Recording Industry Looking At Bribing ISPs To Side With It Against File Sharing
from the incentives dept
At the MidemNet event this past weekend, there were multiple discussions concerning the role of ISPs in solving the recording industry's problems. Some believed that ISPs were obligated to be involved, some felt that ISPs should be totally separate, and then there were some viewpoints in between. However, one theme that popped up a few times was the idea that having ISPs acting as enforcers could "open up new business opportunities and revenue streams for the ISPs." That seemed a bit odd, because the ISPs would be spending time trying to crack down on file sharers and would be losing customers. However, now it's becoming clear what may be meant: bribes.Well, more technically, they're calling it "revenue sharing." Thus, there are reports of ISPs being offered a deal, whereby they have to crack down on file sharing, kicking off file sharers -- but then get a split of any money obtained from music fans who pay up when challenged by an antipiracy company. I'm sure there are some ISPs that would be open to such a thing, but it won't stop a lot of angry users from looking for a more customer friendly ISP. Also, when your whole business model is based on squeezing people who don't have very much money in the first place, it's difficult to see this surviving very long.
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
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
In that case
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Corporate extortion
Now, not only do you get sued, but your ISP has a vested interest to falsify information to make you look guilty. Since very few of these cases ever go to court, there would be no incentive for them to be honest. The more settlements the RIAA gets, the more money the ISP gets.
And, this fits in with the RIAA's claim to stop filing lawsuits how? If the "revenue stream" for ISPs comes from those lawsuits, what incentive is there for the ISP if the RIAA actually stops the lawsuits.
Last, how did we get to the point where private corporations have the authority to police, sentence, and discipline private citizens with no court oversight? Given the necessity for an internet connection in today's society, shouldn't this be illegal as hell?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Corporate extortion
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
uh huh...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Is that even legal?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
bargaining, eh?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubler-Ross_model
all we've got to deal with now is depression and then finally acceptance.
whew...
m3mnoch.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: bargaining, eh?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Here we go again!
BestJobsOnline(NO RIAA JOBS!)
http://tinyurl.com/7uj5ay
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Here we go again!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
RIAA
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Uh huh
Yeeeesss.......because that has worked SO WELL so far for music ARTISTS.....wait, whats that? NOT ONE PENNY of litigation income has gone to ANY artist? But....but....the RIAA is suing on BEHALF of the artists! Surely they would share when they win a case! Surely they would do so for ISP's too, right? Right?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Innocent until proven guilty == just a dream
Some people still do not understand how the consumer driven market affects their business. Go figure.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Pay for squeel?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Pay for squeel?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I know I'd cancel my account with any ISP that does this. Not because I'm file sharing, but because I do not wish to be punished for an unsupportable false allegation, which neither the ISPs nor the RIAA seem to have any interest in making sure they're correct before suing/cutting people off.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I'm very confused!
ISP: Go to hell, RIAA.
RIAA: But we'll pay you!
If the entire intent for RIAA is to stop suing people, how in the hell can it share monies when they're not going after anyone?
People, it's simple: Tell everyone you know to STOP. BUYING. MUSIC.
This will be the ONLY way to stop the recording industry.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
ISP + Music Industry = bigger bully
And it won't affect me at all - I see no reason to pirate music, nor purchase it. I don't really need to own licenses to sub-par music, nor do I want to waste storage space on it.
I avoid buying music. Yeah, CD sales dwindle, so what. As far as I'm concerned, the music industry, and the artists that support them don't have what it takes to bring music into the 21st century. Some of today's artists are so unimaginative, they've resorted to writing cheap knock-offs, like Kid Rock's version of "Sweet Home Alabama". Music Industry 1.0 is dead, ladies and gentlemen. Elvis has left the building.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Not a "bribe"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Not a "bribe"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]