Sign the EFF's petition against the RIAA !!!

sasha · 01-11-2004, 02:45 AM

http://www.eff.org/share/petition/
67682 signatures so far

Take a Stand Against the Madness; Stop the RIAA!
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is on a rampage, launching legal attacks against average Americans from coast to coast. Rather than working to create a rational, legal means by which its customers can take advantage of file-sharing technology and pay a fair price for the music they love, it has chosen to sue people like Brianna LaHara, a 12 year-old girl living in New York City public housing.

Brianna, and hundreds of other music fans like her, are being forced to pay thousands of dollars they do not have to settle RIAA-member lawsuits -- supporting a business model that is anything but rational. This crusade is generating thousands of subpoenas and hundreds of lawsuits, but not a single penny for the artists that the RIAA claims to protect.

Copyright law shouldn't make criminals out of 60 million Americans, and it's time for a change. Tell Congress that it's time to stop the madness!

**SkyNet** · 01-12-2004, 12:36 AM

Interesting. I may just be paranoid, but wouldn't the RIAA start taking a closer look at those who have signed the petition?

I agree that the people need to take a stand to stop the RIAA, who in my eye's are the crooks. I wish there were some way to force them to pay back the money they have taken in court from people such as that 12 year old girl.

**vwgtiturbo** · 02-05-2004, 04:50 AM

Honestly, I won't say that I agree with the RIAA but, you do have to admit that musicians have a right to be paid for their music. The RIAA just brings it on themselves because the prices are so high, and they pocket most of the money. It's funny because alot of the money made goes into promoting artists and such, so it's like we are paying them to promote artists to us??? Weird... Anyways, I don't think that it is necessarily RIGHT to steal the music without paying the musician, but I also think that it is not RIGHT to buy music, as you are not really paying the musician what they deserve, you are lining the pockets of some rich fat cat record exec. And for what? What did they do to earn the money? Nothing. They sat on their fat arse... They didn't make the music. They just made a decision on what they think would sell. So we are paying for his so-called business skills. Which, by the way, usually SUCK. Have you heard the crap coming out anymore? You know, I would have NO PROBLEM paying for music that was actually good. You can't get good music anymore. Even veteran musicians are straying a little from what they do best. And let's not forget the NEW bands. CRAP. "Hi, we have one good song (that really isn't all that good) and we would like to make alot of money, so pay us." Does "Smile Empty Soul" or "Three Days Grace" ring a bell? The record execs need to learn that they need to spend more time promoting true talent, instead of promoting ALOT of bands with trivial talent. It would be great to have a few REALLY awesome bands instead of 200,000 crappy ones... Maybe we should pay for the talent level... Could you imagine, going into Virgin, listening to a CD then going up to the counter... "Yeah, I listened to this Joe Blow CD, and it kinda sucks... It only has two good songs. How about I pay you... 3 bucks?". Back in the day (I am only 26, mind you), groups had ENTIRE albums that were good, so it was no big deal to buy them, but now, you have to buy an album for one or two good songs? What a waste of money... When will they ever learn?

**SkyNet** · 02-05-2004, 06:01 AM

I'm a bit different on this issue then you. I don't really listen to music, and don't really care. I don't plan on buying a music CD unless I really really like it. There are people out there just like me.

On the other hand, I like anime, and I'm going to do my best to buy the anime's that I like. I've already started collecting alot of them.

All I can say is that if they were to do away with .mp3's altogether, I wouldn't really care all that much because I'd just be doing what I did before I had the internet, which was not buying CDs or listening to music.

People are going to buy what they like, even if they can get it for free. Those who don't are probably not mature enough yet to understand what's going on, or like I was saying don't give a rip if it's there or not.

Also because it's there to download, people like me get to experience the things that don't really matter to us. I think that's a good thing, because by trying I may actually buy a CD that I might have never heard before in my life.

**vwgtiturbo** · 02-05-2004, 06:16 AM

I see your point of view. I can't believe you aren't into music! By our conversations on IRC, you sure seem that you were into it, just by how relaxed you seem. That is why I am into music, it relaxes me, and I vent through my music (which might be why I listen to some of the crazy stuff that I do...). Maybe anime is your release? Everyone has their thing. I am not personally INTO anime, and don't know a thing about it, but...

**SkyNet** · 02-05-2004, 03:05 PM

I guess anime would be my release, I don't know... I like watching it. I've never really been into music, not even when I was young. Don't get me wrong though, it's not like I'm saying music sucks, and no one should listen to it. It's not that, I enjoy listening to music, but it's not such a big thing that I would miss it if it were to disappear.

My point was that if people like something, their going to buy it because they want to support it. The ones who don't buy anything, well they probably really don't care about anything, or haven't grown up enough yet. Or perhaps their wallets are a little thin.

Oh, and point 2. The RIAA are crooks. How would they feel if they were 12, and some big company came strolling by, and said btw you owe me 2k. They can't say they've never done anything illegal. After all they wouldn't have that position if they hadn't.