The RIAA and the MPAA are spending millions lobbying Congress. How much are us consumers spending? How many consumers think independently enough to believe us technology types, when Brittany Spears (or some such) is telling them "To copy is to steal. You're hurting me!", over and over again in media outlets?
This is a policital battle, not a marketing one. I think we're in trouble and mostly too complacent to see it coming.:^(
I posted this question to email at your website, but I think it also needs to be asked here: What about an Open Source watermarking and digital rights management system? As a musician myself (and one who has made a living as a musician), I realize that artists need to get paid... not necessarily to get filthy rich (not that that's a Bad Thing), but at least to get paid enough to be able to afford to make music instead of flipping hamburgers (or coding in VB). OTOH, as a techie, I understand the Open Source philosophy and am tickled pink by Vorbis, Gnutella, and all the other technical advances that are taking down the Music Industrial Complex (MIC). Kinda contradictory, eh? Here's the challenge -- the Open Source community has successfully unleashed forces that are dissolving the MIC walls. What is the communtiy going to do to PAY artists for making the music they want to listen to? Does the community care? Songs don't need technical support, docs, or consulting... so the pure Linux-like model won't work. Something else is needed. Here's the risk -- if no Open Source alternative to paying artists develops, then the only alternative may end up being SDMI. How would you like a world where the major labels control the celestial jukebox and extract a 95% tribute and lifetime servitude from artists for the privilege of getting a tune on the jukebox menu? If an Open Source tracking and payment system for paying artists can be developed, then the artists and the listeners can work out their own fair arrangements. Otherwise, well, I leave that visualization to the reader.:-) RS
Here is a little article that digs into the plight of the musician at the hads of the RIAA. It's at the site of a non-profit called Musicians United, which also has a pro open formats petition going. Some of you might enjoy this.
The best long-term bet for artists is to Just Say No to the RIAA and all member labels. However, as anyone who can read the MP3.com BB can tell, there appears to be a massive troll army of label people and wannabes (wanting to ingratiate themselves to label trolls) on the attack. Just like MS trolls on clja, these sleazers try to drive artists away from the open music model and into the waiting arms of the weasels. Open source, open music, open standards... they're all about the same thing, when you get right down to it. Oh well, maybe this latest bit of outrage will open some eyes and hasten to demise of the Big 5. Long live Open Music on the Net! RS
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The RIAA and the MPAA are spending millions lobbying Congress. How much are us consumers spending? How many consumers think independently enough to believe us technology types, when Brittany Spears (or some such) is telling them "To copy is to steal. You're hurting me!", over and over again in media outlets?
:^(
This is a policital battle, not a marketing one. I think we're in trouble and mostly too complacent to see it coming.
RS
I posted this question to email at your website, but I think it also needs to be asked here: What about an Open Source watermarking and digital rights management system? As a musician myself (and one who has made a living as a musician), I realize that artists need to get paid... not necessarily to get filthy rich (not that that's a Bad Thing), but at least to get paid enough to be able to afford to make music instead of flipping hamburgers (or coding in VB). OTOH, as a techie, I understand the Open Source philosophy and am tickled pink by Vorbis, Gnutella, and all the other technical advances that are taking down the Music Industrial Complex (MIC). Kinda contradictory, eh? Here's the challenge -- the Open Source community has successfully unleashed forces that are dissolving the MIC walls. What is the communtiy going to do to PAY artists for making the music they want to listen to? Does the community care? Songs don't need technical support, docs, or consulting... so the pure Linux-like model won't work. Something else is needed. Here's the risk -- if no Open Source alternative to paying artists develops, then the only alternative may end up being SDMI. How would you like a world where the major labels control the celestial jukebox and extract a 95% tribute and lifetime servitude from artists for the privilege of getting a tune on the jukebox menu? If an Open Source tracking and payment system for paying artists can be developed, then the artists and the listeners can work out their own fair arrangements. Otherwise, well, I leave that visualization to the reader. :-) RS
Here is a little article that digs into the plight of the musician at the hads of the RIAA. It's at the site of a non-profit called Musicians United, which also has a pro open formats petition going. Some of you might enjoy this.
Sharecro pping the Corporate Farm
Open Music Format Petition
RS
The best long-term bet for artists is to Just Say No to the RIAA and all member labels. However, as anyone who can read the MP3.com BB can tell, there appears to be a massive troll army of label people and wannabes (wanting to ingratiate themselves to label trolls) on the attack. Just like MS trolls on clja, these sleazers try to drive artists away from the open music model and into the waiting arms of the weasels. Open source, open music, open standards... they're all about the same thing, when you get right down to it. Oh well, maybe this latest bit of outrage will open some eyes and hasten to demise of the Big 5. Long live Open Music on the Net! RS