|
|
|
|
|
|
File-Sharing Networks Strike Back
By Simon Doyle
The next stage of the battle being waged by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) over peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing networks like Grokster, Kazaa and Morpheus has begun — the RIAA is gathering evidence to prosecute individual users for copyright infringement. But this war is far from over; public interest groups, software companies and users are making a rearguard advance in defence of file-sharing.
“It is an obvious attempt to intimidate people off of file-sharing programs," says Bill Evans, President and founder of Boycott-RIAA, an affiliation of self-professed "music lovers" who believe the RIAA over-extends unfair copyright laws. “I think the actions of the RIAA will further alienate music consumers, if that is possible. We've heard from people who don't file share at all, that feel they are being treated as criminals.”
Evans is urging alienated music fans to get involved in localised flyer distribution campaigns across the U.S., scheduled to take place August 2, where Boycott-RIAA "street teams" will stage symbolic CD burnings "in the Boston Tea Party vein."
The U.S. Congress is one current target: Evans, along with P2P networks and public interest groups like the Electric Frontier Foundation, are pushing for public hearings on the P2P controversy.
"The sick think is, we would love to pay [copy]rights' owners," says Grokster President Wayne Rosso. "But it's one of those things where we say, ‘please let us pay you,’ and they won't take our money."
The RIAA plans to launch thousands of individual lawsuits in the U.S. on behalf of its member companies — a second offensive after an April court ruling that stated the networks themselves could not be held accountable for instances of copyright infringement by individuals.
According to RIAA spokesperson Jonathan Lamy, "[The RIAA] are the ones bringing action to something virtually everyone in the music community is supportive of.” He added that the P2P users subpoenaed will be those who distribute "significant" amounts of copyrighted music.
Grokster’s Rosso is responding by forming a lobby group specifically geared to targeting Congress. "I assure you we will be organising the users,” he says. “We want to mobilise them."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
Tindersticks' Decade of Defiance
 Leonard Cohen is a pop star and the Velvet Underground is on the jukebox. Welcome to the world of Tindersticks, a sound in humble defiance of the outside world. By Michael White...Read More
|
|
|
Broadcast’s Confusion Made By People
 Walk into any record store and you will find a couple of excellent records by UK band Broadcast, but it’s tough to guess where they’ll be filed. Don’t ask the band: they can’t help you. By Cam Lindsay...Read More
|
|
|
Low Pressure Records Collective Parties Like It’s 1996
 Nostalgia rules the Can-hop scene. The Low Pressure label is taking their 1996 reunion party on the road, allowing DJ Moves, Tachichi, Gordski, Kunga and Cee!!! to get their drink on and take the stage at the same time. By Thomas Quinlan...Read More
|
|
|
Soft Canyon Enjoys A Brand New Day
 His previous band, Tricky Woo, was fluent in the language of rock, but with his new project Soft Canyon, Andrew Dickson has much more to say. By Lorraine Carpenter...Read More
|
|
|
Rockets Red Glare Don’t Mean To Confuse You
 Math is hard, sure, but math rock can still be fun. Leading the charge of bands who think 5/4 is the new 4/4, Rockets Red Glare launch their best album yet and then decide to quit. By Neil Haverty...Read More
|
|
|
Every Time I Die Blame Buffalo
 Buffalo can beat the life out of you, or it can inspire you to create better art. Perhaps it’s done both to metal cynics Every Time I Die, who playfully pummel with catchy hooks. By Chris Gramlich...Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|