Downloading - What People Are Saying

The RIAA has done an amazing job
of monopolizing the discussion
about downloading, in large part
by spending millions of dollars
on lobbying and "public relations".
With a little bit of Googling, though,
one can find instances where voices
other than the Industry's register.



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Here's a poll from that hotbed
of radical opinion...
Billboard Magazine.

...where it seems that the Industry's opinion
is in the minority.

Over at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation,
they posed a question about the imposition
of fees/a tax on digital memory...

...where again, the Industry's solution
was not seen as desirable.

by a fairly substantial margin.




***

Meanwhile, around the web
there are more radical opinions,
of course... the Industry has something
of an image issue.

- and the beat goes on -





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Artists should be paid for their work?

one of the core catechisms of the current copyright situation is "Artists should be paid for their work".

among Artists, there is  certainly consensus on this point and, in the way of these things, the Industry is more than happy to use this consensus to not simply push their agenda, but cover it up altogether.

"Artists should be paid for their work".

it's beautiful. in just 7 words, it lays claim to a pure moral high ground and occupies it.

even better, it sounds like it means something.

which i guess it does to some people. 

but as someone working to bring musicians and audiences together, and creating digital content, i think this dog don't hunt.

it's a Hallmark moment that butters no parsnips, because it fails to answer one of the fundamental musical questions of all time...

***

how much is that doggie
in the window?

***

Artists should be paid for their work?

Sure...

so should Moms.

so should the wounded veterans
from our armed forces.

so should their families.

get in line.

and while you're waiting,
read this.

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You wouldn't steal a ....?

In 2004, the MPAA launched a campaign aimed
at insulting everyone who had purchased a ticket
to see one of their movies in one of their theatres.... as well as those who had purchased a DVD,
or rented one at an authorized outlet. 

Similar in tone and spirit to the music industry's celebrated "Home taping is killing music" campaign of the 80s, "You wouldn't..." was nearly as well-received by audiences everywhere.


"You wouldn't..." was a bold, edgy remix of the entertainment industry's favourite and most enduring obsession - that on a good day, the rest
of us are stupid, greedy and amoral assholes.

Naturally, there was blow-back: people were annoyed, amused and sometimes even
inspired to parody...

It was pure catnip to the Demotivator crowd...

One of the most widely shared was from an episode of the British television series IT:

[2.3]

Narrator: (Parodying the PSA shown before films) You wouldn't steal a handbag. You wouldn't steal a car. You wouldn't steal a baby. You wouldn't shoot a policeman. And then steal his helmet. You wouldn't go to the toilet in his helmet. And then send it to the policeman's grieving widow. And then steal it again! Downloading films is stealing. If you do it, you will face the consequences. (Man bursts in behind the girl downloading the film and point a pistol at the back of her head and a pool of blood is then seen on the keyboard)

Roy: (sitting with Moss in a dark room, watching the PSA) Man, these anti-piracy ads are getting really mean.

***

Naturally, things soon went on
to a variety of meta-levels...

...including at least one clearly influenced
by the music industry:

Unfortunately, i wasn't able to find any data about just how effective this campaign has been in teaching people how to be better people. according to industry sources, the sky is still falling so i guess the bottom line is "not effective enough".


go figure... 

want to make your own? here's a blank

PLACES TO GO

http://www.ipos.gov.sg/topNav/news/pre/2004/Launch+of+anti+piracy+movie+trailer.htm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_wouldn%27t_download_a_car#You_Wouldn.27t_Steal_a_Car


http://thisrealitypodcast.com/?p=1241

- 30 -

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