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Songwriters want piracy investigated by FBI, compare it to bank robbery
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The following comments relate to this news article:
article published on 4 May, 2010
The Songwriters Guild of America has made it clear with a note this weekend, via Ars, that music piracy is worse than bank robbery, and that the FBI should begin prosecuting all file-sharers civilly and criminally.
"There are numerous economic crimes of much lesser magnitude (such as bank robbery) that are routinely and fully investigated, for which law enforcement agencies such as the ... [ read the full article ]
Please read the original article before posting your comments.
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dEwMe
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6. May 2010 @ 11:10 |
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ARGHHHHHHH!!!
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Mez
AfterDawn Addict
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6. May 2010 @ 13:45 |
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So many comments! This must have hit a nerve.
I guess they first need to outlaw libraries they share more than anyone else.
You have the BOSS suing a bar for having a live band playing his music. As if he EVER did anything like that. He didn't sue the band because they had no money. I will never buy or see the BOSS ever again. I used to like Bruce up till then.
They are charging for the radio. I see no artist who produces good music starve. I guess a few million a year isn't enough for them they need billions to support what they think their life style should be.
F()CK them!
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Mez
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6. May 2010 @ 13:49 |
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Originally posted by Molinari:
They'll have to start closing down radio stations then, I hear free music on them all day....
If you live in the US it isn't. You don't pay but the stations do. It will put many out of business espceially those that play too much music.
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bastrdx
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6. May 2010 @ 14:56 |
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they should use their own money to bring themselves into the 21st century the music companies rip off the musicians in the first place paying them f*** all the musicians are the ones that suffer at the hands of these music corporations and i may d/l a song but if i really like it ill purchase the album so much music coming out got to sample first
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Snipes_
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6. May 2010 @ 16:20 |
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Lets not get too hasty here, maybe some of us can get this copyright thing to work in their favour. What about beer, maybe it's illegal to share my beer with a friend. If you can't share music you paid for after you robbed the bank, then it should be illegal to share your beer...more beer for me!! Unless of course, I'm the friend whooz gonna get the shared booz..we'll call it sampling or testing.
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Mez
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6. May 2010 @ 16:21 |
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Originally posted by bastrdx:
they should use their own money to bring themselves into the 21st century the music companies rip off the musicians in the first place paying them f*** all the musicians are the ones that suffer at the hands of these music corporations and i may d/l a song but if i really like it ill purchase the album so much music coming out got to sample first
If you live in the US maybe you remember the writer's guild strike. The "industry" lobbied hard for internet payments to compensate the writers for all their hard work. When their contracts came due the writers wanted a fixed piece of the action 1 or 2 % but off the top, otherwise they were afraid the industry would show a loss of millions going in but nothing going out. They were told "the business model is too complex for us to do that". So we had to watch 6 month of re-runs. The industry made money there because they didn't have to pay the writers anything because everyone was watching re-runs.
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6. May 2010 @ 17:04 |
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There are two huge problems with the Guild's statement, other than the stupid comparison with bank robbery particularly when someone is killed or permanently injured.
The first is "economic loss." This is not the same as accounting loss. You can have an accounting profit and still have an economic loss. Revenue - costs = accounting profit. Accounting profit - entrepreneurial activity (e.g. song writing, acting) = economic profit or loss. So, if I have an accounting profit of $100, I will have to pay taxes on that, but I value my entrepreneurial activity, at $200, I will have a $100 economic loss, which I cannot get the IRS to agree to not paying any taxes. Why do I value my effort and time at $200? Am I pricing it too high? Huge possibility. Econ 101.
The second is "decimating an industry." If they are really decimated, why to they still exist? This happens when you have continual accounting losses. So, here they are saying that accounting losses are happening because there are accounting losses. The music industry is not decimated, otherwise they would all go bankrupt.
I also contend that to prove a loss, you need to prove that the person who downloaded the content would have bought that content if it was not available for downloading. If you wish to buy the CD/DVD/Blu-ray/vinyl disk, and if you are in the unfortunate circumstance of that buying that content or getting food on the table and keeping the lights on, most sane people would chose to eat and keep the electricity flowing (if the electricity stops, you won't be able to listen to the music anyway). So, in this condition, they have not lost a sale. The person would/could not buy the content. The law says downloading is illegal, so if you downloaded the content, you broke the law. But did you actually cause a loss if you did not spend? No. Putting a parent/guardian of a child in jail, and fining them, would essentially take your possible customer out of the the category of "absolutely would buy" and "possible future customer" (most people tend to lose their jobs if they are in jail). Thus destroying families and possibly putting children in harm's way, because they want more money so that they can afford their huge mansions and expensive cars?
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Junior Member
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6. May 2010 @ 18:03 |
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WAHH WAHHH WAHHH!!! do you hear that? That's the RIAA , MPAA, and the SGA crying and whining because they aren't getting what they want! There's more important things to deal with (like a nuclear armed Iran/Terrorism) than online piracy!
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Senior Member
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6. May 2010 @ 18:35 |
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if you have to kill someone to rob a bank, your in the wrong business.
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WHDACV
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6. May 2010 @ 18:48 |
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I guess they do not realize I already paid for their music by listening to the radio or my XM/Sirius account
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Junior Member
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6. May 2010 @ 18:48 |
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I dont see any logic in people earning money long after they do the work - copyright gives musicians and the like protection that most ordinary people do not have. What most of us create belongs to our employers and when we stop producing we stop earning.
If I had my way copyright would last only as long as it takes to make a decent return from your work - 2-5 years at most because if you havent earned much from it in that time then it probably isnt worth it.
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llongtheD
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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6. May 2010 @ 20:42 |
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Equating violent crime with file sharing? This is the kind of stuff their lobbyists spoon feed our dopey corrupt politicians.
Oh yeah, and while were at it, lets take away all freedom on the internet, and start monitoring everyone like we live in a police state. Even these idiots might want to be careful of what they wish for.
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bastrdx
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6. May 2010 @ 21:17 |
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but also how much do they pay to those dopey politicians to lobby on their behalf..........also they shouldn't worry about this years model Ferrari and the petrol to go in it just pay the musicians and songwriters what they deserve and snort a bit less then they wouldn't worry about file samplers :)
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 6. May 2010 @ 21:18
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Senior Member
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7. May 2010 @ 03:31 |
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Originally posted by Koji7280:
Originally posted by Molinari:
They'll have to start closing down radio stations then, I hear free music on them all day....
Do you remember when the RIAA or somebody like them was trying to say that listening to the radio is piracy?
Here is the link
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2008/06/recording-indus/
use a sterio with a tape deck and make a recording of a song you like on the radio and RIAA will probably try to sue you.robbing a bank is stealing money and downloading is stealing data quite a big difference there.I'm pretty sure if you robbed a bank without stealing anything,without intimading/threatening anyone they couldnt charge you.I dont know if its a problem in america or anywhere else in the world but here people are using skimming devices on atm's or stealing eftpos machines and transferring other peoples money no one wastes time robbing the banks.
custom built gaming pc from early 2010,ps2 with 15 games all original,ps3 500gbs with 5 games all original,yamaha amp and 5.1channel surround sound speakers,46inch sony lcd smart tv.
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AfterDawn Addict
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7. May 2010 @ 05:50 |
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Come to think of it, I am a bank robber...I accidentaly stole a pen once...but it was a nice pen, at least a couple dollars...so bank robbery was still worse than stealing a MP3. Perhapse if it had been a $0.45 cheap-o pen, then stealing a $0.50 MP3 would be worse.
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Senior Member
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7. May 2010 @ 08:56 |
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Originally posted by KillerBug:
Come to think of it, I am a bank robber...I accidentaly stole a pen once...but it was a nice pen, at least a couple dollars...so bank robbery was still worse than stealing a MP3. Perhapse if it had been a $0.45 cheap-o pen, then stealing a $0.50 MP3 would be worse.
I got in trouble for stealing 50pens.worth about $3-5 each when i was 13 cops got involved i was lucky to get off with a caution and a 3month ban from the shop.
custom built gaming pc from early 2010,ps2 with 15 games all original,ps3 500gbs with 5 games all original,yamaha amp and 5.1channel surround sound speakers,46inch sony lcd smart tv.
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Mez
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7. May 2010 @ 12:29 |
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Originally posted by gbswales:
I dont see any logic in people earning money long after they do the work - copyright gives musicians and the like protection that most ordinary people do not have. What most of us create belongs to our employers and when we stop producing we stop earning.
If I had my way copyright would last only as long as it takes to make a decent return from your work - 2-5 years at most because if you havent earned much from it in that time then it probably isnt worth it.
In the UK they went form 50 yrs to 75 yrs. That is your gov at work helping you.
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CaptHook
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7. May 2010 @ 18:03 |
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Out of all of these comments, not one of you addressed how much the RIAA and the MPAA would be price raping us consumers if it wasn't for piracy and file sharing. Bank Robbery.....what a joke..lol. Let's not forget that around 1998 when Napster was first launched, CD prices were up to $20 a piece. If not for piracy, consumers today could potentially be paying up to $40-$50 a piece instead of $10 a piece through the use of sites such as the Zune Marketplace and iTunes. Some sites offer CD buys for even less than that!!
For consumers who feel obligated to continue to pay for their media, good job!! File sharers need you more than you think, but you should thank file shares as well. It is the P2P community that keeps the Music and Recording Industry greed in check, allowing you to pay the lower prices you do today.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 7. May 2010 @ 19:17
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Attreau
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7. May 2010 @ 18:31 |
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I am sorry but comparing music piracy to bank robbery is absurd! Anyone can hear practically any song over an FM radio station or streamed online over the web. In contrast, banks do not hang $100.00 bills from trees throughout the 12 year old's neighborhood and then bust them for plucking the bill from the tree. Cassette recorders were used quite some time ago as the preferred method of piracy.....how many people did the FBI arrest for this?
What these people need to do is find a way to add value to their product i.e. provide the liner notes, album cover, band interviews, concert footage, and additional perks which would persuade everyone to purchase the digital files legitimately at a fair price.....and not $0.99 per song.....perhaps $2.99 per album with all of the add-on perks. Essentially make it more attractive then what is being shared by the masses online for free.....yes.....I say free, because the last time I listened to the radio in my truck.....I did not have to plug any coins into it!
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Mez
AfterDawn Addict
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7. May 2010 @ 19:47 |
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Pretty soon plumbers will want a dollar every time someone craps in a toilet they put in. Why should writers get paid every time a song get played? We ALL ought to get paid every time something we made or helped make is used or seen or heard. Then we could afford to pay them.
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AfterDawn Addict
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7. May 2010 @ 23:08 |
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Originally posted by Mez:
Pretty soon plumbers will want a dollar every time someone craps in a toilet they put in. Why should writers get paid every time a song get played? We ALL ought to get paid every time something we made or helped make is used or seen or heard. Then we could afford to pay them.
LOL...sounds about right...car makers will start charging a fee for every time you drive to work too. Oh, and you have to pay for beer again if you vomit...because it is in your mouth again.
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rylai17
Junior Member
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8. May 2010 @ 00:17 |
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It is really unfair to song writers and we know it. Just think of yourself as a song writer and the song that you are writing is being pirated of course you will feel bad. But facing reality and the fast technology we have today... It is not a good idea.
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Senior Member
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8. May 2010 @ 00:41 |
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Originally posted by KillerBug:
Originally posted by Mez:
Pretty soon plumbers will want a dollar every time someone craps in a toilet they put in. Why should writers get paid every time a song get played? We ALL ought to get paid every time something we made or helped make is used or seen or heard. Then we could afford to pay them.
LOL...sounds about right...car makers will start charging a fee for every time you drive to work too. Oh, and you have to pay for beer again if you vomit...because it is in your mouth again.
actually the government over here was thinking about taxing people to use the road with a special meter fitted to the car so if you go over the amount of KMs your cars allowed to be driven you will get fined or your vehicle will be immobilized.depending on where you vomit the cleaning bill can be more than the original price of the beer.
custom built gaming pc from early 2010,ps2 with 15 games all original,ps3 500gbs with 5 games all original,yamaha amp and 5.1channel surround sound speakers,46inch sony lcd smart tv.
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powerq
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8. May 2010 @ 11:29 |
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Originally posted by Mez:
So many comments! This must have hit a nerve.
I guess they first need to outlaw libraries they share more than anyone else.
You have the BOSS suing a bar for having a live band playing his music. As if he EVER did anything like that. He didn't sue the band because they had no money. I will never buy or see the BOSS ever again. I used to like Bruce up till then.
They are charging for the radio. I see no artist who produces good music starve. I guess a few million a year isn't enough for them they need billions to support what they think their life style should be.
F()CK them!
Don't believe everything you read on the internet.
From the official Springsteen site (brucespringsteen.net)
ASCAP LAWSUIT
In regards to the ASCAP lawsuit against Connolly's Pub and Restaurant, ASCAP was solely responsible for naming Bruce Springsteen as a plaintiff in the lawsuit. Bruce Springsteen had no knowledge of this lawsuit, was not asked if he would participate as a named plaintiff, and would not have agreed to do so if he had been asked. Upon learning of this lawsuit this morning, Bruce Springsteen's representatives demanded the immediate removal of his name from the lawsuit.
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