QUESTION:

Should we become more 'radical' in our actions, or remain a think tank? Downhillbattle.org (for example) DOES things!!! (sometimes verging on the edge of the law.)

We at Boycott-Riaa bitch about the rules which we know are wrong, but we always try to play by those rules. After all, we are only a GATHERING of the folk and not an organization.

But, does that make our voice all that more powerless?

I want us to stay within the boundries of the law, but WHAT can we do when the law only serves/was written by the RIAA? (In regards to our issues.)

TALK!

how about the middle finger you frickin pirate

stop stealing from the musicians who worked hard enough to make it

stop encouraging others to steal our stuff too

you guys make me sick

up yours

Well, another misinformed anal agressor!!

How to be a dick in just a few words.....read first post.

"you frickin pirate"

fricken - redneck/hick substitute for the actual f-word.

"stop stealing"

You mean copying? Stop copying? I've never seen anybody steal on P2P. In fact, it's impossible.

"stop encouraging others to steal our stuff'"

BOYCOTT-RIAA.COM Idiot. BOYCOTT. We don't want it.

"you guys make me sick"

Terminally, I hope.

"SaveTheMusic "

Your nickname infringes on EFF's "Save the Music" campaign. You STOLE it. THIEF. But since you want to save music, here's a good site for you: http://www.boycott-riaa.com


I hope your mother gets hit by a truck.

In regards to the poll: yes. Ideas tomorrow.

yes to doing things. not yes to remaining a think tank.

"SaveTheMusic" said
"Date: February 19, 2005 @ 2:43 AM"

"how about the middle finger you frickin pirate"

OK. Here you go ^^()^^

"stop stealing from the musicians who worked hard enough to make it"

Stealing Definition:
--To take (the property of another) without right or permission
Property Definition:
--Something owned; a possession.

I would love for you to show me the Artists we are "stealing" from who actually own their own music. I'm sure the people who actually own their own music arent the ones being robbed

"stop encouraging others to steal our stuff too"

Well that would require us to want to possess your stuff legally or illegally. I know that I dont keep a big smelly pile of dung around the house so there you go. And if I do want RIAA music, I do buy it legally for two cents a megabyte from Russia.

"you guys make me sick"

Thank you. Maybe if you could read a mission statement, you would realize that nobody wants to steal your music, but also that we do not support an organization that is actively trying to destroy technology that serves a higher purpose than trading crap over the internet.

"up yours"

I should care, but frankly, you sound just like the RIAA. They dont want to listen either and that's why they are on the endangered species list.

FREE MICKEY -- FREE MICKEY

As for action... I plan on a boycott of the Ashlee Simpson show when she comes to my town. There will be big signs and lots of anti-music industry sayings. It should be fun... As the dates come closer, maybe we can go over some ideas as to the most effective way to do it.

In Cincinnati? I read about a protest here: http://www.nobodylikesme.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1895&get=last

Shmoo, check out this site. Their petition against Ashlee Simpson got a lot of attention: http://www.hopeinamerica.com/

Yes, to action.

Spreading the word only works with fair
access to the Media.
We will never have that as things stand.

Action brings attention.
Enough attention, then the media CAN'T
ignore us.

"Maybe if you could read a mission statement, you would realize that nobody wants to steal your music, but also that we do not support an organization that is actively trying to destroy technology that serves a higher purpose than trading crap over the internet."

We also don't support an organization that has, throughout the years, repressed and destroyed music through its monopoly.

I'm very concerned about the Supreme Court ruling in June. Has anyone filed a brief on behalf of p2p? There are many briefs that have been filed against it.

We need the word to get out. Not just at this website. Here we are for the most part preaching to the choir.

Where this action needs to take place is at colleges. This is where we need to reach em. Not only are college folks the target, ( yes literally with a bullseye on the back of the shirt ) but they are also the ones that according to all the polls are the most likely to d/l. Phamplets, fliers, contests that get products out seen (such as tee shirts).

As for SaveTheMusic, your behavior is trollish. Like a kid. Before spouting off take a bit of time to read what the site is about. As a suggestion read the mission statement. We too want to save the music but prehaps not quite like you envision.

SaveTheMusic -- We've already got a very long list of people whose music we shouldn't even listen to because they're arrogant a**holes who think they are more important than the rest of the musicians in the country.

We'd be happy to add you to the list of people who are so stupid that we would like to respect their wishes and have all unauthorized copies of their music deleted, along with what little remains of their miserable career as indentured servants.

After reading Shmoo's question, my initial reaction was, "Why now?"

Every time this issue has been raised before, I have insisted that simply erasing the RIAA would solve everyone's problems virtually overnight. The P2P crowd, the last time they checked in, reported that they're going to do something in April. The Supreme Court hears the Grokster case in March.

It requires doing nothing illegal and is the most effective action which can be taken. Stop sharing their music and they die.

Delete the RIAA now.

Remember what our TV guy told us, the media isn't going to pay attention unless something bleeds or burns.

Uh...does being a member mean being a subscriber??

Anyways, I'm all for action, legal action of course! Discussion is certainly good, but our Fair-use rights are too important to let die without at least trying to do something!! Whenever I talk about music to people I always mention boycott-riaa and encourage people to do something about the RIAA too. When downhillbattle organized the call in to Senators, I called in, as I'm sure others here did as well. Other actions to get noticed and heared could be done as well.

Based on the first post, it seems the website is getting noticed, but somehow the message isn't.

Robbin, you'll be glad to hear this, I spoke with a mother, whose teen daughter went to see Ashlee Simpson locally, and was sadly disappointed. Maybe some of the teens out there are learning.

gdZ, time for a CD burning!

Capt,
I assume you mean burning a-la Steve Dahl ???

( just showing my age )

Capt-N, and the rest.

I hope that you realize my focus on Ashlee is more than just sour grapes or bandwagon flames.

Ashlee Simpson is the prime example of what is wrong with the major label attitudes.

If her name was Ashlee Jordan would she have even made it past the a/r people. I dont think she would have gotten through the first round of American Idol.

Some of the things I have found disturbing have come from her own mouth on the Ashlee Simpson show or as I will call it from now on "How to Make a Star"

Just today, she got done doing a set at a high school and was going to another catholic schoolgirl school to do another set and complaining how tired she was???

WHAT THE F@#*... Try Unpacking all of your gear, Doing a 3 Hour Set, Packing it all up, Driving all Night to your next show, repeat about 3 to 4 times. God I wish it was as hard for me as it was for you. I mean having to pick up a microphone and sing for what an hour with a travel break and opening act break in between... This is me spitting on everything the Record companies stand for...

Oh and the complaining because they want to change your single... Get used to it, you don't have a say... They own your ass and everything you do with it...

As for performances, I have heard act who are about 2 seconds from losing their voices go out and struggle to make the songs work. And to those people I have the upmost respect. I can't respect someone who wants to play their single track and lip sync because of Acid Reflux. You are a professional singer, if you cannot do the basics of your profession, it is time to look for a new profession.

Sorry to the post thread about this, but the first action that we can take is supporting artists that work hard everyday. I would encourage forming some street teams for local artists and getting their music heard on local radio and packing venues. Also, if you know a particularly bad RIAA artist is coming to town, do all you can to make sure that your area knows what the true costs to their kids are.

Remember RIAA = Child Abuse

FREE MICKEY -- FREE MICKEY

I totally agree with Robbin-da-Hood on this one.

Dreddsnik -- The CD-burning is good and legal (provided you clear it with the local fire department).

No matter what course of action you take in this, the problem is the morons like SaveTheMusic, who will undoubtedly try to influence how you'll be portrayed in the media.

I'm not going to go out and intentionally get arrested just so I can be cast as one of those pirates that just wants free music.

The "pirates" are sharing RIAA music. Until they stop, I'm not willing to stand up for them.

OK George but we also need to stand up for Fair Use which has been dealt a big blow by the DMCA

We also need to stand up for copyright reform, which is at the ROOT of this whole problem. Copyright terms are too lengthy, laws regarding copyright infringement need updating and clarity, and copyright needs registration. Getting these things done would help to eliminate part of the problem that exists today.

stilltrying -- What are you going to do to promote fair use beyond what Lessig, EFF and Ed Felten are doing? And how do you promote fair use without sounding like you just want everything for free?

INeedALover -- Reforming copyright requires getting past the RIAA, ASCAP, BMI and the U.S. Copyright Office, THEN convincing a majority of both Senators and Representatives that your idea is better than the ideas which came accompanied by six-figure checks.

How are you going to do that? By burning some CDs in the park? At the most, you might get 30 seconds on your local news.

If ALL the RIAA music disappeared from p2p tomorrow, it would be covered by every major news outlet as soon as Eric Garland at Big Champagne figured it out and started issuing press releases.

Whenever I hear something on news channels about another round of "pirates" getting sued by the RIAA, I hear no mention of the EFF or Fair-use. EFF works more quietly behind the scenes, but the Fair-use message isn't getting out there, and honestly I believe MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE!! THEY NEED TO BE TOLD!! IF THE RIAA IS THE ONLY ONE SAYING "ALL FILE-SHARERS ARE PIRATES," THEN THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT WILL BE SPREAD AROUND.

On the legislation and such, if the belief is that your elected officials are bought-and-paid-for (which may seem obvious to many of you), then you had better get the proof on paper to back up your claims and ABSOLUTELY GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE NEWS MEDIA.

CD burning in a park may only get 30 seconds on the local news, but hey, at least we could get 30 seconds of promotion for Boycott-RIAA. Being quite gets you nothing!

Boycott-RIAA could issue press releases too!! How about a sue the RIAA campaign?? That might get some exposure.

If the predominant thinking is that everything is bad and it will never change, then what the hell are we doing here?!?!?!? We might as well shut the hell up, shut down Boycott-RIAA, keep on buying whatever music we want, and put our virtual tails between our legs and cower in our homes. I'm sorry, but I cannot accept that!!!

IF THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY!!!!!!

" CD burning in a park may only get 30 seconds on the local news, but hey, at least we could get 30 seconds of promotion for Boycott-RIAA. Being quite gets you nothing! "

That really says a mouthful, and is really the point that I tried to make.
George, I don't think anyone here disagrees with you at all. You ARE right.
The problem is that the RIAA stuff won't disappear from the P2P nets unless word gets out en masse.
The word IS spreading via this site and a few others, but much too slowly. The industry has the major media outlets locked down, and we will have no access without something "dramatic". Sadly, the majority of those we need to reach actually trust those that hold the leashes.
Until we can show them otherwise, ALL of us will be characterised pirates, true or not.

Bottom line,
You are right George, RIAA must vanish from P2P, but it won't happen until enough folks are pushed into seeing whats real.

SaveTheMusic

We don't want your music, you couldn't pay us to STEAL YOUR MUSIC.. unfortunately, you can't seem to read either, or you would know what this site is all about.

I'm normally a very nice person, but when I see people coming here and posting stuff like your comments, that don't have a clue as to what is going on here, I get a little miffed!

Up here we used to hold "Beatles Picnic in the Park" day. Just people getting together in a nice park to have picnics and play, ..families, friends, etc...couldn't you guys do something similar...a boycott- riaa picnic- pick a Sunday across America...even if only a handful show up, they can still hand out flyers, etc....and just talk to people.

And he didn’t even answer any of our replies! Sheer cowardice, I take it?

A reporter from the Phoenix New Times, the area's alternative newspaper, called me because he had seen me post here and wanted my opinion of downloading mp3s from Russia.

After reminding him that I don't listen to RIAA music and why, I haven't heard from him again.

I got ignored because I refuse to be a pirate. No one is interested in that. There's no controversy that they can see.

I agree that as much as I feel it is the only answer, my solution won't work. It requires simple common sense from the American public. We all know THAT never happens.

But whatever it is, it needs to happen soon if it's going to change anything at the Supreme Court.

Save the music:
You mean: "saved my fat belly!"
How about bullet you friken parasite! Stop stealing the customer and the artists! I encourage my friends to kill the RIAA members by any mean! Our group is growing the boycott is rising and you RIAA related crap you are in BIG trouble! We are affraid of nothing! Certainly not of the entertaiment executives pushing down the troat of corrupted politicians and judges unconstitutional laws. All these law look like laws but are not! Trying to enforce them is a crime and if the justice does not do his job we will! So watch out "Save the music"!

To the question: MY Answer is yes!
The current copyright laws have the appearence of the law but are not laws because they are unconstitutional These laws are not to be obey. Enforcing such unconstitutional law is a crime.
(This is for you judges police and lawers! The supreme law of the land will catch you on this sooner rather than latter!)

Increasing coverage:
Multiply anti RIAA and MPAA web site number further! (Google: Boycott RIAA:186,000 hits right now.)
Spam campaign of anti RIAA and MPAA message.
Sticker and leefleet in retail stores.

Attacks:
Any computer savy person is a internet soldier:
Massive Civil Disobedience. Sharing massive amount RIAA and MPAA materials on line.
Shuting down the "RIAA" downloading sites such as Napster Itune Rapsody and the rest.
(Not one Internet penny should go to an RIAA members!)
Jamming the fax and phone line of the RIAA and MPAA and their lawers so that they can not use their phone or faxes to condutc business.
Messing up in a massive way the shevles of music and movies so as to inpede sugnificantly the sales.
Demonstration in front of the RIAA and the major labels Head quarter and facilities.
Make more escalating plans.

Instant proof of concept.

I think Boycott-riaa.com should increase presence. ina number of ways. Civil disobedience, protesting, stickering, crap PETA2 does, is ok, as long as it is nothing TOO out there.

Also I forgot: Shuting down the spying and Nazi companies such as MediaSentry, Overpeer, Loudeye baytsp that hunt for dowlader. What they are doing is an abusive search and seizure clearly forbiden by the constitution. (I have now ton of pinging log from these guys so we know there IP address.)

SaveTheMusic is complaining about the MajorTreats that are here and as long as he keeps finding them, nothing positive will happen.

I say do it. If DownhillBattle.org can do it, why can’t we?

Forget SaveTheMusic guys, he is one of those one-post-piss-them-off types, I doubt he is comming back. He is a distraction to our cause (unless of couse he does come back and stick around to debate us, then it's a whole different box of nuts.

Forget SaveTheMusic guys, he is one of those one-post-piss-them-off types, I doubt he is comming back. He is a distraction to our cause (unless of couse he does come back and stick around to debate us, then it's a whole different box of nuts.

Maybe "The Jerk" returned under a different name.

ooh, yeah fucking riot, I say demonstrations right out side of large record stores and RIAA buildings, Civil disobedience is good. What you do is get a lot of people in a big place, you get noticed. I mean if you got lets say 5000 people to bring stereos and stuff to Times Square, and played the same song really loudy, you'll get attention. Let's get a rise out of them, and we'll get the attention needed.

GdZ, I guess your reporter was looking for a pro-download position to counter the anti-download position of the industry. As you state, since there probably wasn't any DRAMA involved, maybe he thought this site or you personally weren't a good representative??? I think the download position of this site might be confusing to outsiders. If there wasn't any suing going on, I'd share whatever music I thought others might like, whether it be RIAA music or Independent, but since there is suing going on I'll refrain from RIAA music since that might increase their sales.

On activism, I'm all for that, within reason. I think I've stated this before, but getting a really large group together might take more than just Boycott-riaa followers. I'd like to see more coordination among ALL the anti-Riaa organizations and have some public demonstrations. Certainly, things could be done with just Boycott-riaa followers independent of the other groups.

My opinion is that Boycott-Riaa is just one of a number of websites and organizations that are basically on the same side with regards to our agenda.
Our primary role/function (besides the boycott of RIAA music itself) is as a targeted news & propaganda source that is tempered and continually reformulated by our participants. Folks like DownhillBattle and Freeculture.org tend to be the "activists", and the EFF serves as 'legal eagles' and other sites/orgs do things etc.

At least, that's the way I have always seen it. Our 'position' in the scheme of things is rather unique, but I feel it is extreemly valuable. We are a VOICE that I do believe gets listened to the longer we persist in being that voice.

If we decide to take action we need to be very thoughtful about what sort of actions are taken. Illegal actions, while they will get attention will not generate the sort of serious consideration from the mainstream public we will need to be successful. Groups that yell and scream and attract destructive elements usually end up getting attention, but usually in a sort of "what's wrong with those freaks" kind of way. If we take actions we should be careful not to compromise our credibility in the process.

I agree with you Stevebugge!

I like the idea of CD burnings -- but how about CD burnings of a different kind?

Step 1
Get approval from DMusic (and perhaps other) artists and put together a list of songs from different genres that are good examples of music that is available from REAL artists. Burn and pass out copies of these songs at High School and College events, stressing where the music came from and how come the CD-R in their hand is legal.

Step 2
(Can be done at these same events) - set up a booth run by DMusic volunteers that will burn custom CDs of music (again agreed to by DMusic artists) for X cents per CD-R (includes printed cover) plus X cents per track. Include listening stations for easy preview of songs that are available.

Inexpensive used PCs can be used to set up the booth for both listening stations and CD-R burning stations. The most important part of the booth and the burned CD package is education -- stressing not only the existence of Artists outside of the RIAA, but that the product offered is perfected legal (that's why DMusic is so valuable here -- their job would be to ensure that the artist approve all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed so if any RIAA officials complain about what is going on, it can be legally proved that the do not have a leg to stand on).

The best part is that the public would be shown that --

1. There is better music out there than what the RIAA puts out

2. DRM and other RIAA restrictions are bull crap

3. Where to go and how to find good, unrestricted music.

This is the best way to burn CDs -- hit the RIAA where it hurts the most and in a way that they can do nothing about.

Just my $0.02.