Boycott count-down
A cartel is a group of producers whose goal it is to fix prices, to limit supply and to limit competition. Cartels are prohibited by antitrust laws in most countries; however, they continue to exist nationally and internationally, formally and informally.
- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
p2pnet.net News:- It`s April 21 today only three days to go until the P2PUNITE boycott starts.
It`s an excellent way to drive home to the entertainment industry and associated vested interest cartels that they depends on us, and not the other way around.
A week-long boycott will show them exactly who`s in charge. So if you buy anything from the world of corporate entertainment, or their associates, starting on April 24, STOP! if that`s not too much of a contradiction in terms : )
Quite a few people have asked, Why only a week?
Because a week is all we need.
The idea isn`t to totally destroy the Korporate Kontent Konglomerates. It`s to smarten them up and make them realise where their interests really lie.
It`ll give them a message they won`t be able to ignore, and it`ll also give the mainstream media something solid to chew on.
So with that in mind:
- If you`re involved with school print and/or electronic media outlets, do a story on the p2punite boycott.
- Phone your local newspaper, radio and tv stations and tell them what`s happening.
- Get a few people together and head over to the mall with flyers.
- If you run a web site or if you blog, start posting and keep it up.
- Email web pages.
- Contact blogs.
- Podcast the story
Come up with other ideas to clue in people who may not be online or who may not aware of what’s happening
For now, below is the post we ran after we talked to p2punite’s Emma in Sweden, last year.
And we`ll be re-publishing this story every day until April 24.
Read on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
April 24, 2005: Boycott week! – p2pnet, December 20, 2004
The entertainment industry is using its various alphabet enforcement organizations to try to terrorize ‘consumers’ into buying ‘product’.
But Emma over in Sweden has had it up to there and wants the last seven days in April, 2005, to be a boycott week that`ll show the entertainment industry just how much it stands to lose if its ex-, existing and potential customers decide they, too, had enough.
The multi-billion-dollar Big Seven movie studios and Big Four record label cartel say they’re being “devastated” by people sharing files on p2p networks. Files shared represent sales lost, they claim, and to protect their interests, must sue the file sharers.
They’ve never been able to prove or demonstrate that a shared music or movie file equals a lost sale.
The music cartel tried to sue customers into submission. But its legal war is an abject failure, as has been proven over and over again by a range of academic and commercial statistical studies and evaluations..
So far, it’s hammered more than 7,700 ordinary men and women and their children, using its RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) enforcement unit as the anvil.
The second `A` in RIAA stands for `America,` and yet only one of its four owners, Warner Music Group, is American. The other companies suing US citizens are based in France (Universal Music Group), Japan and Germany (Sony BMG Music Entertainment) and Britain (the EMI Group).
And not one of the `file sharing` cases has ever been heard in a civil court because the people being sued simply don`t have the resources to stand up to the Big Four with their tremendous political clout, limitless financial resources and endless legions of expert lawyers.
Instead, victims are forced to make private settlements, well out of the glare of public scrutiny.
And Big Music`s purpose has been served. It`s been able to criminalize file sharing and file sharers, and to give the entirely erroneous impression that it`s successfully prosecuted thousands of `criminals` for the heinous crime of sharing music online.
The fact that most of the movie studio and record label problems would be radically diminished if they’d accept the reality that they’re operating in a digital universe and should be using p2p and p2p technologies not only stay afloat, but to prosper, is ignored.
In the meanwhile, the real criminals the international counterfeiters and duplicators grow rich.
Now the studios’ MPAA is (Motion Picture Association of America) is following the RIAA’s lead, choosing BitTorrent servers as the immediate targets.
But, “I got pissed off,” Emma emailed us. “Why not try to do something?
And why not? After all, the internet IS p2p peer-to-peer.
Before the Net, the only way we could make our views known was to march in the streets, send letters to the editor, and so on. But this kind of protest didn’t achieve much, unless it was picked up by the media. And even then it didn’t last.
Today, however, WE are the media. And because of p2p – the Net, in other words – we completely by-pass the newspapers, magazine, radio and tv stations which used to control what we saw, read and heard.
Music and movies are only the tiny tip of the p2p iceberg, but they demonstrate that previously untouchable corporate entities with unlimited resources are now touchable.
Very.
That`s why they’re panicking.
Emma …
“I’m emma, admin on a couple of bittorent sites and completely into bittorrent,” Emma told us.
“As of late, the bittorrent sites has been biting the dust like flies. Mind you, not ONLY because of legal threats, some actually has quit working on their sites because they need to reclaim their lives and others are just waiting for this whole thing to blow over.
Anyways, I got pissed off, and figures – Why not try to do something? Most of us are actually consumers, and it’s kinda sad that the powers-that-be doesn’t recognize that fact, so I wrote the letter, that is on the front page on P2P, and asked people on Filesoup.com if they thought we should do something instead of whinging about it.
“And well – they tended to agree with me, so here we are. First week – ideas flying, and there are loads of things that I need to do. Like authoring some sort of goals/agenda thing, and spread the word and catch people that might be interested from other P2P venues, like edonkey and different DC hubs and so on.
So basically, it’s all been rather tentatively started up, but more an more people joining in, and all eager to help out.
Emma’s P2PUnite web page has this to say.
“As of late the MPAA’s and RIAA’s of the world are claiming that we are robbing them of their rightly earned money and are trying to find ways to legally put and end to it,” says Emma on her new . “The scare tactics have been fruitful, it would seem as they keep getting settlements out of court and probably make a profit out of it.
“This campaign of theirs, of course, isn’t to target and eradicate filesharing as much as an attempt to control the market and where our money goes. Most of us feel that they should very well look into availability and affordable prices instead of claiming higher moral ground. The wealthiest nowadays decide what we shall listen to and watch, using staggering PR campaigns, and most releases are ‘format’ productions, where talent and creativity comes second only to business concept and money.”
Bill Evans was one of the first to suggest that boycotts might be the only way to halt Big Music in its tracks. He started the original, and seminal, Boycott-RIAA.com. Unfortunately, he and its new owners couldn`t agree he`s no longer associated with it.
However, his ideas were sound and Emma wants everyone who’s shared a file, “downloaded something from online or think that the prices are outrageous in general” to send a message.
But, “This is not to be confused as go pirate everything you can find as the production companies are common robbers,” she emphasises.
Rather, it’s a way, “to show that we are indeed supporting them already, so stop fighting us!”
“Spread the word everywhere you can think of,” she adds on her web page.
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Something you think we should know? tips[at]p2pnet.net
April 21st, 2005 at 5:52 pm
mmmm bet they are really worried about this – not.
April 21st, 2005 at 8:06 pm
While I have mentioned about the length of the boycott as “only a week?” type thing, I wish rather maybe to say something else. I believe I have covered the time thing enough already.
If in the back of your mind, you haven’t wondered perhaps you should. Why is it that fair and equal time isn’t given to the opposition of those so ready to spread on the airwaves and cables of the world that “pirates sail the internet doing damage”? If you aren’t aware of why, you should be. The major music conglomerates either have vested interest or own and control major media outlets. They have used that influance to assure that their message gets out and that opposing messages get throttled before it has a chance to be known. Usually the mentions of disagreement with their actions are either found in the editiorials or on the net. You don’t hear anything coming out the major broadcasters that counter this steady drum beat of pirates. That should tell you something. Money and influance is being applied to stifle the opposition.
For the average public citizen, if they are aware of some sort of problem, the 6 o’clock news is about their only source besides the radio of exposure. Because of that most aren’t even aware there is a problem till they go buy the music and find out it doesn’t work as they wish. I have read many complaints of DRM stifling the legal applications that the average consumer would wish to do with his purchased product. You can be sure for every one you hear there are literally hundreds that weren’t outspoken but were still teed to be ripped off for their money only to not be able to do with that purchased product the transfer to some other platform to enjoy that product. These stories aren’t getting out either. Its a one way filter, just like a one way mirror.
When it comes to looking for laws to support the latest to fight infringement you see every major music company represented by the RIAA. When it comes to something like anticompetive court cases brought against those same majors you hear the “you don’t have jurisdiction” routine. This is a huge game being played with you the customer being caught right in the middle.
It has developed that this commercialism of the airwaves has reached the point that it no longer serves the interests of the public. It serves the interests of businesses only and one of the biggest cold blooded sharks of the businesses is the music majors. If you don’t tell them now, in 2 years you will wish you had.
April 21st, 2005 at 11:52 pm
I’m sure that a short term boycott doesn’t worry them. Like the gas boycott. eventually we need to fill our tanks, watch movies or listen to music. I’m already boycotting so no change here anyway.
Rick
April 22nd, 2005 at 1:40 am
[quote]>That should tell you something. Money and influance is being applied to stifle the opposition. [end o' quote]
reeeeaaalllly. there’s an ancient, arcane, vast old tome which you are quoting from…it’s called ‘the book of duh.’ this ain’t some new trend or marketing move, or carefully researched and focus-grouped idear, kids. money+influence+power will ALWAYS stifle the opposition in our world…its, while perhaps not ‘right’ or morally ‘good,’ a strongly standing embedded fact of the dollar driven world you exist in. it’s been fact since caveman a clubbed caveman b because he was stronger, and got the girl…up thru ancient rome and feudal japan and feudal everywhere-else and the inquisition and the car-gasoline economy taking over up to right now where you think you’ll make a dent with some kind of nice ’stick it to THE MAN’ boycott that won’t do jack-smurf to change their tactics. cause they make billion$ off ‘em whether they’re ‘good for us as individuals and a species’ or not.
and,
[quote]A week-long boycott will show them exactly whoâs in charge.[end quote]
NO. the only dog-darned thing that will ’show them what’s in charge,’ them being every covert and overt big biz, organization, guv’mint, quasi-guv’mint, ’shadow conspiracy trilateral commission,’ RIAA, MPAA, CIA, MIA, WTF, you-name-it-X-files-group whether church-run, mafia-run, martian-run, gerbil-run,
the ONLY thing that these groups that have been in power and will be in power will EVER be ’shown’ anything through is you re-watching fight club
and revisiting the very last few minutes of that fine flick when the pixies ‘where is my mind’ is playing, and the buildings are going up in smoke.
that’s the only thing that changes biz policies, kiddies.
April 22nd, 2005 at 2:20 am
duh.
April 22nd, 2005 at 3:19 am
Yes, the way of the world has been this way for quite sometime. There is some difference starting though. 10 years ago you didn’t hear of people wanting to boycott the majors. Through their own actions they are stirring up a hornets nest of resentment. It isn’t going unnoticed.
If you believe this is fruitless then suggest another tact that is reasonable towards accomplishing the goal of telling these folks that the actions they using are not acceptable.
An Irish gentleman by the name of Boycott was once using simular tactics back in the 1800’s or so to grab land from families that could not pay. He became so resented within the town he lived in that the township began a boycott that resulted in him going bankrupt. Hence boycott was born.
I am all in agreement that a week isn’t going to cut it but then I have made my feelings known earlier on that. It’s gotta be long term to have results.
If you have valid and doable suggestions to work towards this goal, lets us hear them by all means.
April 22nd, 2005 at 3:24 am
proper respect to ya, me, for the history on ‘boycott.’ good info.
April 22nd, 2005 at 8:34 am
I’m all for this boycott, but i really don’t think it’s necessary.
The riaa and mpaa member organisations are just infrastructure. Increasingly obsolete, expensive, inefficient and unnecessary infrastructure.
I give both organisations 5 years before they’re declared unviable by stock analysts.
April 22nd, 2005 at 3:44 pm
Unless a lot of people take part, the industry’s probably just going to chalk it up to filesharing and continue suing.
April 22nd, 2005 at 4:56 pm
Past boycotts have largely been unsuccessful. To be successful against a large corporation, you have to have the support of a majority of consumers and you also have to boycott all the items that the corporation sells or it’ll just be lost in the numbers. A corporation like Sony sells more than just music and movies. They sell computers, blank media, DVD and CD players… the list goes on and on. To attract the interest of an industry is even harder. A week is not long enough.
I’ll participate because I haven’t bought music since the RIAA started suing consumers, which still seems to me to be a really, really bad thing to do. When the MPAA starts to sue individuals I’ll also stop buying movies and going to the theatre.
As for other suggestions:
Protest marches in Washington get the mainstream media’s attention. Protesting at major awards (the Grammys, Oscars, etc), if enough people show up, will also garner attention.
April 22nd, 2005 at 5:37 pm
As for other suggestions:
Protest marches in Washington get the mainstream media’s attention. Protesting at major awards (the Grammys, Oscars, etc), if enough people show up, will also garner attention.
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how about flashmobbing at a different cartel office every day during the boycott? most every major city in europe and usa have cartel offices.
i don’t know how to organize flashmobbing. i’ve only read about a few ridiculous ones which had no useful purpose. at least we have a purpose. can someone here propose a way?
April 22nd, 2005 at 5:44 pm
http://www.say-no.se/
Boycott starts 1st of May 2005!
t is time for all music and movie lovers to put their foot down and
SAY NO to high prices and lack of quality online services.
The Say No Campaign encourages all of you around the world to stop buying CD’sand DVD’s until the Music Industry and Movie Industry starts to listen and change how they do business. We want lower prices and better, faster and easy-to-use online services.
Here are three simple steps to make this campaign successful:
# Don’t buy or rent any CD or DVD during the boycott.
# Tell your friends, colleagues, family and relatives about this campaign.
# Become a Supporter to show your participation. Together we are stronger.
The Say No Campaign is continuously running but phase 1 of the boycott runs between 1st of May 2005 and 31st of December 2005.
April 23rd, 2005 at 5:15 am
COME TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!! This boycott for a week Year or forever whatever will cost you NOTHING!!!!!! So whats the Big Deal in helping to make it happen!!!!! Boycott BOYCOTT !!!!! Your money in your pocket NOT the Riaa’s Mpaa’s so they can SUE more People BUY OFF your REPS in government and STEAL your Rights away under the AHRA and last but not least using your MONEY to pay radio stations to play their crappy music to brainwash you to buy it and shut out the indie artists from the main stream music market all while trying to control the Music world !!!!!! Ya’ll getting the BIG picture here now. BOYCOTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 23rd, 2005 at 8:47 am
an even crazier idea? give up on boycotting these stupid, lame, stinky, complete lack of reality organizations and MAKE YOUR OWN BLESSED CONTENT, ya silly kids. stop bitching about cd’s costing too much and movies costing too much, and crying because ‘they want to dictate this’ and ‘they won’t respect our consumer rights!’ and go live life and stop spinning around the big gerbilwheel of consumption, because ‘they’ dont’ give a feck what you think about right and wrong. worry about real things that are pressing and real and vital and NOW and going to kill you and the collective spirit of this race a hell of a lot more quickly than the mpaa riaa uncle sam, information wanting to be free vs. information not giving a feck, etc etc etc…like, radiation, poverty, homelessness, running out of oil trees humanity whatever you wish – pick and choose and go fight for some real content and culture. sheesh. i ain’t being some negative ninnie, and i agree with every last one of you cheeky hipsters that ‘they’ are getting away with too much – but theres FREE music and FREE movies that people (whoa! maybe even people you know – hey, maybe even you!) are making, all the time, right now.
April 24th, 2005 at 5:17 pm
TOGETHER WE CAN DO A GREAT DEAL
At home we decided to stop renting DVDs from Blockbuster, switching the TV set away from Sony, Universal and Warner programs (despite how much I love “Friends”) and even refusing to listen to EMI recordings for an entire week (so my Beatle’s Collection goes to sleep).
PLEASE EVERYONE DO LIKEWISE to see the powerful effect this may have.
Pass it on
April 24th, 2005 at 5:18 pm
TOGETHER WE CAN DO A GREAT DEAL
At home we decided to stop renting DVDs from Blockbuster, switching the TV set away from Sony, Universal and Warner programs (despite how much I love “Friends”) and even refusing to listen to EMI recordings for an entire week (so my Beatle’s Collection goes to sleep).
PLEASE EVERYONE DO LIKEWISE to see the powerful effect this may have.
Pass it on
Reinaldo, San Antonio de los Altos, Venezuela
April 24th, 2005 at 5:47 pm
Let them know why we are boycotting! or else they’ll blaim they’re profit loss on filesharring!
WE ARE BOYCOTTING THEIR CRAP, BECAUSE OF THE MANY LAWSUITS THEY FILE AGAINST THEIR CUSTUMERS!
April 26th, 2005 at 2:39 pm
dismal failure as predicted , total waste of time