Tuesday, December 8, 2009

RIAA - It's Not About The Music Anymore

There was a time not too long ago when musicians were in it for the love of the music or to pick up 'chicks' or to get famous.  Sure, there was always the hope for large monetary returns, but it was about a lifestyle.

I do not condone the illegal downloading of music.  I believe musicians should be able to make money for their talent.  I think the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) is a joke, however.  This isn't about the musicians, this is about lawyers making a buck off of the little guy. 

Read This

If you didn't click the link (really people?), this is about a graduate student (who one can assume is what, like 28 years old maybe) getting fined $675,000 for illegally downloading and sharing 30 songs.  If each of these songs was on a different album and he had to purchase these albums, what are we looking at? 
30 albums x $15 an album = $450.  (And once he purchases the albums, he is free to burn as many CD's for anyone that he wants.) 
Can the RIAA tell me that this kid realistically cost them an additional $674,550 in 'damages'/lost sales?  This kid (and he is still a kid) will be in debt most of his life...  How much of this 'win' is going directly to lawyers?  How much to the record label?  how much to the actual artists? 
On top of the fine, he has now been told he must destroy copies of the music he illegally downloaded.  So after paying $675,000 they won't even let him continue to enjoy the music?? 

This isn't justice.  This is a sham.

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