If there were a broadband-tax supported news industry...
The point I was trying to make before I took a trip into spasland, was that I never see these kinds of stories in any mainstream media.
They (collection schemes) sound so reasonable, and without digging into the details, it's easy to see how a majority of well-meaning people would go along with them.
You know Mike, it's frighteningly disappointing that you have to spend all your time breaking stories like this.
If there were a broadband-tax supported news industry, they could be doing the investigative reporting and you'd be free for more rewarding endeavors like, I dunno, spending quality time with your friends and family, chuckling over images on the world's only Art Humor Blog.
With diplomatic immunity, couldn't a member of Congress just take a copy of the agreement after requesting it?
If he/she was forcefully prevented from doing so, wouldn't a smoke-bomb and box-of-mice diversion provide enough cover to slide the original into an inside pocket, leave a duplicate and exit rapidly during the ensuing confusion?
Summer's over I guess. This blockbuster will have to wait until 2013.
A couple of days after reading about the RIAA having its budget cut, I left a comment on this story, which was the genesis for the following:
An Alternative (Recent) History of the RIAA
1999: Realizing the inevitable, the RIAA convinces member labels to set up all-you-can eat buffets. All music available as DRM-free downloads, $5/mo. 100M of storage, additional available for increased monthly fee. The RIAA uses superior marketing muscle to "drown out" competing "free" alternatives, insists people should only download from "legitimate" sources to ensure data integrity and security. It recommends the gradual reduction in the production, marketing, storage and sales of CDs, vinyl and tape, keeping only a small reserve capacity*.
2000: RIAA negotiates a small increase in financial support from labels' substantial savings from physical media reductions to create the Online Strategy Group (OSG), hiring engineers, programmers, technologists, musicologists and a futurist or two and forms FoM, Future of Music, Incorporated to handle subscriptions.
2001: On OSG advice, the RIAA convinces member labels to cross-offer artists by genre in online sites with fun names like, "soultology.com", "hitsnmisses.com", "netrockstar.com", "eargasm.com", etc. Marginally increased monthly fee ($1 more each) gets access to all sites and membership in forums, discounts on t-shirts, tickets, posters, etc. FoM takes over all profit-making ventures. FoM buys Creative and with the help from the OSG brain-trust, designs and sells a fantastically popular line of MP3 players.
2002: Capitalizing on the psychology of "sharers", OSG introduces memberships that encourage people to find and upload obscure and out-of-print audio. Uploaders compete for discounted memberships, back-stage passes, artist access and the most important prizes, minor fame, street-cred and a custom avatar. The RIAA creates work-arounds for copyright issues removing limits on fan's abilities to upload, modify and share work.
2003 - 2005: Recognizing the growth of social media, the OSG introduces groups and messaging. Higher-access users get expanded pages on OSG sites and are encouraged to rate and critique music. OSG makes available interaction with music journalists, holds contests for album & t-shirt art, gives prizes for mashups with highest votes by the communities. The OSG makes "Locker" space available, 1G free, $1/mo for each additional gigabyte. OSG introduces "Rip Me" - user puts a factory CD in the computer drive tray, and is given the option to rip/upload tracks or have recording company copies put in his/her locker. (Subsequent attempts to upload the same CD from another computer is allowed with a minimum new subscription)
2006 - 2010: FoM buys Pandora, iTunes, YouTube, RIM, Turntable.fm, Facebook and controlling interest in Sirius. OSG helps FoM branch the Blackberry, creating the "Rockberry", a consumer-oriented "mobile media sharing device". OSG solicits auditions from all musicians everywhere, showcases the best on YouTube. FoM makes record profits from tours, downloads, streams, hardware, music licensing and merchandise. Cary Sherman becomes fifth richest man in the US.
2011: *FoM introduces choice "retro" vinyl, CD and tape catalogue for hipsters worldwide. OSG and RIAA move into "palatial" FoM office campus in Los Angeles, work begins on 30-story FoM tower in Manhattan.
I created an Alternate History of the RIAA and, although the only thing it has in common with this post is the record labels, I'm dying to have people read and enjoy it.
On the post: Once Again, If Someone Has The Same Lame Story Idea You Had, It's Not Copyright Infringement
Possibly
I think those guys might have been standing too close to them.
On the post: Sparkfun CEO Explains IP Obesity: Companies Who Rely Too Much On IP Flop
Common Knowledge?
That's why smart companies back up their IP with an office in East Texas, a suitably Ethics-Lite™ law firm and a *senator or two.
*(Smaller companies might have to make do with representatives)
On the post: A Parade Of Horror Stories From Copyright Collection Organizations
Regularly Scheduled Programming
The point I was trying to make before I took a trip into spasland, was that I never see these kinds of stories in any mainstream media.
They (collection schemes) sound so reasonable, and without digging into the details, it's easy to see how a majority of well-meaning people would go along with them.
On the post: A Parade Of Horror Stories From Copyright Collection Organizations
Re: Re: OT: Breaking News: Brazil Judge Orders Arrest Of Google President
I apologize for adding to a potential derail here.
I'll just go sit quietly now for a bit.
On the post: A Parade Of Horror Stories From Copyright Collection Organizations
Re: OT: Breaking News: Brazil Judge Orders Arrest Of Google President
Calling Doctorow!
On the post: A Parade Of Horror Stories From Copyright Collection Organizations
The Real Horror
If there were a broadband-tax supported news industry, they could be doing the investigative reporting and you'd be free for more rewarding endeavors like, I dunno, spending quality time with your friends and family, chuckling over images on the world's only Art Humor Blog.
On the post: Apple Accused Of 'Violating The Rights' Of Iconic Swiss Railway Clock
It's So Obvious
The Apple version has the clock face divided up into hours and minutes with the same "tickmarks" to denote the hours and smaller ones for minutes.
Different length hour and minute hands.
It even copies the whole 12 hours, 60 minutes thing.
How blatant can you get???
Apple, you got some 'splainin' to do.
On the post: Anti-Islam Movie Actor Sues Producers, YouTube To Have Film Removed
Pork Product Testing
I believe that means they are not actors.
On the post: Members Of Congress Demand USTR Open Up On TPP
The Man from Congress
If he/she was forcefully prevented from doing so, wouldn't a smoke-bomb and box-of-mice diversion provide enough cover to slide the original into an inside pocket, leave a duplicate and exit rapidly during the ensuing confusion?
Summer's over I guess. This blockbuster will have to wait until 2013.
On the post: Major Labels Claim Copyright Over Public Domain Songs; YouTube Punishes Musician
Re: Re: Only Slightly Relevant
I cannot express how much I like that!
Liquor, maritime, technology - it's like modern Hemingway or something. wow.
On the post: Fan Fiction: A Revisionist History And Future
Wow
This describes a lot of modern pop music.
On the post: Fan Fiction: A Revisionist History And Future
Chew Lookin' At?
Wal, Au het pipple wif rechional accints.
On the post: Major Labels Claim Copyright Over Public Domain Songs; YouTube Punishes Musician
On Second Thought
A couple of days after reading about the RIAA having its budget cut, I left a comment on this story, which was the genesis for the following:
An Alternative (Recent) History of the RIAA
1999: Realizing the inevitable, the RIAA convinces member labels to set up all-you-can eat buffets. All music available as DRM-free downloads, $5/mo. 100M of storage, additional available for increased monthly fee. The RIAA uses superior marketing muscle to "drown out" competing "free" alternatives, insists people should only download from "legitimate" sources to ensure data integrity and security. It recommends the gradual reduction in the production, marketing, storage and sales of CDs, vinyl and tape, keeping only a small reserve capacity*.
2000: RIAA negotiates a small increase in financial support from labels' substantial savings from physical media reductions to create the Online Strategy Group (OSG), hiring engineers, programmers, technologists, musicologists and a futurist or two and forms FoM, Future of Music, Incorporated to handle subscriptions.
2001: On OSG advice, the RIAA convinces member labels to cross-offer artists by genre in online sites with fun names like, "soultology.com", "hitsnmisses.com", "netrockstar.com", "eargasm.com", etc. Marginally increased monthly fee ($1 more each) gets access to all sites and membership in forums, discounts on t-shirts, tickets, posters, etc. FoM takes over all profit-making ventures. FoM buys Creative and with the help from the OSG brain-trust, designs and sells a fantastically popular line of MP3 players.
2002: Capitalizing on the psychology of "sharers", OSG introduces memberships that encourage people to find and upload obscure and out-of-print audio. Uploaders compete for discounted memberships, back-stage passes, artist access and the most important prizes, minor fame, street-cred and a custom avatar. The RIAA creates work-arounds for copyright issues removing limits on fan's abilities to upload, modify and share work.
2003 - 2005: Recognizing the growth of social media, the OSG introduces groups and messaging. Higher-access users get expanded pages on OSG sites and are encouraged to rate and critique music. OSG makes available interaction with music journalists, holds contests for album & t-shirt art, gives prizes for mashups with highest votes by the communities. The OSG makes "Locker" space available, 1G free, $1/mo for each additional gigabyte. OSG introduces "Rip Me" - user puts a factory CD in the computer drive tray, and is given the option to rip/upload tracks or have recording company copies put in his/her locker. (Subsequent attempts to upload the same CD from another computer is allowed with a minimum new subscription)
2006 - 2010: FoM buys Pandora, iTunes, YouTube, RIM, Turntable.fm, Facebook and controlling interest in Sirius. OSG helps FoM branch the Blackberry, creating the "Rockberry", a consumer-oriented "mobile media sharing device". OSG solicits auditions from all musicians everywhere, showcases the best on YouTube. FoM makes record profits from tours, downloads, streams, hardware, music licensing and merchandise. Cary Sherman becomes fifth richest man in the US.
2011: *FoM introduces choice "retro" vinyl, CD and tape catalogue for hipsters worldwide. OSG and RIAA move into "palatial" FoM office campus in Los Angeles, work begins on 30-story FoM tower in Manhattan.
On the post: Major Labels Claim Copyright Over Public Domain Songs; YouTube Punishes Musician
Only Slightly Relevant
Please pardon my impatience.
On the post: As Label Funds To RIAA Dry Up, Top Execs Still Make Over $1 Million
Fiction
Take a look if you get a chance.
On the post: Fifteen Years Ago Today, Techdirt Was Born
Huzzah!
I've been reading Techdirt religiously since 2005.
Thanks!
On the post: Rep. Nadler Proposes The RIAA Bailout Act Of 2012
Re: Re: More Inequity
Hm.
I have sort of a chicken-22 going on here.
I actually need to sell some artwork so that I can in turn invest in some legislation so I can sell more artwork, etc.
But thanks for the tips.
On the post: Rep. Nadler Proposes The RIAA Bailout Act Of 2012
More Inequity
It's not fair that people can see it for free.
On the post: The Same Day Russia Sentences Pussy Riot, It Condemns The UK Over Julian Assange
Corporatarialism
On the post: This T-Shirt Has Been Seized
Tyrannical Mickey Mouse
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