More IFPI p2p bullshit
p2p news / p2pnet: With its credibility rating even lower – much lower – than usual, thanks wholly to member Sony BMG and its DRM scheme – Organized Music is using its IFPI to once again stir up the mainstream media print and electronic media.
OM members Vivendi Universal, Warner Music, EMI Group and Sony BMG are desperately trying to destroy the p2p networks to gain control over the people who use them.
They’re failing dismally.
Some 20,000 to 22,000 children, grandmas and grandpas, aunts, uncles, mums and dads around the world have so far been pilloried by the Big Four. Having already squandered hundreds of millions of shareholder dollars on laws suits and PR puffaganda campaigns, the labels continue to claim they’re significantly reducing the number of file sharers, and the mainstream media, in turn, report this as though it’s an accurate representation of reality.
However, in the US alone, where about 16,000, of the ‘legal’ actions have taken place, it’s estimated that 61 million surfers log on to share files with each other. And a powerful protest movement is building, sparked by US mothers Tanya Andersen, who’s suing the cartels under the RICO crime act, and Patricia Santangelo. They’re among the growing number of people who are defying Organized Music.
The OM cartel uses the media to claim its owners have successfully prosecuted the 16,000. And yet not one of them has ever been found guilty of anything, and not one of them has appeared in court.
Globally, in October, 2003, the number of individuals on the networks at any one time in the day was 6,142,506 and last year, it was 6,255,986, says p2p research company BigChampagne..
This October, the number had soared to 9,168,812.
Yet the often-discredited IFPI (International Federation of Phonographic Industry) says it’s now trying to get 2,100 new cases going against people in Europe, Asia and, for the first time, South America.
Its sue ‘em all actions “are helping to encourage the development of the legitimate digital music business,” it states unblushingly,
This latest IFPI release is packed with outright lies, half-truths, distortions and mis- and disinformation. But it’ll be quoted as accurate by the world press corpse, which is only to be expected since many (most?) of the major outlets are owned and/or directly or indirectly controlled by it.
However, it’s different online. There, the truth is reported.
See:-
Tanya Andersen – Victim sues RIAA under RICO Act, October 2, 2005
Patricia Santangelo – RIAA victim talks to p2pnet, September 4, 2005
defying Organized Music – The ‘We’re Not Taking Any More’ club, September 17, 2005
soared to 9,168,812 – More RIAA p2p distortions, November 12, 2005
November 15th, 2005 at 9:27 pm
The owners of the LAME code that was illegally included in the software on the 2.1 million CDs Sony sold could provide a settlement offer in which Sony pays restitution to all those who have been extorted over file sharing, and promises to stop going after p2p users in the future.
Since Sony could be looking at $75,000 in damages per infringing copy ($150 billion) thanks to laws it helped legislate, the settlement offer would be a steal.
November 15th, 2005 at 10:04 pm
I went to the RIAA website and did an extensive search for any information on any of Sony’s malfeasance. I found nothing- Surprise!!!
November 16th, 2005 at 12:13 am
Hmmm…I may have been wrong about the damages being totalled as the “number of copies”. It may be the number of works infringed that’s at issue.
I’m sure that this will all be hashed out…
November 16th, 2005 at 4:42 am
All the cartel members are playing dead possum hoping this will blow over and leave them unaffected. Naturally Sony isn’t going to be able to do this since they got caught with their fingers in the cookie jar. Just because you don’t hear anything from them don’t think they weren’t considering it also. F4I (the maker of the rootkit) has already stated that all the cartel members had purchased the software and were certainly using it in limited editon releases (most probably for critics to try and discover who is letting the cat out of the bag early).
Look for some other action to come up to attempt to divert attention from this mess and try to pull Sony’s fingers out of the cookie jar. Just keep focused on the real thing. Don’t let it slip from public attention. These sort of misdeeds are the best way to get the lawmakers to retract or at least amend the laws that have gone way to far out of balance towards copyright holders.
The sole reason for copyright to exist has been really distorted. Without material reaching public domain, there is no reason that any work should be copyrighted. That was the original intention and bargain with the holders to allow them the sole exclusivity. That part of the bargain has been so distorted that nothing reaches public domain. If its time runs out to be in public domain, where are the sources for these works? Mostly when those works economic viability is gone, so is the work. Those holders aren’t holding the works for public domain. Once they have gotten their use out the works they chunk it. Odds are that by the time those works are eligiable, there won’t be any equipment on the market that will play it back. Copyright lengths should be amended to read that once economic livelyhood is gone, those works are returned to the public as public domain. That would run out far sooner than the present scheme and would also encourage holders to continue to produce new stuff. The present idea that works 30 and 40 years old are as valuable as newer works is nothing short of price fixing.