned musicians offer downloads of their music in hopes of attracting more fans. Here's some music from my friends Oliver Brown and Rick Walker's Loop.pooL.

If everyone started downloading legal music instead of violating copyright with the file sharing programs, we would make short work of the RIAA, because people would start buying CDs directly from the artists and seeing their shows instead of enriching the major labels by buying CDs from the bands the labels have chosen for us to listen to. The RIAA would also have no cause to complain - these music downloads do not infringe copyright because the artists give you permission to download them.

• WARNING! Buying This CD Funds Lawsuits Against Children and Families

Just because you can't place RDF metadata everywhere you post an article doesn't mean you shouldn't in its canonical location, which presumibly you always link to. I don't see metadata at http://www.goingware.com/tips/legal-downloads.html , nor a button, though the notice you give on that page is perfectly adequate legally (but IANAL).

You can help by Googlebombing my article this way - post links anywhere on the web that say my article is about free music downloads

It's about much more than that, such as what the US Constitution says about copyright, and what you can do to get us out of the mess we're in, but if you can help boost my article's rank for the query "free music downloads", you can encourage the p2p users who I intended to address with my writing, to come read my article, get informed and get working to change the copyright laws.

I discuss this at more length in my kuro5hin diary.

My article ranks about #17 at google for the query "free music downloads", yet it got 4400 referrals from it during January. How many people would read my article if it got to #1?

Thanks for your help.

My objective in writing Links to Tens of Thousands of Legal Music Downloads was to give the legions of peer-to-peer music downloaders a basic lesson in history, copyright law and political activism, in hopes that they might use their considerable numbers to bring about copyright reform.

I give all the links that the article title promises in order to get p2p users to come read it, and link to it from their own websites. But my real objective is to give them an education while I have their attention.

You can get copyright reformed or even eliminated tomorrow, if you could just get enough votes in Congress to pass a law to that effect. If you don't think that could happen, consider that there are more Americans sharing files over the peer-to-peer networks today than voted for George Bush in 2000.

My article goes on to suggest steps you can take to make this happen, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

Also, in Should Copyright Even Exist? I relate Richard Stallman's ideas on software freedom to digital music files, and suggest that the public interest might actually be better served by expressly permitting the public to take advantage of the error free and nearly zero-cost nature of digital file copying. (Keep in mind that I wrote the article with p2p users in mind; for many of them this section of my article may well be their first introduction to what Free Software means.)

I think that if I can get all sixty million US p2p users to read Links to Tens of Thousands of Legal Music Downloads by November, copyright reform could become a hot issue in this year's elections. If you agree, see What You Can Do To Help.

Thank you for your attention.

You can get copyright reformed or even eliminated tomorrow, if you could just get enough votes in Congress to pass a law to that effect. If you don't think that could happen, consider that there are more Americans sharing files over the peer-to-peer networks today than voted for George Bush in 2000.

My article goes on to suggest steps you can take to make this happen, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

Also, in Should Copyright Even Exist? I relate Richard Stallman's ideas on software freedom to digital music files, and suggest that the public interest might actually be better served by expressly permitting the public to take advantage of the error free and nearly zero-cost nature of digital file copying. (Keep in mind that I wrote the article with p2p users in mind; for many of them this section of my article may well be their first introduction to what Free Software means.)

I think that if I can get all sixty million US p2p users to read Links to Tens of Thousands of Legal Music Downloads by November, copyright reform could become a hot issue in this year's elections. If you agree, see What You Can Do To Help.

Thank you for your attention.

You can get copyright reformed or even eliminated tomorrow, if you could just get enough votes in Congress to pass a law to that effect. If you don't think that could happen, consider that there are more Americans sharing files over the peer-to-peer networks today than voted for George Bush in 2000.

My article goes on to suggest steps you can take to make this happen, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

Also, in Should Copyright Even Exist? I relate Richard Stallman's ideas on software freedom to digital music files, and suggest that the public interest might actually be better served by expressly permitting the public to take advantage of the error free and nearly zero-cost nature of digital file copying. (Keep in mind that I wrote the article with p2p users in mind; for many of them this section of my article may well be their first introduction to what Free Software means.)

I think that if I can get all sixty million US p2p users to read Links to Tens of Thousands of Legal Music Downloads by November, copyright reform could become a hot issue in this year's elections. If you agree, see What You Can Do To Help.

Thank you for your attention.

You can get copyright reformed or even eliminated tomorrow, if you could just get enough votes in Congress to pass a law to that effect. If you don't think that could happen, consider that there are more Americans sharing files over the peer-to-peer networks today than voted for George Bush in 2000.

My article goes on to suggest steps you can take to make this happen, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

Also, in Should Copyright Even Exist? I relate Richard Stallman's ideas on software freedom to digital music files, and suggest that the public interest might actually be better served by expressly permitting the public to take advantage of the error free and nearly zero-cost nature of digital file copying. (Keep in mind that I wrote the article with p2p users in mind; for many of them this section of my article may well be their first introduction to what Free Software means.)

I think that if I can get all sixty million US p2p users to read Links to Tens of Thousands of Legal Music Downloads by November, copyright reform could become a hot issue in this year's elections. If you agree, see What You Can Do To Help.

Thank you for your attention.

You can get copyright reformed or even eliminated tomorrow, if you could just get enough votes in Congress to pass a law to that effect. If you don't think that could happen, consider that there are more Americans sharing files over the peer-to-peer networks today than voted for George Bush in 2000.

My article goes on to suggest steps you can take to make this happen, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

Also, in Should Copyright Even Exist? I relate Richard Stallman's ideas on software freedom to digital music files, and suggest that the public interest might actually be better served by expressly permitting the public to take advantage of the error free and nearly zero-cost nature of digital file copying. (Keep in mind that I wrote the article with p2p users in mind; for many of them this section of my article may well be their first introduction to what Free Software means.)

I think that if I can get all sixty million US p2p users to read Links to Tens of Thousands of Legal Music Downloads by November, copyright reform could become a hot issue in this year's elections. If you agree, see What You Can Do To Help.

Thank you for your attention.

You can get copyright reformed or even eliminated tomorrow, if you could just get enough votes in Congress to pass a law to that effect. If you don't think that could happen, consider that there are more Americans sharing files over the peer-to-peer networks today than voted for George Bush in 2000.

My article goes on to suggest steps you can take to make this happen, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

Also, in Should Copyright Even Exist? I relate Richard Stallman's ideas on software freedom to digital music files, and suggest that the public interest might actually be better served by expressly permitting the public to take advantage of the error free and nearly zero-cost nature of digital file copying. (Keep in mind that I wrote the article with p2p users in mind; for many of them this section of my article may well be their first introduction to what Free Software means.)

I think that if I can get all sixty million US p2p users to read Links to Tens of Thousands of Legal Music Downloads by November, copyright reform could become a hot issue in this year's elections. If you agree, see What You Can Do To Help.

Thank you for your attention.

It's been on the first page of hits at google for the query content scrambling system for a couple of years now.

He asked, really he did!

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

It's an interesting piece. Usually I can find something to take exception to in online arguments against the RIAA, the MPAA, or the DMCA in general (a misunderstanding of civil disobedience, advocacy of the complete overthrow of copyright, a belief that one can and should trump the law with technology instead of working to change it) but this is solid.

Don't underestimate the value of what this guy is proposing. If the average American doesn't know about this issue, it's because we're not doing our job to educate them.

However, as popular as my article is, it's not getting read frequently enough to expect all sixty million American file traders to read it in time for the elections. That's why I keep posting the link here, there and everywhere.

Yes, downloading is illegal. Yes, it should not be done.

While we all know what you mean, I want to be pedantic. Downloading is not illegal. Downloading, even when just restricted to music is not illegal. It is important that the perception that "Downloading from Kazaa is illegal" isn't spread any further.

There are many sites and services that provide access to music free for download, because the artist has released it as such. My current favourite is Machinae Supremacy. However, there are many more. I suggest you have a look at a couple of things. First is a program: iRATE which downloads music and adjusts to your preferences based on what other people like. (If you don't mind building code, get the CVS version, it is quite improved on the stable version). Another thing that makes for good reading is this article which provides information on, among other things, where legally free music can be found.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

Please copy and distribute Let's Put SCO Behind Bars. It has a Creative Commons license. From the page:

The stock of companies offerring Linux products and services may have been unfairly devalued as well. Stockholders in any of the affected companies - either SCO or its competitors - may wish to avail themselves of the Security and Exchange Commission's Investor Complaint Form to ask that something be done about this. You may not even be aware that you have standing to complain: if you invest in any mutual funds that hold shares in SCO, IBM, Red Hat or any other company that offers Linux products or services, then you have a right to ask the SEC to investigate. Check with your mutual fund to find out which securities are in its portfolio.

Please copy and distribute Let's Put SCO Behind Bars. It has a Creative Commons license. From the page:

The stock of companies offerring Linux products and services may have been unfairly devalued as well. Stockholders in any of the affected companies - either SCO or its competitors - may wish to avail themselves of the Security and Exchange Commission's Investor Complaint Form to ask that something be done about this. You may not even be aware that you have standing to complain: if you invest in any mutual funds that hold shares in SCO, IBM, Red Hat or any other company that offers Linux products or services, then you have a right to ask the SEC to investigate. Check with your mutual fund to find out which securities are in its portfolio.

From the page:

While the lawsuits being defended by IBM and filed by Red Hat are likely to put an end to The SCO Group's menace to the Free Software community, I don't think simply putting the company out of business is likely to prevent us from being threatened this way again by other companies who are enemies to our community. I feel we need to send a stronger message.

If we all work together, we can put the executives of the SCO Group in prison where they belong.

If you live in the U.S., please write a letter to your state Attorney General. If you live elsewhere, please write your national or provincial law enforcement authorities. Please ask that the SCO Group be prosecuted for criminal fraud and extortion.

Thank you for your attention.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

Michael D. Crawford
crawford@goingware.com

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

Michael D. Crawford
crawford@goingware.com

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

Michael D. Crawford
crawford@goingware.com

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

Michael D. Crawford
crawford@goingware.com

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

Michael D. Crawford
crawford@goingware.com

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. There are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get politically active, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same question.

Sixty million American peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.

Michael D. Crawford
crawford@goingware.com

• Let's Put SCO Behind Bars

While the lawsuits being defended by IBM and filed by Red Hat are likely to put an end to The SCO Group's menace to the Free Software community, I don't think simply putting the company out of business is likely to prevent us from being threatened this way again by other companies who are enemies to our community. I feel we need to send a stronger message.

If we all work together, we can put the executives of the SCO Group in prison where they belong.

If you live in the U.S., please write a letter to your state Attorney General. If you live elsewhere, please write your national or provincial law enforcement authorities. Please ask that the SCO Group be prosecuted for criminal fraud and extortion.

How about making copyright reform a central issue in the upcoming election?

Very likely most politicians don't know if the DMCA is fit to eat, feel Disney and the RIAA are important campaign contributors whose requests should be given priority, and music downloaders are simple thieves who deserve every bit of punishment they get.

You can change that. But it's going to take some work. But there are enough people sharing music in America - more people than voted for George Bush - that if you get off your collective asses and get active politically, you can get laws passed to get the RIAA off your back.

In Change the Law, I explain that copyright is not a Constitutional right, like free speech. Instead copyright is allowed (but not required) to serve a useful purpose, a purpose which I feel has long since outlived its usefulness.

I suggest steps you can take to bring about copyright reform, ranging from speaking out to practicing civil disobedience.

One thing I'd like you all to do today is to write your elected representatives to ask their opinion of the current state of copyright law given its widespread abuse by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA, and to urge them to work towards copyright reform. Let them know your vote will depend on a positive response.

When you're done writing that letter, write to the other candidates for each office in the upcoming elections, to ask them the same thing.

Sixty million american peer-to-peer file traders have the potential to raise a lot of Hell with the politicians. I want every candidate to be peppered with questions about copyright reform at every campaign stop and in every press interview. I want the repeal of the DMCA to be discussed in the Presidential debates.

People marched in protest when Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested. Dmitry Sklarov is free now - but the law under which he was jailed is still on the books.

If you agree with me that something needs to be done about copyright, I need your help.

Thank you for your attention.