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RIAA About to Transform?

It has been reported for a while that the RIAA was suffering some cutbacks and dwindling support, but techdirt is reporting that the cuts may be even deeper than most originally suspected. Who knew suing potential customers would ruin your business? "I'm sure some will somehow 'blame piracy' for this turn of events, but it's hard to see how that's even remotely the issue. The real issue is that the RIAA has basically managed to run one of the dumbest, most self-defeating strategies over the last decade. Rather than helping major record labels adjust to the changing market, it continually, repeatedly and publicly destroyed its own reputation and the reputation of the labels — each time shrinking their potential market by blaming the very people they should have been working to turn into customers."

6 of 217 comments (clear)

  1. In demand as witnesses? by NewYorkCountryLawyer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Well I would imagine the excess employees will be much in demand as witnesses.

    --
    Ray Beckerman +5 Insightful
  2. supporting companies outed by Dan667 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    While it is no doubt that the people who run the RIAA and IFPI have no idea what they are doing I also wonder how much of a contributing factor that people are putting 2 + 2 together and recognizing who supports the RIAA. Companies are very protective of their brands and sony, emi, warner bros, and universal do not like the negative image this is bringing them directly.

    1. Re:supporting companies outed by uniquename72 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Companies...do not like the negative image this is bringing them directly.

      Neither do the artists themselves, who seem to get lost in the "OMG PIRACY IS THEFT!!1!" argument.

      It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling to go to a concert and hear the band say, "Thank you for paying to come see us, now go download our stuff illegally and fuck the labels who are fucking us!" (No, I don't download music and am not a pirate, although I don't care if others do and are.)

  3. Re:give it a fucking break by mlwmohawk · · Score: 5, Interesting

    take this infantile whining to torrent freak or the playground where such anti-corporate whining isnt seen as the transparent bullshit

    I don't think we are "anti-corporate" enough in the U.S.A. They've more or less destroyed the economy with short sighted strategies that can't see past a 3 month horizon.

    Businesses move jobs over seas. Umm? Who's going to buy your product? The list of offenses is pretty long from exploitation to pollution.

    or get a job and pay for music for a change.

    Um, I use Linux, where would I buy digital music that plays on my system and has any value? I want it on my home stereo (CD, DVD, or a Linux box) and my MP3 player. (which is not an iPod)

    I buy CDs if I really like the music, but I was so disappointed with Gnarles Barkley, one good song on a whole CD, I usually go to the library and borrow CDs.

  4. Shutdown one Industry in support of another by HartDev · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I am not gonna make remarks that are uber pro-piracy, but I will say this about the RIAA, they should have seen this many years ago, they were just stubborn.

    The market for blank media was not going to go away, and it was going to be filled with downloaded music, now regardless that it is illegal to download copyrighted material did not slow anyone down. And just like the article mentioned, it only soiled the name of those who tried to stop it, yeah I am talking about how people like Metallica a whole lot less.

    Being Pro or Anti piracy aside I do not feel for the RIAA losing money (if in fact they did lose any money, and if that money was a substantial amount) because they blatantly starred the changing times in the face ignored all possible opportunities it could have afforded them, and now, just like the banks and the auto industry they will cry about how the oldschool ways don't work anymore.

    I am glad that hard drives and blank CD's and DVD's are so cheap now a days!

    --
    To see a few of my Android apps goto: www.hartwired.com
  5. Transforming, but not in a good way by mysidia · · Score: 5, Interesting

    With RIAA Lawyers running the DOJ, the RIAA is transforming into a US government agency.

    Now their antics re. DoS'ing suspected torrent sites will not only be legal but an act of the gov't.

    Not only will gov't money will be budgeted for catching the file traders, and probably some money from the economic stimulus packages to help bail out the recording industry and encourage innovation, it will be a gov't initiative.

    Along with a new and improved patent enforcement department to help make it more cost-effective for companies having difficulty collecting license fees from people infringing on patents like one-click (due to millions of small infringers, and formerly expensive legal processes required to enforce a patent)