RIAA Takes MPAA's Condescending Response To Protests Up A Notch

from the true-colors dept

Thu, Jan 19th 2012 12:56pm — Mike Masnick

If you thought that the MPAA's obnoxious, tone-deaf and out-of-touch response to the SOPA/PIPA protest blackouts was ridiculous, it appears that Jonathan Lamy, VP of Communications for the RIAA, wanted to take things up a notch by obnoxiously tweeting that perhaps students would be better off with Wikipedia down for the day:

After Wikipedia blackrout, somewhere, a student today is doing original research and getting his/her facts straight. Perish the thought.

Lamy apparently realized what a pompous jerk that made him sound like... and removed the tweet -- but thankfully, the good folks over at Gizmodo already had saved a screenshot, which you now see above.

The MPAA and the RIAA have never been good about doing any kind of communication with "the public." They're just not set up for that kind of thing. They communicate with elected officials and with the press. And that's about the extent of it. Of course, in this situation, where the public is actually paying attention to them... all they're doing is showing off their true colors: condescending, entitled, spoiled brats who are seriously pissed off they're not getting their way. Boo-freaking-hoo.

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: blackouts, condescension, jonathan lamy, pipa, protect ip, protests, sopa
Companies: riaa

50 Comments

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

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

drew (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 12:59pm

actually
i think that's quite funny. I'd have kept it up there.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Violated (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 12:59pm

The Feds/DoJ have taken down MegaUpload. Kim Dotcom arrested in NZ.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:02pm

Re:
I guess Obama actually can have it both ways.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
demented, 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:03pm

Re:
In other words, they see American citizens voicing their wishes as an act of unofficial war. So they start attacking random targets and jailing people.

You want war, "dear leaders"? You got it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jeff (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:03pm

Jackasses will be jackasses I guess...

but then again, to work at such a soul sucking, morally bankrupt, parasitic, oxygen stealing organization - I would expect that...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
E. Zachary Knight (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:04pm

Re:
We are working on coverage. Don't worry.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:07pm

Sure, because the RIAA and MPAA are definitely the authority of getting their facts straight, right? I mean, who can argue with their claims that the Internet is causing them $133422344324349887342798797984234 in damages?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
arcan, 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:07pm

lets just do to them what used to happen to spoiled brats. SPANK THEM ALL
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hans, 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:08pm

wtf is a blackrout?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:09pm

I like how they think that deleting the tweet would do anything. They're the f**king RIAA, people are watching their twitter account 24/7. The Internet does not forget, the Internet does not forgive. Expect us.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
demented, 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:10pm

I'm in favor of stranding Lamy in some war-torn 3rd-world country with no money. Anyone else?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
el_segfaulto (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:12pm

Re:
I just had a flashback to a scene from Fight Club...unfortunately it was a copyright infringing memory so I'm off to the big house. I'll see you guys in 7-10!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:14pm

Re: Re:
I'll see you there. I'm sure they're coming after me next for making you think it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
:Lobo Santo (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:14pm

Re: Blackrout
Blackrout: A catfish raised in oil polluted waters.
;-P
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Gwiz (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:15pm

Hey! I commented on this earlier today. You guys "stealing" my stuff now? Lol.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120118/22000417463/hollywood-film-editor-gives-detailed-e xplanation-why-hollywood-shouldnt-support-sopapipa.shtml#c241

I still think that last few lines by the Gizmodo writer are priceless.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:15pm

The backlash about Megaupload is going to be insane after yesterday.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
demented, 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:16pm

Re: Re:
"The first rule of Fight Club is..."

*sound of door smashing in*

*choking, screaming, sound of beatings*

TELL MY BOYFRIEND I LOVE HIIIIIMMMM....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DannyB (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:24pm

Re:
If they can take down Megaupload under existing law, then why do they need SOPA?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:25pm

And by "original research" he meant by a physical book (preferably hardbound) and read it under whale oil light.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DannyB (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:26pm

Re:
If they don't need SOPA to shut down Megaupload, then why do they need SOPA?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
demented, 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:26pm

Re: Re:
Because current laws don't allow for suppression of free speech and destruction of any media/corporate rivals.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
gorehound (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:26pm

Re: Re:
Because they are asshole scumbags.And they will do whatever they want.Money Talks and we ain't got the cash to buy some laws or lawmakers.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:27pm

Re: Re:
To get rid of that annoying due process garbage.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jeffrey Nonken (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:41pm

Re:
You forgot to carry the 1 trillion.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Machin Shin (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:44pm

Re: Re:
Because they probably had to do a bit more paperwork for to do it under current laws. They and the power to point their finger and kill the site instantly. They can do things like this currently but it is actually a little work at least.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:48pm

Re: Re:
Whatever, they're terrible at math anyway. They won't know the difference. They'll blame that lost trillion on pirates as usual.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Machin Shin (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:48pm

Re:
And you better not be doing that research in a library. It needs to be a hard back book that you bought. On top of that you had better not even think about copying anything at all out of that book.

In fact what are you even doing reading anything, you are stealing their work storing it in your mind! Dirty thiefs!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Toot Rue (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:51pm

Presumably 'facts straight' means not getting information from the internet but instead getting it from some less questionable source like Hollywood or a politician.

It would just be so much easier without that pesky internet.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DAISHI, 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:57pm

Out of Touch
While nobody is going to be widespread citing Wikipedia as a source, it's foolish to think that - at the very least - it's not a good launch point for research, especially when unfamiliar with a topic. I work on a grant program extended through several universities, researching online education and its effectiveness. To say researchers don't use Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons would be a lie. Don't get me wrong, all the heavy research still happens in the books, in experiments, interviews, etc. But Wikipedia has become a reliable launch tool for startup research.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ervserver (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 2:10pm

re
THE RIAA and MPAA can take over the internet and control everything but they will never make me buy music or movies. I'll keep streaming free legal music, check out movies from the library or find legal free stuff online. I won't spend a dime
[ link to this | view in thread ]
JH, 19 Jan 2012 @ 2:37pm

Talk about someone who needs to do some research and get facts stright, aren't these the people that have been trumpeting the same debunked BS numbers over and over again?

Sounds like someone's pissy because no one bothered to create a wikipedia page for him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=jonathan+lamy&go=Go
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2012 @ 3:08pm

As much as I dislike these guys, I can't help but feel he has a point. Very hypocritical of him, but he has a point. Students need to learn how to use databases to find primary sources rather than rely on wikipedia. Other than getting a minor summary, EBSCO, LexisNexis and the like are far better for doing internet research than wikipedia.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
MrWilson, 19 Jan 2012 @ 3:30pm

Re:
"The Internet does not forget"

Neither does Google cache, so any college student worth their lolcats would know that during the blackout, they just had to google the Wikipedia entry they were looking for and pull up the cached version.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Digitari, 19 Jan 2012 @ 4:18pm

Re: Re: Re:
the time is NOW folks, RIGHT NOW. Not next November, not next week, the TIME HAS COME

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Thomas Jefferson

Put up, or shut up and take it.

THE WAR HAS BEGUN
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2012 @ 6:47pm

Re:
Lamy needs to learn how to sprell.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2012 @ 9:30pm

Re: Re:
Yup, well spotted. Or, just maybe, frustrated Wikipedia users could have read what Wikipedia said about SOPA/PIPA. There, they could have discovered that all they needed to do was turn off JavaScript and Wikipedia would and did work just fine during the "blackout". Turning off JavaScript is a whole five clicks in Firefox. Poor darlings, so difficult ...

Reading comprehension is a wonderful thing.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Knux Kitsune, 19 Jan 2012 @ 9:56pm

Re: actually
Even though Wikipedia has been proven to be among the most complete and accurate resource materials in the world?

Articles: http://nextbison.wordpress.com/2011/05/18/should-you-believe-wikipedia/

http://www.sciencedaily.c om/releases/2011/04/110414131855.htm

http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/1011-how-accurate-is-wik ipedia.html
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Knux Kitsune, 19 Jan 2012 @ 10:04pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Join the fight, friend.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
MrWilson, 19 Jan 2012 @ 10:50pm

Re: Re: Re:
"Reading comprehension is a wonderful thing..." that is missing in many of the college students (and college graduates) with whom I am familiar.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
wvhillbilly (profile), 19 Jan 2012 @ 10:59pm

Re: Re:
"I guess Obama actually can have it both ways."

Yup, he did it on NDA! He said he would veto it, and what did he do? He very sneakily signed it on Jan. 2 when I guess he thought nobody was paying attention.

I believe the USA is on the fast track to becoming a police state like Nazi Germany, Russia and China, and Obama has a thousand horsepower bulldozer behind it shoving it along as fast as he can.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
hmm (profile), 20 Jan 2012 @ 2:54am

Re: Re: Re:
this ISN'T a racist post btw, this is a genuine event that happened at the RIAA. Some people will find this post offensive, please don't block it. The opinion of the RIAA is NOT MINE and I hate what they stand for.

The funniest thing is, the RIAA claims to be for the artists, then in private they're the most hideous and disgusting racist and sexist monsters you could hope to meet.

Recent dinner meeting last week and one of the public speakers made a joke how "internet people" should be arrested and they should ignore all this "jew process" that stops them just arresting people...cue uproarious laughter from everyone present (vile/evil racism which sort of gives you the idea just what the RIAA is like just under the surface)

Course in public they happily pretend to be nice (well nicer than they actually are)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Jan 2012 @ 4:17am

Re: Out of Touch
Not to mention, students should not be taught "don't use Wikipedia". They should be taught "learn to assess your sources".

If your students think Wikipedia is a good source, then you're not doing your job at teaching them how to assess and select sources. Assessing sources is the first thing I learned in university (Scientific major). I was free to use Wikipedia all I wanted provided I knew HOW to use it. You can't cite it in a paper as it's not an academic source, but you can certainly use it to help your research.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Jan 2012 @ 4:18am

The next time the RIAA complains that piracy is killing the industry, I'll be sure to tweet "Somewhere, an artist is working every day of the week".
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The Luke Witnesser, 20 Jan 2012 @ 4:33am

Here lies the truth about SOPA/PIPA that even TechDirt has yet to report: what MPAA, RIAA, and Hollywood execs do not want you to see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJIuYgIvKsc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzS5rSvZXe8

The truth behind why these big companies responsible for SOPA and PIPA are also responsible for piracy itself is far more insidious than even their outmoded business model.

Can you say, do as I say so I can crush you under heel?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Don, 20 Jan 2012 @ 5:38am

Ass Hats
RIAA and the MPAA are just alternate terms for terrorists.
The easiest way to make them go away hit the artists in the pocket book. I know that there are some that will cry fowl and say its not the artist. Oh but it is the artist they sign with the record labels who in turn donate money to the RIAA and MPAA. If you make it hard to make money for the ones creating the content they will find a way to do business that pleases the masses. The record industry robs the artist blind but they just keep letting them do it. You do not need the suits to make a living doing what you love. Stop looking at piracy as money lost because it is money you would never see. Piracy(copy right violations) will never go away if you want to stop it educate don't litigate. In the age of information I don't think we need the record labels any more physical media should have died years ago.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Rapnel (profile), 20 Jan 2012 @ 6:32am

Big Media 21st Century Manifesto
Big Media 21st Century Manifesto

Our Goal: Take over and control the Internet so as to, once again, control 99.9% of media distribution and licensing through our traditionally oppressive and iron-clad self enriching models of success.

Our Plan: Turn the Internet into an insidious pool of copyright infringement. Increment awareness of infringement and escalation of our self-preservation litigation stratagem. Lobby for and implement laws that cede control away from individuals and back to us, where it belongs.

Our Most Significant Impediment: You.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
PassinThru (profile), 20 Jan 2012 @ 6:55am

Actually the tweet is consistent with RIAA/MPAA philosophy
Like many of the sites they complain about, Mr. Lamy sees WIkipedia as having a single purpose, namely providing students with an easy source from which they can copy material without thinking. Clearly this is the only possible use of Wikipedia, and only plagiarists visit the site. Kind of like MegaUpload...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
nasch (profile), 20 Jan 2012 @ 8:58am

Re: Re: Re:
here, they could have discovered that all they needed to do was turn off JavaScript and Wikipedia would and did work just fine during the "blackout".

So that's why it wasn't blacked out for me! I was wondering why I missed it, thanks for the tip.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris, 20 Jan 2012 @ 5:09pm

Re: Jackasses
I can't tell if Jeff is referring to MPAA/RIAA or Congress :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ryan, 20 Jan 2012 @ 10:24pm

Re:
That's how jackasses spell blackout
[ link to this | view in thread ]