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RIAA Offers Amnesty to File Sharers
Mister Dre writes "Apparently, the RIAA is planning to offer amnesty to file sharers who promise to delete copyrighted material from their computers. To take advantage, of course, you 'have to send a completed, notarized amnesty form to the RIAA, with a copy of a photo ID.'" Hey RIAA, how about I just stop sharing files, and we call it even? I know I own most of the CDs for the files I listen to, but I stopped buying those too so you'll know where I stand.
Respond to consumer demand. They used to bitch that they couldn't use newer technology because of the consumer's expense in upgrade path (LP->8 track->cassette->cd->?). Now that consumers have spent (insert illegally downloaded mp3 of Carl Sagan) BILLIONS AND BILLIONS of dollars buying the equipment for the next format and the government with other private industry has spent further BILLIONS AND BILLIONS to build the distribution infrastructure, they refuse to step up to the plate with a viable business model. SCREW 'EM.
"The majority of people involved with sharing still care about music."
Hmmmm . . . I'd say that's a stretch. Probably more accurate to say that this "majority" just likes to acquire other peoples' property without paying for it, don't you think? Really now, this isn't a complicated issue, as much as "sharers" would like to make it one. This is about treating a non-essential item - - music - - as if it were water or air that we must have in order to live. File traders seem to think that they can demonize the record industry by suggesting that it gouges listeners and treats musicians life offal. But the truth is that music is like any other non-essential item that people buy: if you can afford it, you may choose to buy it. If you can't, you don't, or you acquire it illegally and take your chances on getting caught.
How can one pity the Winona Ryders of the world, who steal $1000 scarves because they think they can do so with impunity? Who can feel sorry for the "super sharers" that the RIAA is reaming - - the ones who thought they were making a stand, when they were merely breaking the law? If it were electricity you were stealing because your children were freezing, I could give you some slack. But people who just want to fill their MP3 players with pirated tunes deserve the same thing that cable TV thieves get - - a harder slap than they ever expected.
It's only funny until someone gets hurt. Then, it's hilarious.
Bushethics: because we damn well can.
If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
Huh? I don't understand. So, if I printed a Stephen King novel in the middle of my thesis on cryptography, I am not breaking any copyright laws by then distributing the whole work?
-Brent