Recording Industry Funds Charity To Run Its Latest Brainwashing Program

from the why-should-a-charity-be-hyping-one-industry's-business-model? dept

Fri, May 2nd 2008 8:30am — Mike Masnick

We've already seen the entertainment industry put together propaganda curriculums for kids about "intellectual property" that are so tilted and one-sided that the kids roll their eyes and challenge many of the statements. But that's not stopping the industry. Now it's funding a children's charity to push out the same propaganda to kids, warning the kids about how awful file sharing is, and how dangerous it is. Who knew that charities could be funded to promote the obsolete business model of a dying industry? Somehow I doubt that the charity's discussion will delve into things like "fair use," collaboration, sharing, the promotional aspects of content and artists who embrace file sharing to good results. I wonder why...

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: charity, music, propaganda, recording industry, uk

19 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

eleete, 2 May 2008 @ 8:44am

Greed
Nor will they tell you how the multi billion dollar industry they represent could possibly have "starving artists". Or how the greatest threat to 'the children' are the lawsuits that will bankrupt their parents that the very force behind the film engages in.

e
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
David, 2 May 2008 @ 8:54am

It's not quite as bad as prior attempts though, as Ars notes. They even discuss Creative Commons licensing.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080430-ifpi-backed-net-music-guide-aims-to-help -befuddled-parents.html
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
barren waste, 2 May 2008 @ 8:58am

Heil Copyright!
First of all, they mislead you by calling it a charity. Charity is showing compassion to those less fortunate. Any child with access to the internet does not fall under that category by my thoughts. That said, yes, children should be made aware of the dangers inherent to the internet, but why does it cost so much that a charity is needed? With a couple of hours and one or two hundred dollars I could make a website, type a guide, and hand out several thousand fliers. Where does the money they raise go? And why isn't it being used for solving something that actually requires large sums of cash?

Secondly, the recording industry is unethically buying laws and forcing consumers into modes of conduct that do not agree with emerging markets and societal mores. They have no business buying the laws and they have even less business violating our homes and children in the name of charity.

The recording industry, protecting our children by raping thier minds since 1990. For those who think this is hyperbole, check out the RIAA's website.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
PaulT (profile), 2 May 2008 @ 9:23am

I've said it before and I'll say it again - if the record industry spent the same amount of time, money and effort in researching new markets and proper A&R as it does in lawsuits and hare-brained "education" schemes, their profits would be sky rocketing.

Meanwhile, the videogame industry - a direct competitor to the music industry which does both of these things - is having a great time. GTA4's breaking records, as is the Wii. That's why the music industry's suffering - the kids they're trying to "educate" are spending their parents' cash in that direction instead of music. Do you think any self-respecting gamer would rather have 5 CDs instead of GTA4? Not even if music was as hard to pirate as games are.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Daniel Mittleman, 2 May 2008 @ 9:31am

a virus is a virus is a virus
Too bad the recording industry isn't willing to fund charities combating AIDS in Africa. That's a virus prevention program that might actually do some good.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
well..., 2 May 2008 @ 9:39am

off subject, but if i took one of their pamphlets and at the same time bought a new printer because my old monochrome dot-matrix gave up the ghost, I would most likely get threatened with a lawsuit...
anyway let them spend money who they like to, and lose moeny how they are going to, eventually some labels might get tired of their bullshit and leave.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Overcast, 2 May 2008 @ 9:42am

The campaign, which is supported by the music industry, will distribute a pocket-sized guide to schools and colleges in 21 countries.

Question....

what if I want to make copies of this 'guide' and distribute it? Would that be illegal?

I guess so!

So - since I'm unsure of the origin of the 'copy' my kid may receive, I will be sure to get rid of it ASAP!!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- eleete, 2 May 2008 @ 10:14am
  
  Re: Distributing
  Make sure you shred it, otherwise, simply placing it in your trash bin will "make it available" to anyone who walks in front of your home. Infringing once again when you pass it to your neighborly trash collector.
  
  e
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
barren waste, 2 May 2008 @ 9:46am

The Copyright's Prayer
The Copyright's Prayer

Our Father, who art in Heaven, copyright be thy name;
my writing done for eternal income, on earth as it is in heaven. Give me this day, more unearned bread. And forgive me my infringements, as I sue those who infringe against me.
And lead me not into bankruptcy, but deliver me from piracy for thy are the law, and the power, and money for ever. Amen.

I wonder if failing to copyright this could be considered blasphemy on my part?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- eleete, 2 May 2008 @ 10:15am
  
  Re: The Copyright's Prayer
  Now THAT is funny ! May I use that ? lol
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Corey, 5 May 2008 @ 7:43pm
  
  Re: The Copyright's Prayer
  To throw blanket statement out there like "my writing done for eternal income, on earth as it is in heaven. Give me this day, more unearned bread." shows complete ignorance. Fisrt of all, most people who make a living off copyrighted works don't make all that much money. And for your "unearned bread" comment, if you create a product that people want, should you not be compensated? Remember, most people who make money off copyrighted works are not getting paid up front - but some of you in here act like everyone who writes anything is getting paid some massive fee up front then making millions each year off royalties. More commenly, they get paid nothing up front, and make very little each year off of each work. Most song writers or authors needed many, many works out there before they can even write full time and make a modest living.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Mike (profile), 6 May 2008 @ 12:02am
    
    Re: Re: The Copyright's Prayer
    Fisrt of all, most people who make a living off copyrighted works don't make all that much money. And for your "unearned bread" comment, if you create a product that people want, should you not be compensated?
    
    Damn Corey. Haven't we gone over this before...
    
    Nowhere (NOWHERE) do we say that people shouldn't be compensated. In fact, we point to economic evidence showing why it's likely they'll be able to earn MORE without copyright.
    
    Secondly, since even you point out that most people don't earn much, why are you so vehemently against trying new models?
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Corey, 6 May 2008 @ 7:51am
      
      Re: Re: Re: The Copyright's Prayer
      Seriously Mike, you have such a narrow view of everything. I never said I was against trying new models. But you don't just throw out laws that were created to encourage creation based on a THEORY!
      
      Why you can't understand that if everybody gave away everything for free, the economics might work out differently then when a small percentage of people do it is beyond me. If your economic model is so great, it'll eventually win out, but you can't force these things. If you start changing laws and economic model of many businesses and they all fall on their face because the model doesn't work, then everybody loses. It's just got to play itself out.
      
      I know, I know, you've got examples showing it will work on a micro level, and your THEORY says it will work on a macro level. Well, to quote Homer Simpson, "In theory, communism works. In theory."
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 2 May 2008 @ 10:02am

Just like why some target children for sexual abuse then adults! Cause they can't get it with the adults that know better. They are no better! Rapists and pedophiles!

Shame on you RIAA!

DIAF
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Etch, 2 May 2008 @ 10:40am

South Park
Reminds me of the Napster episode of South park, when the kids download mp3s. The FBI raids their house, and the FBI Agent takes the kids to show them Lars Ulrich(Metallica) sitting next to an empty pool in his mansion crying because he can't afford to fill it with water, because of illegal downloading!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anthony, 2 May 2008 @ 10:45am

Come on! No one understandy why they made this a charity? No one? Really?
Wow, I can't believe no saw this as the tax dodge that it really is! See, now every dollar that they spend fighting piracy is now a charitable donation and is therefore tax deductable.
Come on, people! EVERY action by corporate America can be traced directly back to the bottom line. I really can't believe no one saw this earlier.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Dave, 2 May 2008 @ 11:06am

what a joke
You know, even though I'm old, when stuff like this happens I can completely understand why young people think old people are jackasses. :)

Next thing you know, Ted Stevens will be running the RIAA.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
BizModl, 3 May 2008 @ 6:06am

This is an idea that could really take off
The soda companies should form a charitable foundation to warn children of the dangers of not getting enough high-fructose corn sweetner and phosphoric acid.

The fast food industry should form a charitable foundation to warn children of the dangers of low weight caused by inadequate consumption of salt, grease, and starch.

The tobacco industry should form a charitable fundation to warn children of the effects of chronic nicotine deficiency, and the netgative social implications of proving that you're a dork because you're too chicken to smoke.

Can't write more. I'm on my way to my lawyer to patent that business model.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 5 May 2008 @ 7:46pm

Just like your one sided approach to the subject?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]