ASCAP Declares War On Free Culture, EFF

Andorin writes "According to Drew Wilson at ZeroPaid and Cory Doctorow, the ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), a US organization that aims to collect royalties for its members for the use of their copyrighted works, has begun soliciting donations to fight key organizations of the free culture movement, such as Creative Commons, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Public Knowledge. According to a letter received by ASCAP member Mike Rugnetta, 'Many forces including Creative Commons, Public Knowledge, Electronic Frontier Foundation and technology companies with deep pockets are mobilizing to promote "Copyleft" in order to undermine our "Copyright." They say they are advocates of consumer rights, but the truth is these groups simply do not want to pay for the use of our music. Their mission is to spread the word that our music should be free.' (Part 1 and part 2 of the letter.) The collecting agency is asking that its professional members donate to its Legislative Fund for the Arts, which appears to be a lobbying campaign meant to convince Congress that artists should not have the choice of licensing their works under a copyleft license."

Comments

Re:Good.

[postbigbang]

You've rationalized theft because you don't have the space to prove you paid for media that you've ripped. In my garage, there are several fat boxes of CDs that I've ripped. I have other MP3s that I've purchased, or that were CC-licensed. They sit on my fat hard disk, and I have a backup of them in case the hard drive dies.

I've released quite a body of work under CC myself, but much of my money makers are (actually were, as books on software have a short shelf-life) are merchandized under my copyright. I make a few dollars here and there.

If you buy my book used, the copyright's already been dealt with. If you make a copy of it, then you've stolen from me. Likewise, my book content, while likely just about worthless now, is still owned by me; I did the work, it was tough, well-received by critics, and was useful to an audience when published. Yet I still own the way the research was done, the findings, and the other elements of the books. To copy them verbatim is to steal them.

You have to make up in your own mind, the extent of your civility and morality. Rationalizing "bucking" the system is up to you. Changing it is also up to you... and whomever you can find to join in to make the way media is sold more tenable.

I loved Steal This Book. It was an eye-opener. At the end of the day, someone has to pay for most things. I think it was Heinlein who said TANSTAAFL. Ultimately, I think he's right.