Talk About Filesharing on TV, Won't You?
Nicholas, March 11 4:38PM
ABC News is going to be doing a story about the Grokster decision that's coming up and they're looking for someone who does a lot of filesharing that they can interview for TV:

"Basically, I'm looking for someone who:
1. downloads a lot of music and/or movies (on a very regular basis...maybe they would even say they get ALL their music that way, for example) - and preferably someone who primarly uses GROKSTER or MORPHEUS since they're involved in the SC case.

2. has strong feelings about why file sharing like this is important and should be off limits to government intervention

3. ** MOST IMPORTANT: is willing to do an on-camera interview with us and let us film them somewhere using file sharing on their computer!


They can reach me at this email and should tell me a little bit about themselves - where they live, how old they are, how often and what they download, why they think these sites need to be able to operate as they do today and a phone number for me to reach them. My deadline is by next Tues. or Wed. I would like to have a handful of potential people to starting contacting for this story."

If you're interested, you should email: scabcnews@yahoo.com and introduce yourself. And if you get interviewed, write up some notes for yourself and think carefully about what you want to communicate and why. This is a good chance to get a more balanced perspective into the mainstream media.

And here is ANOTHER opportunity knocking on our door:
--
Justice Talking is a debate format show taped in front of a live audience at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA.

The program airs on NPR stations around the country. You can also hear us at www.justicetalking.org
On April 5, 2005 5pm, we will be discussing digital copyright, the MGM V. Grokster case, P2P, music sampling and more. Communications professor and author Kembrew McLeod will be debating Dean Garfield from the MPAA. I am looking for folks who are interested in this issue to attend the program. We take questions from our audience thoughout the show.

If you know anyone or any organizations in the Philadelphia area, please let me know and I will be happy to send them an invite.

Anyone may sign up for a free seat at www.justicetalking.org
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Kara McGuirk
NPR's Justice Talking

Sooo, essentially abc news wants someone to, on camera, ADMIT they DL copyrighted material, then allow ABC to film them using Grokster (presumably to illustrate how easy it is to DL copyrighted material).

Will this person they want to interview also be forking over the fine the RIAA will be extorting from them the next day, since essentially, the person is on tape blantantly being filmed DLing copyrighted material & admitting guilt?

Whomever the sap is, should be kind enough to put his own head in the noose to save time.

Tell ABC news to get one of their staffers to do this shit for them.

I understand the fear you express JohnCarlton02, but I am sure whomever is interviewed would not be made a target. (Just my gut feeling, NOT any bona-fied assurance...lol.)

CERTAINLY there will be pro industry "spin" in the piece. However, I do suspect they would like a story that includes something pointing in our direction of the issue for contrast.

Besides, they could ALWAYS be made to agree to shield the interviewed suspect (er, I mean subject.)

--

Seriously though, I would like to see a well prepared person step up to the plate and hit one out of the park on this particular pitch.

---
...I am trying to talk our own Leflaw into attending the NPR thingy. (His neck of the woods and all!)

AN INVITE TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL RADIO/TV/NEWSPAPER AND OTHER MEDIA REPORTERS!!!

If you are looking for a scoop, or just some quotes/comments regarding music distribution in the digital age...

...if you need some "contrast" to the same old spoon-fed junk you get from the "industry" on a regular basis. PLEASE do not hesitate to contact us here at Boycott-Riaa.com to make your story BETTER!

We have regular "members" who KNOW THEIR STUFF all over the country! If you need a LOCAL contact, we will work hard to FIND the Boycott-Riaa participant best geographically located to respond to you!

Just hit the contact button, or POST RIGHT HERE IN OUR FORUMS with your request for an interview with one of our regulars!

Our whole PURPOSE is to get the word out!

The problem with ABC is that they are selling the pirate angle instead of hunting for the truth.

Stupid fucks.

That's why I want the other angle represented.

(But yeah, ABC may just turn anything one of "our own" says upside down with edit/spin...)

...but we bite from the bottem. (We are grass rooted.)

Hit the local affiliates!

schmoo is right to a point but there's no way I could trust ABC.


still if they'd agree to these conditions it could be a good thing

-they can't portray whoever does this as a criminal up front

-they cover the legal expenses of the person when the riaa/mpaa decides to target them after the program airs

-they don't dwell on the "free porn on p2p angle"

-they tell the true facts such as what are given on this site in the "facts" link

How about requesting that if you are sued or they are questioned as to the identity, that they pick up your legal costs?

Also be aware that DISNEY own ABC

http://www.cjr.org/tools/owners/disney.asp#broadcast

How about going online and showing them how to find things the RIAA doesn't own.

well, yeah, that would probably be the ideal situation...

of course the riaa claims ownership of everything. in fact, I just read a condom package the other day on which the EULA clearly states that the user is only buying a license to use the product and is not entitled to ownership. Funny but they didn't provide an address to send the product and content to after the designated usage.

sorry I'm rambling. must be the narcotics.

gdZieman has the right attack. P2P isn't just used for RIAA music and porn. It can be used to share anything that anybody wants to be shared. Isn't that why VCR's were given the ok in the Sony vs. Betamax decision? Because there were substantial legal uses; not even because they were being used this way.

And closing down p2p networks would only hurt those independent artists trying to get people to listen to their music, which is what the RIAA REALLY WANTS.

As for the free porn argument, that is so full of hot air, I don't know where to begin. Finding free porn on the internet is easy, and can be found anywhere. Why is everyone in a rush to blame P2P for it?

How about requesting that if you are sued or they are questioned as to the identity, that they pick up your legal costs?

How about going online and showing them how to find things the RIAA doesn't own.

P2P isn't just used for RIAA music and porn. It can be used to share anything that anybody wants to be shared.

And closing down p2p networks would only hurt those independent artists trying to get people to listen to their music, which is what the RIAA REALLY WANTS.

...

(See why I want folks like YOU to be the ones on the tube?)

I'd bet that most visitors here don't use P2P very much, since we're boycotting. If someone IS downloading and would like to do this, perhaps blurring his username or files downloaded would suffice, to maintain their anonymity. This could be used as a way to get the boycott message out there. It could also be used to explain the whole Radio Payolla scam. If people are searching P2P for something, what inspires them to search for a certain song, something friend said, or something they heard on the radio??

I'm sorry to have to break the news (pun intended) that ABC already has their angle on this story, and they will only want to highlight examples that support the story they've already written. Someone who shared files the artists WANT distributed would not fit their preconceived notion, and more than likely will not be featured. Likewise, a person who buys a lot of CDs as a result of sampling tracks downloaded on Grokster et al, would probably not be featured in the story.

I'm not an ABC insider, but this is likely the angle they will take. The only chance our side of the story might have of getting aired, would be if Ted Koppel held one of his "town meeting" type programs where the audience can participate with different points of view.

CBS wanted to nail Bush for five years. They wanted this so bad they searched all that time until finally they were willing to take fake evidence and present it in prime time. This is the industry we are dealing with. Just reporting the facts? hahahahaha.

Still, if anyone wants to play the game, I sure hope it works out. I don't think the chances are very high.

I'd contact them but i don't think i do enough downloading.

I just have lots of MPEG music videos, some VCD theatrical movie rips, and a few hundred songs.

I'm proud of my 200GB upload record in a week though.

If someone here on this site played this card right, it could give Boycott Riaa.com the spotlight it needs to shed some much needed truth of why copyright laws are outdated and how the music industry is going about the dirty business of lawsuits, instead of keeping up with the times.

autodidact may be right. Even if someone were to show a boycott-riaa side of things, those segments that show file-sharing in a good light might be edited out of the final video, thereby enforcing ABC's spin on the activity.

I would volunteer, I'd make an excellent case as i'm a niche market consumer on the very long end of the "long tail"


Alas, I'm also a mac user. I don't use morpheus or grokster,but instead stick to open source for my p2p needs.

xchat, azureus, other bit torrent clients, xnap is about the closest my software comes to grokster, and i barely use it because it's rife with domestic riaa crap i don't want.

only niche trackers work for anime soundtracks and fansubs, whose legality is grey because of their lack of proper proliferation in the US.

Folks, I believe this to be a slanted request. Much as autodidact has mentioned, the slant of the story is already figured out. It won't be in favor of illegal downloading. Let me put it this way, it hasn't to date been that way.

I have little faith in the news reporting the news without this slant included in the article. I have seen it too many times before, either with being the news or knowing someone who was the news.

Just like with the talk shows that show up, there is always someone willing to say just what they want to hear. Never could figure out just what it was that could make someone do that. Is there an idiocy factor in human behavior that lets folks cut lose with this sort of stuff?

wet1:

we have 2 choices; either we try to put someone knowledgeable on the report, or we end up being villified in an even worse fasion when they choose that normal moronic representative archetype they've used in other reports.

You know that idiotic type: "I know it's wrong, but i just do it anyway", as if to say "i'm open, attack and smear me and everyone who does this please"

Anyway i'm severely tempted, but i'd want certified notorized releases stating unequivocally i would not be sued, because johncarlton is right.

Whoever stands up in front of the nation and points out the misrepresentation would be begging for extra-special villification and an industry egineered show trial.

awehr,
it doesn't matter if you get the most articulate p2p user on there, there is still no control over the editing process, so that articulate user can come off looking like a low brow criminal.

We all know mainstream media will make up facts CBS to support their preconceived angle on the story.

Someone brought up that ABC already has their angle (anti-p2p). Makes sense since ABC is owned by Disney, who has a vested interest in stamping out filesharing, & will obviously not allow the ABC reporter to have any opinion other than what jibes with the party line.

Would the new Disney CEO be known as Chairman Maose?

we should get a contingent together to go to the thing on April 4.

Your right Leflaw!!!
If this site wants to really accomplish something, you have to be willing to stick your head out and take a swing.
Even if it means a one-sided wall. Or you can sit here and Bitch all day long to get no where!
Its time someone stood in the gap!
CODE WARRIOR! YOU BE DA MAN!
organize this thing and get Boycott on the media map!

when and where do we meet

I am gonna try to go to the Justice Talking thing NPR is holding on April 5 in Philidelphia (that is, if Andrea can get off work and I can save up enough money.)
I would love to meet some of you there!