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General discussion

Does RIAA really not get it???

Feb 24, 2006 1:05AM PST

I've been thinking through the implications of RIAA's statement to the DMCA rule makers you commented on earlier this week. While their comments are not new news, where they are making them and what could happen if they do get changes made I think shows that not only do they get it, they get it much better than most of us do.

Face it, RIAA won't win on a direct challenge to existing fair use laws either popular opinion politically or judicially. But if they can get changes to the DMCA rules, thus making their content shifting rules real, it won't matter what the fair use laws are because DMCA will likely overshadow it. Even if the case is not clear it would provide the necessary reason to have the Supreme court review the current situation and decide what is applicable. Given overseas laws it quite possible the shift could be in RIAA's favor not the consumers. Forget this whole notion of RIAA not winning the war. If they win this battle, other campaigns they fight will be much more easily won, and besides if they do win they will be able to sick the FEDs on you for violations because it changes from being a civil matter to a truly criminal matter.

RIAA do get it and they are much more successful at gaining for their cause than consumers are. I think we are about to be blindsided by a change heavily in RIAAs favor and we cannot even see it coming. Wakey Wakey guys!!!

Phil

Discussion is locked

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Boy, I sure hope you're wrong!
Feb 24, 2006 1:13AM PST

Next thing you know, we'll be paying to hear music over the radio (oh wait! Isn't that satellite radio?)

Or, as someone else posted in another topic, the RIAA will find a way to monitor our minds, and find a way to charge us when a song gets stuck in our heads.

Next thing you know, they'll find a way to say that speaking, reading, or writing the lyrics of a song is copyright infringement, and then, copyright the entire English language, because every word could theoretically be found in some song that they own.

Please, make it stop!! Happy

-Terry

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I really hope I'm wrong too!...
Feb 24, 2006 3:29AM PST

...Sadly though RIAA have learned very well how to do the whole Politics bit REALLY REALLY well and the conspiricist in me holds that RIAA are far too comfortable right now for them to be on the ropes with their final gasps. Technologies ability to limit what you do and how you do it rapidly catching up with social technology issues (HDCP is one case) and if RIAA can use that to block you from exercising fair use they will, and then _we'll_ all be screwed! Even though fair use rules permit a particular use, Technology won't and deconstructing technology to circumvent it will get you a stay in the big house with Bubba and 300 or 400 of his closest friends.

Phil

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They're smart, but they still don't gte it
Feb 24, 2006 5:52AM PST

It's a good reality check to point out that the RIAA, MPAA, etc. are masters at politics and hold much more sway than they should. They're smart at getting what they want. I think they don't want what's actually best for them. That's what I mean when I say they don't get it. They don't understand that they could make scads and scads of money by not suing their customers. Right now they're not really winning but making themselves the most successful loser.

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I like that saying
Feb 24, 2006 6:03AM PST

"most successful loser." I don't think you could have worded it any better Tom.

-Terry

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I really hope I'm wrong too...
Feb 24, 2006 3:43AM PST

However RIAA has learned to play the political game REALLY REALLY well. They are not behaving like an organization on their last legs. Right now protection technology is rapidly catching up with social technology issues I suspect RIAA will keep influencing the demise of fair use use until technology prevents fair use then if you circumvent it under DMCA penalties, you get a 5 year stay in the big house with Bubba and 400 of his closest friends.

Lots of good things came out of the 90's RIAA and the DMCA were NOT 2 of them, we were not awake to the implications then and I don't think we are much better prepared now...

Phil