RIAA Looks To Stop KaZaA, Morpheus & Grokster

John Hampton writes: "The RIAA is going to try to sue KaZaZ, Morpheus and Grokster, according to this story. Internal memos from within the RIAA outline the record label's findings and strategy going ahead. Great story. Hilary Rosen begging executives to talk about the issue and the RIAA issuing the lamest statement ever. From DotcomScoop.com."

Comments

We need an open source alternative!

[samael]

They've proved that an automatic two tier system can work (with user-node and super-node systems automatically finding the most efficient way of aggregating data).

Now we need a piece of software that will do all of this without the need for a central company. That way the RIAAA _can't_ shut it down.

Come on guys, we're one step away from success here - the power of Napster/FastTrack with the freedom of Gnutella - let's show them it can be done.

Actually it gets better

[Carnage4Life]

Remember the Dotcomm Scoop article has this quote

"[The RIAA] will be dealing with companies that are more rogue in nature and that have a better grasp of technology that masks actions and skirts copyright laws. They will need FastTrack in their corner. FastTrack controls the code that enables these three networks."

Who is to say this isn't a first step in realigning forces with the RIAA? The RIAA has learned their lesson and won't screw it up this time by driving people away from the service before making a deal like they did with Napster. Who knows, soon Morpheus could become a pay service which would make sense since those companies need to make money somehow.

Re:Actually it gets better

[Rogerborg]

• The RIAA has learned their lesson and won't screw it up this time by driving people away from the service before making a deal like they did with Napster

Again with the assumption that they didn't know what they were doing. Every time the RIAA lose a case or demonstrate the futility of litigation, they just make it easier to buy more laws that ensure that eventually they will control the cable that brings the data into your home, and the hardware that stores that data. Meanwhile, for all their ranting and wailing, profits keep going up.

Given this, why should they change tactics? Things are going just fine for them.

Re:Couple of Quick Questions

[Lethyos]

So how should artists afford to prosecute multi-million dolar VC funded companies like Napster or companies that are outside the United?

I can't speak for the first case, but for your second statement, it's obvious. They don't. You don't prosecute someone from another country doing things that are legal there and not legal here. Oh wait, we already do that. It's not right, is it?

If you are an artist with the choice of getting a major label deal and maybe making a profit if you sell over a million copies (or being in debt otherwise) or making no money from the spread of your music while being popular among the fans that don't pay for your music, what would you choose?

Hold it. Remember that from the sale of each record, lesser known artists get as low as 1% or less of the total profits, with the RIAA keeping the other 99%. Artists literally can get checks from the RIAA of 0.12$US for a 20$US record sale. Artists could make a LOT more money if they distributed online and took all the profits from said sales (and more power to them on doing this - I would buy music if my money was going to the artist, and not the RIAA).

Eventually, when CD burners, Minidiscs and car MP3 players become cheap and popular enough, how do you propose artists make a living in this new world order?

What are you talking about? They're already cheap and popular. I can buy a pack of 100 blank CDRs for 15$US. Mp3's are free (as in beer, and not the algorithm of course). Minidiscs are just about there. But going back on topic, remember an obscure, ancient invention called the "tape recorder"? Old dinosaurs in the music industry said the same thing and pushed the issue in court. The courts said that people making copies was fair use. I propose that we RETAIN fair use for everything we buy, including music. In a free economy, you have to figure out ways to fend for yourself. Artists will deal with it.

Last thought on the issue of artists getting big and rich, well, that just is kind of absurd, isn't it? Someone's motivation for creating art should be for the sake of art, not the money they can get from it. Sure everyone has to live, but how many painters, sculpters, poets, etc, are rolling in the big bucks? If you are really good, you'll find a way. Take a look at J.R.R. Tolkien's estate. :)