Last month's edition of 'In The News'

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Folks, don't sit on your can letting me have all the fun. If you run across an article that needs to appear here in the news, please post that link and a blurb.

If you want something to appear on the front page of Boycott-Riaa or DMusic, post the link and blurb, but ALSO hit the submit button! (leflaw, tracy, or I will get around to it asap.)

--Shmoo, aka "independentmusician"
of Electric Gypsy and Boycott RIAA

Elton John claims the Internet is destroying music

Oh, so that's the problem with the crap riaa's music we're hearing...it's all the internets fault!
Yeah, good luck with that one Elton....

German Prosecutors Won't Help RIAA Counterpart

Let's clap hands for the German Court!!! They've got it together....

Re: Elton John claiming the internet is ruining music.
He also said: "I do think it would be an incredible experiment to shut down the whole internet for five years and see what sort of art is produced over that span."

I hate to be the one to tell you this, Elton, but the world doesn't rise or set exclusively on music, and neither does the functionality of the internet.
Narrow vision there, my friend.
Plus, we can lament all we want about the disadvantages of the digital revolution, but the genie will not be going back into the bottle. . . so, might as well quit fretting.

Wistfully, as a pipe dream, yeah, it might have been better for the sake of artistic expression and some other reasons, not to have had the digital genie jump out and take over -- but that's all water under the bridge now, so might as well adapt the best we can, Elton.

BTW:
A notion of doing away with the internet altogether (or over-controlling it) looms as a threat that each of us really needs to watch out for.
The price of freedom is perpetual vigilance.

I put the elton story in the inbox pepe. Should be on our front-page by morning.

Bits and Pieces...
by George Ziemann -- August 2, 2007

While there has been no big story in the music biz lately, there have been several smaller items which add up to a significant enough pile of stupid to talk about.

RIAA Lawsuits -- Since the RIAA started suing people, P2P use has increased, CD sales have decreased at a faster rate, and the lawsuits are costing them money. Thousands of people who didn't know what the RIAA was five or seven years ago now actively despise them.

So the RIAA is going to keep that up -- because they can. Besides, it's time for another semester to start.

Webcasting -- Last I heard on this issue was that SoundExchange wanted the webcasters to block people from being able to record audio streams. The RIAA's Mitch Glazier verified that this was definitely not a problem at this time, unlike those damn third graders who keep stealing their stuff.

But SoundExchange still wants this feature, merely to inconvenience the webcasters as much as possible and make sure they know whose ass they have to kiss.

Attempted Copyright Infringement -- The RIAA hasn't been able to prove actual infringement in court, but some yahoo introduced a bill to create criminal punishments for attempted copyright infringement. This leads me to imagine multiple silly ways to run afoul of the law, like:

a paper jam at Kinko's
a faulty CD-R
running out of gas on the way to buy CD-Rs
running out of toner
running out of printer ink
breaking the lead on your pencil
misuse of the Copy and Paste functions
actually buying a CD
buying CD-Rs and having your credit card declined
Of course, what I suspect is that the RIAA wants to set up a p2p site with dummy files and sues anyone that tries to download them.

Eminem Sues Apple -- Eminem has decided that he never gave Universal the right to sell his songs as downloads, so he's suing Apple for selling them. Apparently, this is his way of punishing Universal.

All the industry does is bitch about Apple, even though it's really the only place able to sell any damn music. They should start their own record labels and just sell music by artists signed with them. Universal can build its own music store and sell their songs for whatever price they feel is appropriate. All of the labels can.

Okay, "can" was probably the wrong word to use there. There is nothing stopping the labels from making their own download sites, as far as I know, other than their own inability to grasp technology.

Or is there? Maybe there is some kind of agreement with the RIAA and NARM (National Association of Retail Merchants) that the labels would not sell direct to the public. I'll have to go check on that...

Are Files Stored on Password-Protected Sites Covered by
the Fourth Amendment?

A district judge ruled that users of online storage have a
reasonable expectation of privacy.

Reading the wrong thing in public can get you in trouble.


FBI questions Cafe Loafer

Sigh, I guess the DOJ thinks it works for the RIAA instead of the People.

Michelle Santangelo Files Answer; Counterclaims for Copyright Misuse and Breach of Duty to Warn

RIAA Backtracks in Knoxville, Tennessee, case, Warner v. Paternoster, Moves to Strike Own Documents

University of Kansas Refuses to Forward RIAA Letters

23 New Colleges Added to RIAA Hit List

List of Record Labels on the RIAA's Frequent Plaintiff List

More from Ray:

RIAA Opposes Dismissal Motion in Warner v. Cassin

New Fair Use Project For User-Generated Media Announced

Transcript of June 29th Proceedings in Warner v. Cassin now available online

Heise Online Reports: German Prosecutors Will No Longer Help RIAA Identify File Sharers

Atlantic v. Boggs Case to be Settled; DOJ Will Not Have to Decide Whether to Intervene

RIAA Moves to Dismiss Counterclaims in UMG v. DelCid, Tampa Case Alleging Extortion and Conspiracy

Keep the Pressure on the BBC

The BBC should have chosen free and open standards that work well and are available today—software that you can install on every major operating system including Microsoft's. Free software.

Instead, they have given Microsoft complete control.This deal isn't about supporting Microsoft Windows users. It's about excluding everyone who doesn't use Microsoft Windows. It says that everyone who does not agree to use DRM and proprietary software made by Microsoft cannot view BBC TV programs over the Internet.

--In solidarity,
Josh, John, Peter and the DRM Elimination Crew.

DefectiveByDesign.org

I was intrigued and disgusted about that
reading-the-wrong-thing-might-be-considered-a-threat news story; it concerned those FBI agents interrogating somebody for looking at some 'leftist" article:
It turned out to be Hal Crowther's "Weapons of Mass Stupidity" from the Weekly Planet, a free independent paper out of Tampa. It focused on the way corporate interests have "poisoned" the country's media, fingering Fox News and Rupert Murdoch as prime bad examples -- containing infuriating, dead-on accurate stuff about American journalism in this post-9-11 era.


How far are we from the kind of way that snitching to SS officers about your neighbor's questionable activity was encouraged in the Nazi regime?
Bush once "quipped" that a dictatorship wouldn't be too bad as long he was the dictator. He and Cheney are actually the kind of guys that a number of people could take them for their word on shit like that; just shows the (low) level of respect they can engender.

Also, about the Dept. of Injustice considering intervening on the RIAA's behalf in one of their lawsuits against an alleged infringer:
I guess there's one kind of justice for corporate cartels and another kind for ordinary citizens like you and me.

[unable to contain indignant fury]

Singers fail to build largest kazoo band

NEW YORK - Members of a 1980s funk and disco group hit a sour note in their attempt to break the world record for the largest kazoo ensemble, falling short of the some 2,600 impromptu musicians needed.

--Aww.

OBIT: Irish singer Tommy Makem dies

Irish folk singer Tommy Makem, dubbed by some critics as the godfather of Irish music, has died from lung cancer in the United States. He was 74.

"Led Zeppelin is feeling a whole lotta love for the Internet."

--decided to join the digital age and will release the compilation album Mothership on iTunes Nov. 13.

Meanwhile, in other Zeppelin news, a man known as one of Europe's most notorious music pirates pleaded guilty in a Scottish court Wednesday to selling bootlegged recordings of the band's concerts.

Robert Langley, known in pirate circles as "Mr. Toad," was arrested in February 2005 after police raided his stall at a record fair and seized close to $25,000 of illicit Zeppelin material, as well as illegal recordings of other acts, including the Beatles.

He had previously maintained his innocence, but changed his plea after Page traveled to Glasgow to testify against him.

The legendary guitarist said he would never have authorized the sale of the recordings because they were of such poor quality.

Langley pleaded guilty to two copyright violations and three trademark violations. He was released on bail pending a sentencing hearing on Aug. 30.

New social networking Web sites flawed

Social networking Web sites such as MySpace.com are increasingly juicy targets for computer hackers, who are demonstrating a pair of vulnerabilities they claim expose sensitive personal information and could be exploited by online criminals.

U.S. man sentenced to two years on copyright violations

An Illinois man was sentenced to two years in prison for violating copyright law through the unauthorized sale of video games on his Web site, the U.S. Department of Justice announced late Thursday.

National Geographic launches new music, radio unit

Online sharing videos, music can attract hackers

More BS scare tactics (...unless maybe the hackers are RIAA employed?)

New way for singles to meet -- the digital zap

For people who think they've heard every pick-up line in the book, here's a new one -- let's zap each other.

Harry Potter and the Goblins of Perpetual Copyright. -- more indoctrination of our kids, now via Rowling?? Still, I think there is a valid comparison here -- why don't we just start calling the RIAA/MPAA "the goblins"? Seems apt.

Here's the link. You'll have to cut and paste, because I know I'll just flub it up otherwise:

http://www.scienceaddiction.com/2007/07/25/harry-potter-and-the-goblins-perpetual-copyright/

Hmm. It worked, and I wasn't even trying.

NBC Mole Outed at DefCon

Dateline NBC allegedly attempted to infiltrate the DefCon hackerfest with a producer using a hidden camera. The show hoped to tape hackers admitting to illegal activities, but DefCon got wind of the plot and displayed the would-be-mole's photo before every presentation. Dateline refused to deny the planned infiltration. -Dateline NBC is best known for its controversial To Catch A Predator series.

FCC Commish - US Playing 'Russian Roulette' with Broadband

Michael Copps lambasted US broadband policy - he claimed that broadband in the US is "so poor that every citizen in the country ought to be outraged."
Copps also had fighting words for those who blame the US broadband problems on our less-dense population; Canada, Norway, and Sweden are ranked above us, but all are less dense than the US. Besides, this argument implies that broadband is absolutely super within American urban areas. Copps noted, though, that his own broadband connection in Washington, DC was "nothing compared to Seoul."'"

Point-and-Click Gmail Hacking Shown at Black Hat

Folks, the TRUE story (linked a few times already above from different sources) behind all this is that you gotta be careful about doing things wirelessly. The scare-tactic angle that mega media is trying to spin about "filesharing and social networking" being the danger here is bunk. EVERYTHING you do on the Internet should be done with caution and forethought. Don't be misled by spin or hype!

...In fact, be MORE afraid of sh*t like this:

The Senate Commerce Committee has stepped in and approved a legislation asking the Federal Communications Commission to 'oversee the development of a super V-chip that could screen content on everything from cell phones to the Internet.'

[i]Such a thing is bound to be abused by major corporates (RIAA, MPAA, etc.) to control everything you see or do, ALL "for the sake of the children" ...sigh.

Folks, IMHO your kids shouldn't be allowed to watch TV or surf the web EVER unless POS. Our government should NOT be the baby-sitter![/url]

CRAP, messed up the formatting. Oh well. (Too much work to go back and fix it.)

Folks, I have not been able to pull up slyck.com for a couple weeks. Are they down?

Six major firms have withdrawn advertisements from the networking website Facebook, after they appeared on a British National Party page.

..said they were "protecting the brand"

Fine, fair enough. If you don't want to be associated with something, take your toys and go home.

Tivo">http://www.webtvwire.com/more-crazy-drm-laws-to-control-videos-you-paid-for-broadcaster-to-lock-your-vids/">Tivo a show in your media room and want to watch it on the bedroom TV? Broadcasters think it should be a surchargin'

Are you and I Internet idiots?

By Chad Vander Veen

(But they themselves also are being greedy. Just RTFA and see!)

Google: Kill all the patent trolls

Agreed! (But let's also get all the Copyright trolls while we are at it!)

Rupert Murdoch has gained control of the Wall Street Journal. EVERYBODY PANIC!

Forget all that web 2.0 crap,the humble hyperlink ought to be counted high in the ranks of digital-age phenomena that have transformed the face of news reporting and consumption.

On the other hand, the hyperlink is the foundation behind a phenomenon that's purely Web 2.0: the news aggregator.

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At this point, I and we take a not so humble bow.

Please don't steal this Web content

But what about fair and reasonable uses?

Please don't steal this Web content

A blogger bitches about people doing the ol' C&P (Sheesh! You'd think she'd be happy folks were reading her words! Does she REALLY think that she's gonna earn all that much more from Ad Sense if folks have to go to her own page? Is THAT her beef?)

Businesses are not switching to Vista. Microsoft finds their lack of faith... disturbing

FCC sets airwaves sale rule

...that would require the winner to make them accessible to any cell phone or other device.

The agency stopped short of a broader requirement sought by potential bidder Google Inc. that would force the winner to resell access to its network on a wholesale basis.

Re: "Rupert Murdoch has gained control of the Wall Street Journal. EVERYBODY PANIC!"

Yeah, Rupert deserves to be despised, but I'll go further: So does the underpinnings of Wall Street itself — I'm talking about corporate structure, financial structure, investment structure, etc., — all the concepts that are self-serving to the big boys and the fat cats and the unscrupulous politicians that tend to support them and their lobbying ilk.
The system is counter-productive to the average citizen. And I don't want to entertain any crap about the supposed benefits of Reaganomics or the disputed trickle-down effect. Platitudes aside, the rich get richer and the peons get poorer, and that's the way they want to keep it!
Grr.

[hell, yeah, I'm pissed off]

Re: "Businesses are not switching to Vista. Microsoft finds their lack of faith... disturbing."

Microsoft is full of shit. And with Vista they laid an egg. It's intrusive. (Somewhere there's a critical website with a solid list of reasons not to buy into Vista; can't seem to locate it just now.)

I'm so glad I'm able to do without Microsoft's operating systems.

Folks, if you are reading this from DMusic's front page, don't forget to visit http://www.boycott-riaa.com for other front page articles. (Some stuff at doesn't appear on DMusic's front page, and vice-versa!)

Facebook Audio Nuked!

Like Napster, you knew it couldn’t last. Facebook has killed off the Audio application for copyright violations, making it one of the first 3rd party apps to get the chop. We’d previously heard that audio was no longer showing up in the App directory, but now it has gone entirely from the site.

Essentially, Audio allowed users to upload MP3s to Facebook and share them - even though uploading copyrighted MP3s is illegal, and your name could be easily linked to the uploads, the app flourished and gained 750,000 users. The Audio app was removed completely last night.

It’s interesting to ask who is liable for illegal apps: you’d assume the developer, but user-generated code is a little less clear cut than user-generated content. Facebook needs to enforce its terms of service to stay in the clear. But it’s also good news for apps like iLike, which appear to be legal and now have an even stronger grip on the music-in-Facebook market.

Via

TorrentSpy lawyer battling 'copyright extremism'

Tech start-ups sued by media conglomerates for copyright infringement typically call on Rothken, a medical researcher turned lawyer. He's made a name for himself by bucking entertainment empires and by backing long-shot copyright cases, such as those involving RecordTV, ReplayTV and MP3Board.com. His efforts have won him praise from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the advocacy group that has become synonymous with user rights on the Web.

The Pirate Bay raking in millions via ads?

If so, are they sharing the ad revenue with the artists and copyright holders?

EMI Hooks up with Puretracks

"EMI Music Canada wants to give fans the best possible digital music
buying experience, and our premium download offering is a fundamental
part of our strategy," says Deane Cameron, President EMI Music Canada.
"We are proud that Puretracks is the first Canadian retailer to offer
EMI's DRM-free downloads in the MP3 format. We are confident that
artists on EMI's roster, as well as those on our distributed labels will
see a good lift in digital sales as a result."

Anyone else willing to bet EMI will be the last of the RIAA labels to fall?

hmm...

After a quick look-see, I find that most of the songfiles at Puretracks (even the "indie" stuff) are WMA's (Read = DRM infected!)

Avoid 'em folks!

Judge Lets RIAA Subpoena Defendant's Employer

19 pages of discovery disputes (pdf), resolving virtually all of them in favor of the RIAA. Other decisions made include: 'The plaintiffs were permitted to take depositions of Mr. Shutovsky's wife and his brother. Plaintiffs were required to produce all non-privileged documents or materials relating to any investigation and any sound files on their computer, and to produce a privilege log as to any claimed to be privileged. Defendant was required to provide the name and address of each person who used his computer during the three years prior to commencement of the lawsuit.'"

Sinful.

Apparently it's not just a matter of prosecutorial evidence. This is copyright law, and somehow the burden is on the defendent to demonstrate innocence, which flies in the face of U.S. legal theory.


Astute comments from slashdot's participants:

"In no way would the founding fathers see this for anything other than what it is: a classic shakedown to get cash for a large corporation. In this country we need to come to grips that Intellectual Property is not something people should be allowed to force others to pay whatever they want. There ought to be balance."

"It's a sad day indeed when a privately owned entity can practice witchhunting and some judges let them do it.. Welcome to the United Corporations of America, an experimental perversion of capitalism, totalitarianism, and military tyranny!"

"Free speech is about all we have left. Enjoy it while you still can."

Ex-bandmate sues Marilyn Manson

...claiming he kept millions of dollars meant to be shared and bought items including a handbag owned by Hitler's girlfriend and a skeleton in a wheelchair.

Ya gotta share with yer bandmates folks!

Double bassist Art Davis dies at 73

Art Davis, the renowned double bassist who played with John Coltrane and other jazz greats, has died. He was 73.

Hollywood pros to launch video Web site

When it debuts Tuesday on the Web, My Damn Channel will become the latest attempt by Hollywood professionals to cash in on the huge popularity of online video.

Researcher finds media player flaws

Media players in personal computers have serious vulnerabilities that could allow online criminals to attach malicious code and infect computers without the user's knowledge, a researcher said Thursday.

Re:
"Ex-bandmate sues Marilyn Manson
...claiming he kept millions of dollars meant to be shared and bought items including a handbag owned by Hitler's girlfriend and a skeleton in a wheelchair."


i guess it wasn't enough just to be depraved; he had to go and bilk his bandmates. Disgusting person all the way around.

Folks, Electric Gypsy vids are now also available at dailymotion.com (works much the same as YouTube, but higher quality audio & video.)

I came across an article that all music enthusist need read!!!

http://www.recordingartistscoalition.com/industrypractices.php

Sound off!

Winehouse album reignites old debate over imports

In the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s, major labels cracked down on retailers carrying import albums as a matter of course -- at one point, CBS Records even sued Tower Records over the practice.

Most merchants Billboard surveyed said they'll comply with a letter from Universal Republic that threatens to sue retailers and merchandisers that continue importing and selling import copies of Winehouse's 2003 debut album, "Frank." But other retailers are arguing that, in the age of downloading, it's absurd for a record label to take Universal's approach.

The RIAA's evil practices never end!

One wholesaler claimed that the primary reason Universal Republic is now issuing Winehouse's "Frank" is because importers first proved the album commercially viable in the United States.

bingo!

Village rises for New Orleans' musicians

Paradigm absorbs, renames boutique agencies

The Paradigm shift is almost complete. Sources said that Monterey Peninsula Artists and Little Big Man will be fully integrated into Paradigm Talent Agency and that the two boutique agencies' names will be retired, effective August 13.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070731-unauthorized-music-downloading-hits-record-levels-in-uk.html

Hehe.

Jhannet Sejas and her boyfriend were celebrating her 19th birthday by taking in a matinee showing of the hit movie "Transformers" at the theater at Ballston Common mall.

Sejas was enjoying the movie so much that she decided to film a short clip of the sci-fi adventure's climax to get her little brother hyped to go see it.

Minutes later, two Arlington County police officers were pointing their flashlights at the young couple in the darkened theater and ordering them out. They confiscated the digital camera as evidence and charged Sejas, a Marymount University sophomore and Annandale resident, with a crime: illegally recording a motion picture.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/01/AR2007080102398.html

Headline to above.

Girl gets jailed for recording 20 seconds of film.

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/manson%20brands%20lawsuit%20ridiculous_1039744

"Marilyn Manson has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former bandmate Stephen Bier - who used the stage name Madonna Wayne Gracy - as 'ridiculous'.

The keyboardist, who was in Manson's band until last year, claims that he is owed profits from the group valued at $20 million (£10 million).

He says that Manson spent the money from the band on a new house and some Nazi collectables.

In addition. the suit filed alleges that Manson bought a full skeleton of a four-year-old Chinese girl and the skeleton of a 17th century male in a wheelchair.

Manson responded by saying to MTV News: "The fact that he's claiming that I've treated him unfairly, financially, is really ridiculous.
And I would never spend my money on a Chinese girl skeleton. That would be crossing the line.
It's a Chinese boy, for the record."

The former band member also claims that Manson spent a large sum on an engagement ring for the burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese.

Manson married the dancer in December 2005, but Von Teese filed for divorce last year after a year of marriage.

The rocker has enjoyed a hugely successful career so far and released his latest album, "Eat Me Drink Me", earlier this year."


My comment:
I don't know who to blame more, this disgusting excuse for a human being, or his fans.

Hey leflaw, here's one you might be interested in posted by /.'s CmdrTaco:

Why is it so hard to find good programmers? - A Guide to Hiring Programmers: The High Cost of Low Quality"

A call for the greater programming community to create a truly "open" social network.

Obit: Lee Hazlewood

a singer and songwriter best known for writing and producing "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" for Nancy Sinatra, has died. He was 78.

Amazon invests in music service Amie Street

...in advance of launching its own digital music store.

Music Publishers join case against YouTube

I'll have this one on the front page at in the morning.

AT&T's Anti-Online Piracy Effort Cheers Movie, Music Industries

BOYCOTT AT&T!!!

AT&T = the monopoly that won't go away

(Remember folks? Our government supposedly busted it up a couple decades ago. But they are back in the saddle AND working with OTHER evil monopolists! grrr...[/url]

Microsoft relieved of 1.5 bln dollar payout in online music suit

A US judge ruled Monday that Microsoft doesn't have to pay Alcatel-Lucent 1.5 billion dollars, overturning a jury verdict that promised to shake up the digital music industry.

Online Video Now An Avenue For Text, Not Just Video, Ads

Amir Ashkenazi is a captain in the emerging battlefield of online video advertising, and his weapon of choice is ... text.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ibd/20070806/bs_ibd_ibd/200786general;_ylt=AkVVpZqMOoxbuhQicUDNkKUjtBAF

General Electric recommends two approaches to thwarting piracy. The first step is for internet service providers to increase efforts to identify and notify alleged violators to stop the practice.
Second, filtering content and blocking infringing transmissions is being considered by various ISPs, including AT&T.


Guess what: The main reason for AT&T's decision to fight infringement: the dirty rats want to partner with the entertainment industry!!

Seriously, AT&T is going to plunge into the murky waters of filtering content??
Good luck with that lamebrain notion! [insert maniacal laugh]

P.S.

"BOYCOTT AT&T!!!" — Shmoo

Yes, that's what should be done! Let's spread the news!

A group of Oklahoma University students has made a motion to vacate the ex parte order the RIAA had obtained compelling the university to turn over their names and addresses. In support of their motion was the expert witness declaration (PDF) of a computer security and forensics expert who essentially attacked the entire premise of the RIAA's lawsuit, characterizing the declaration upon which the RIAA based its motion as 'factually erroneous' and 'misleading.' Among other things he pointed out that 'An individual cannot be uniquely identified by an IP address,' and that 'Many computers can be connected to the Internet with identical IP addresses as long as they remain behind control points.' The students are represented by the same Oklahoma lawyer who recently obtained a award for $68,000-plus in attorneys fees against the RIAA in Capitol v. Foster."

Warner Music 3Q loss widens

"The industry needs to introduce a new platform that delivers higher quality and more value to consumers than the compact disc," Bronfman said.

"...the company will accelerate and broaden efforts to strike deals with artists and other industry players that will give Warner a piece of revenue from other segments of the music industry, such as merchandising and touring. Those segments are faring better than recorded music sales."

"The economic model for making the investment in artists' career is no longer sufficient if our return comes only from the recorded music business" Bronfman said.

-------

Give up Edgar. You can't win. Game's about over!

Sharpton urges divestment to clean up rap lyrics

Activist Rev. Al Sharpton organized rallies across the United States on Tuesday urging public divestment from the music industry until rap lyricists stop employing the "n-word" and terms degrading to women.

He called Tuesday for the withdrawal of public funds from entertainment companies that "won't clean up their act."

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Hey Al. Glad to see you rail against the enemy ...but sheesh, can't you pick a better reason to attack them?

Study: More time spent with paid media

A study finds that U.S. consumers are increasingly shifting their attention away from traditional, advertising-supported media in favor of entertainment such as the Internet, video games and cable TV, which consumers pay for.

Chuck Norris sends Cease and Desist to tchirts.com

tchirts reply:

Hi [attorney's first name],

We apologize for any inconvenience caused to Mr. Norris and hope he isn't angry with us. Until now we respected him and we wouldn't want him to come and kick our scrawny screen printing asses!

This t-shirt was only put up about a month ago. We sold a total of 0 (zero) Chuck Norris t-shirts, because nobody thought it was as cool as we did. In fact I don't think Chucky got any publicity this past year other than through our website and the Bowflex. So we don't mind removing an unsuccessful t-shirt from our website. We promise to never make another Chuck Norris T-shirt without his permission again!

Don't forget to visit us again, we have many new t-shirts added regularly (no Chuck Norris ones we promise) !!!!

AV Club staff writer Mike Schmidt asks of other music writers:

"How many times does an album get listened to before someone reviews it?"

Woodstock for sale - $8 mil.

Although Max Yasgur's original residence - all 2,000 square feet of it - is part of the deal, the primary attractions on the 103 acres in upstate Bethel are the 5,000-square-foot farmhouse and a 7,000-square-foot barn.

Rolling Stone's list of top 25 coolest guitar solos of all time.

-------

Note: they haven't yet heard "Burning Desire" by Electric Gypsy.

(Oh wait, none of YOU have yet either. Gotta get that recording finished. It's been sitting on my shelf for over 12 years!)

Ten Things Your IT Department Will Not Tell You

Personal PC use while at the day-job.

(gonna read this one closely.)

CCIA Targets Bogus Copyright Warnings

Copyright warnings -- like those "FBI Warnings" on DVDs,
stickers on CDs, and warnings flashed during NFL broadcasts
-- are becoming increasingly common. Trouble is, most of
these warnings are blatantly misleading claiming that any
and all unauthorized uses are forbidden by law. Of course,
copyright has always allowed lots of unauthorized uses,
including fair uses. They are also annoying, and in the
case of DVDs, unskippable.

Last Wednesday, the Computer & Communications Industry
Association (CCIA) filed a complaint with the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC), asking the Commission to take a number of
major corporations to task for their misleading and
intimidating copyright warnings. Targets include: the NFL,
Major League Baseball, DreamWorks, Morgan Creek (producers
of "The Good Shepherd"), and the book publishers, Harcourt
and Penguin.

CCIA's also started a petition that will be sent to the FTC
-- sign it here:
http://defendfairuse.org/take_action.html

Read the CCIA complaint:
http://defendfairuse.org/ftc_complaint.html

For the full post:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/005385.php

File-sharing is a "petty offense," say German prosecutors (August 2007).
Common sense.

Unfortunately, here in the good ol' U.S. of A., it may soon bring a prison sentence when the Dept. of Injustice indicts an infringer on behalf of the entertainment cartel.
Doesn't that make you proud to live in America, the land where the Executive Branch invades nations to start pre-emptive wars, and the land where liberties are being taken away from us common citizens every year?
[sardonically waving the stars and stripes]

Google is going to close the Google Video Store , leaving users who bought videos that used Digital Restrictions Management without their purchases.

Buyer beware. If you are fool enough to buy a DRM infected product, this will likely happen to you.

Google to offer online storage

(A little pricey!)

Luxe-a-palooza! Has Hard Rock Gone Soft?

Music Festivals Now Offer VIP Options, Including Massages and Gourmet Food ... But Is It Rock'n'Roll Enough?

In regard to China copying or cloning products . . .
People the world over tolerate Microsoft. But has Microsoft EVER made an original product?

The US broadband situation as per Cringley

He talks about where we were and where we are: 'not very fast, not very cheap Internet service that is hurting our ability to compete economically with the rest of the world' and about the $200B the phone companies got to make it that way.

http://www.zeropaid.com/news/8959/European+Youth+on+Illegal+File-Sharing:+'Music+Artists+Don't+Need+My+Money!'

European Commission's "Safer Internet for Children" study details how children are aware of the risks of illegal file-sharing and how they justify it.

The European Commission's Directorate-General Information Society and Media has commissioned a qualitative study on the subject of "Safer Internet for Children."

This study covers 29 countries, the 27 Member States, as well as Iceland and Norway, and involves boys and girls in age groups 9 to 10 and 12 to 14 whom all have the possibility to access and use the internet at least once per month.

The goal is to improve knowledge of internet and mobile phone usage of children as well as their online behavior and perceptions of risk and safety that are associated with it, all with the purpose in mind of creating an overall "Safer Internet Programme."

Chapter IV of the study is what details the participant's thoughts on illegal downloading. It concludes that "In the vast majority of cases, across all countries, children know that most of the downloads are illegal, but they minimize, deny or justify the practice." In fact, for the very large majority of the study's participants, there is a considerable "feeling of impunity" and, in a way, the conviction of a form of “legitimacy”, if not legality, in downloading. In many of their minds, whether or not it is "illegal" is not always clear. .

From the study:


* “Everyone does it”, the mass nature of the behavior “putting it in the clear” to some degree (“why not me, too?”) but also making the sanction very difficult and not very credible. Moreover, the example set by parents (who themselves often like downloading things) constitutes, in the children’s eyes, an implicit form of authorisation.

* The download is for personal and private purposes, and therefore less serious than systematic recording for fraudulent resale.

* The websites are assumed to remunerate the artists.

* The argument of the harm inflicted on artists is not very admissible and not very credible.

* CDs and DVD are too expensive, and most children cannot afford them.

“It’s illegal, but it does not look like it is illegal” (Boys group, 12-14 years, Denmark)

“But I do not understand that it is illegal” (Girls group, 9-10 years, Belgium)

“It is wrong but not our fault” (Girls group, 12-14 years, Belgium)

“Downloading is illegal, it is not punishable whereas sharing the files is punishable” (Boys

group, 12-14 years, Finland)

“Dad does it all the time” (Girls group, 12-14 years, Norway)

“People download, but if is just for themselves, it is less serious than downloading for burning

and reselling” (Boys group, 12-14 years, France)

“I don’t really feel guilty. It wouldn’t be on the Internet if it was like really illegal, they

wouldn’t have it there” (Boys group, 12-14 years, United-Kingdom)

“They have a lot of money ! They don’t need my money” (Boys group, 12-14 years, Czech

Republic)

“I really don’t care, it’s not my problem. Singers and actors are rich enough” (All groups,

Italy)

“We pay because we are spending megabits !” (Boys group, 12-14 years, Portugal)


Moreover, only a minority of the study's participants said they were aware of the harm created by illegal file-sharing and the “immorality” of this behavior. Almost all of them even stated they will continue to "carry on downloading." and do not see themselves "refraining from doing it"(take that RIAA).

One bit of good news for the the MPAA and RIAA though is that some study participants did suggest "clearer rules" were in order, suggesting the possibility of following, them, and that there was also the chance that they be inclined to make a “modest payment” in order to download content online.

At the end of the day, the study found that lawsuits and other legal threats were not the biggest deterrent against illegal file-sharing, but instead was the risk of downloading a virus.

For me, the biggest deterrent against downloading RIAA music is the fact that it is RIAA music.

a two-part interview with John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants

...discussed the role of technology both in terms of their recording and distribution, from Dial-a-Song, to podcasts, to Myspace...

RIAA Short on Funds? Fails to Pay Attorney Fees!!!

YouTube has begun their defense against Viacom by first calling on 30 depositions from people like Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert.

hmm... Jon and Stephen might end up being pressured to speak as Viacom wants them instead of as they really think. Bears watching. (uh, not that kind of bear Stephen. lol)

http://news.com.com/Russian+court+acquits+music+site+owner/2100-1030_3-6202717.html?tag=cd.top

A Russian court on Wednesday, August 15, acquitted the former boss of music download Web site Allofmp3.com of breaching copyright in a case seen as a key test of Russia's commitment to fighting piracy and supporting the global push for intellectual property rights.

Denis Kvasov, head of the company that owned the site, was put on trial after entertainment companies EMI Group, NBC Universal, and Time Warner pressed for prosecution.

The Allofmp3 Web site angered Western music companies by offering downloads far cheaper than the market price in deals they said breached copyright law.

"The prosecution did not succeed in presenting persuasive evidence of his involvement in infringing copyright law," said the judge, Yekaterina Sharapova.

The site, which has now been closed, was a thorny issue in negotiations between Russia and the United States over Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization, a key aim of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

(This news does not displease me in any way!)

http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9760235-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5

Lime Wire going legit, offering independent music?

August 15, 2007 9:38 AM PDT
by Matt Rosoff

Lime Wire is best known as the latest in a long chain of software that makes it easy to find and download music for free, replacing Napster, Grokster, eDonkey, Kazaa, and all the other applications and networks that have shut down or cracked down on the sharing of copyrighted material.

Lime Wire LLP, the company that makes the Lime Wire software application, has also been sued by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), but has so far refused to cave, saying that it only manufactures the software and has no control over how users choose to employ it. Moreover, it filed a countersuit in September 2006 on antitrust grounds, calling the RIAA an illegal cartel that conspires to destroy any distribution channel that the recording industry doesn't control.

Several days ago, Lime Wire announced that it would begin to offer approved downloads for sale from directly within the Lime Wire application. Given their ongoing legal dispute with the RIAA, Lime Wire's distribution partners, IRIS and Nettwerk, represent small independent labels and artists rather than the majors. The files will be MP3s, and unprotected by DRM, meaning users won't ever have the problem that former Google Video downloaders now face.

So, Shmoo (and anybody else to whom it may concern), does this mean Lime Wire will be offering downloads of music from indie artists? Sure sounds like it!
If so, isn't this MAJOR good news?

Uh, oh, I almost forgot: I'm a pessimist, and I should be pondering whether there's some downside to this happy prospect!
)

Hey, where have all our members gone?
Very few news items get commented on anymore.

Maybe everyone is too busy with other things . . .

(I was referring to the separate news articles on the news page of the website, not this "In the News" listing thing here.)

pessimist: "Hey, where have all our members gone?
Very few news items get commented on anymore."

Ah yes. The 'trolls' are long gone now, same for the 'troublemakers'. So are the dissenting points of view.

Nary a comment on the new look either.

Peace and quiet now reigns supreme.

As the saying goes ... be careful for what you wish for ... you just might get it.

Do I hear....crickets?

Not to worry, there's an election right around the corner.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070816/ap_on_hi_te/compact_disc_anniversary

"but its sales have been in a freefall since peaking early this decade, in part due to the rise of online file-sharing, but also as consumers spend more of their leisure dollars on other entertainment purchases, such as DVDs and video games."

OMG!! The news media is actually telling part of the TRUTH as to the reasons CD sales are declining. It's not ALL due to downloading.... write it down, write it down... take note... this may never happen again!!!

No news is good news. The new look is, as far as I can see, just a new look. All the functionality, or lack of it, in the old page is here in the new.

Besides, we're all just too busy listening to good music to comment. Right?

Damnit,

THIS thread is not supposed to be an "open thread"

kyodylee,

YOU have been around for fucking ever, and YOU know damn well that Boycott-RIAA has always allowed and encouraged free speech and opinion.

NOTHING other than a humble REQUEST has stopped ANYBODY from ranting here in the "In The News" thread.

We of Boycott-RIAA actually WANT your rants and soap-box preachings! (Even if we agree or not!)

Just use a little courtesy and allow the "In The News" thread to be used only for quick links to what is happening [i]in the news[/] at the moment.

Do you have brain enough to understand what I am saying?

---------

Shit...

I guess I need to convince leflaw to let me have an "open thread" again.

Sure, such a thing is lots of fun. We get to have GLORIOUS fights/battles and breed many trolls... but, we don't we tend to stray WAY TO FAR off topic then?

-----------

WTF do you want folks?

Do you want an "anything goes - no rules" chatroom?

...OR, do you want to fight the RIAA?

"anything goes" chatrooms are a dime a dozen (much cheaper actually)

-------------------

Yes, I have noticed the decline in "comments/replies" to articles around here lately myself. But, so what?

(leflaw tells me our "unique visitors" ,,,that means "lurkers" are UP!)

----

No offense to our old-time regulars, no offense to our long time participants,

...but this site has NEVER been about any of YOU!

--------

Boycott RIAA is here to educate the UN-initiated.

We are here for the folks who as of yet do NOT understand the fight and the war.

OUR little bickerings between each other in the "Jerry Springer mode" may or may not be entertaining, BUT

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REASON WE ARE HERE!!!

--------------

Get back on track or STFU

---------------

(The line above is only a strongly worded request. leflaw owns this place. Only leflaw has the authority and right to "ban" you if you try to be nasty. And THINK about it folks...

Does leflaw exorcise his rightful power all that often?

Think about it.

(ONLY when somebody goes hog wild, raising hell for NO good reason does he ever step in.)

After all, when it all comes down to it, this whole DMusic/Boycott-RIAA/etc. is nothing more than his "blog" that is being shared.

WE choose to gather here to fight (or not)

...but do NOT act as if you have a "right" to scrawl anti-Boycott crap on our walls without us coming along and cleaning up your poop afterwards.

Get your OWN damn website if !

And yes. Tracy (yes, I think it was her doing) did a WONDERFUL job of re-modeling the site.
(I have been begging leflaw forever to get rid of all the old/dead sidebar links.)

The banner image at the top of the page is a little much of a play on the Nazi/Communist propaganda from the mid-last century...

(but, that's the JOKE!)

Boycott-RIAA is here for the purpose of setting you FREE!

"Boycott-RIAA is here for the purpose of setting you FREE!

Free The Speech!...Free The Speech!..Free The Speech!....let the people Speak! :0)

Do you want an "anything goes - no rules" chatroom?

...OR, do you want to fight the RIAA?


Yes, Please.

FINALLY!!! Anarticle on Piracy that doesn't have anything to do with recorded music...

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1280436,00.html

And no, not all of us are gone/missing. Simply taking advantage of the rss feed to keep up

I have noticed that the vast majority of articles that make the front page seem to be more appropriate for DMusic than BRIAA though.

Those are "spill-over" articles. We still get em.

AT&T clause in contracts has been ruled "unconscionable" by the 9th circuit court of appeals.

The clause in question stated that if you use AT&T service you surrender your right to class action lawsuits and instead have to participate in mandatory binding arbitration.

Internet to crash with web Tv?

Bandwidth crisis looms? With our throttled down infrastructure in the hands of monopolists, perhaps.

Something you'd never have thought possible to be heard in the USA: "Your papers please!"

(Best spoken with a faux German accent!)

PC Magazine editor-in-chief Jim Louderback steps down from his position.

Now admits Vista is crap.

OBIT: Pioneering Jazzman Roach Dies.

Best-of albums worst of choices for some

A side-effect to today's fractured, tumultuous music industry is the fluctuating meaning of the greatest-hits album.

Violent Femmes fighting each other over royalties.

The case, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, additionally claims Gano failed to properly account for the band's earnings and damaged the Femmes' reputation by allowing their biggest hit, "Blister in the Sun," to be used in a Wendy's ad campaign.

Connie Francis Sues Over Fan's Will

Francis is suing the family of a late fan who left $300,000 (£150,000) to the star shortly before killing herself.

"At first I was willing to give her family half and also make a $25,000 donation to St. Jude Hospital."

Francis says she decided to sue after the relatives demanded the full amount or they would "embarrass" her publicly.

I guess this guy wants me to stay away from his church.

Anyone who comes to its iThemed services for the first time during the next three weekends can get a $15 iTunes gift card by filling out a "connection card." Today, one new visitor will win an iPhone.

How "Guitar Hero" saved guitar music

...?

Metallica sues video game makers even after they paid for licenses to use the songs?

Hmm... the update says this is a hoax. (Probably done for publicity.)

More likely that "Guitar Hero" is bringing back the keytar.

(The above musta been a typo!)

Melody recognition technology developed.

Name that tune in how many notes?

So, you think your Internet access is sh*tty???

(lol)

...the University of Aberdeen plans to welcome students back with a high bandwidth internet network connected via the sewers.

Movie pirates even put a bounty of 100,000 ringgit ($28,560) on Lucky and Flo after they busted a fake DVD ring in southern Johor state in March, the MPA said. Since then, the dogs have been closely guarded.

Well, I guess they won't be hiring Michael Vic anytime soon.

Hip Hop likes Barrack Obamba.

Vibe dubs him "B-Rock"

FCC Puts 4.6 Billion Minimum Bid on Spectrum Auction

This is essentially a move to shut out smaller possible competitors while also maximizing the money the auction will generate for the grade-A areas of the spectrum.

Playing Music Slows Vista Network Performance?

2CPU forums have discovered an unexplained connection with audio playback resulting in a cap at approximately 5%-10% of total network throughput. Whenever any audio is being sent to a sound card (even, several users report, while paused), network performance is instantly reduced. As soon as the audio is stopped, the throughput begins to climb to its expected speed.

Some reasons why I hate Clear Channel:

Clear Channel has caused insipid standardization.
Clear Channel supplanted local and regional programs. (Gone are most of the familiar local music jockeys and niche shows we used to enjoy on independent local radio FM stations in our cities.)
Clear Channel is monopolistic.

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

China: "Bloggers Should Use Real Names"

Aug 22, 10:25 AM (ET)
By ANITA CHANG

"BEIJING (AP) - Blog service providers in China are 'encouraged' to register users with their real names and their contact information, according to a new government document that tones down an earlier proposal banning anonymous online blogging.

At least 10 major Chinese blog service providers have agreed to sign the "self-discipline pledge" issued by the Internet Society of China, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday.

Online bulletin boards and blogs are the only forum for most Chinese to express opinions before a large audience in a society where all media are state-controlled."


My comment:
Yep, here with China we see the end-result of ultimate oppressive intrusion into personal liberty.
We need to remain outraged and vigilant about our diminishing freedoms here stateside! I get upset with those who tend to say, "Nah, that kind of thing won't be allowed to happen here."
I say, we ain't seen nuthin yet.

Stereophile, August 2007, page 122

Watching the Detectives
by Robert Baird

(not online - A column about two independent record store owners who closed their bricks and mortar storefront and now sell only used CDs on the internet.) Excerpt:

"Despite supply problems, the pair, who mostly deal in rock and pop CDs, are in one of the few areas of the business that's still growing, or at least holding its own.

"...What may be most striking about buying and selling used CDs on the Internet is that it's allowed CDs to find their own level of value. The day I interviewed Mildred and Celerino was the day Paul McCartney's new record, Memory Almost Full, was released at Starbucks for $16.99. Within hours, used and new copies were available on Amazon for around eight bucks. The average for most used CDs offered on Amazon, eBay, and other sites is a couple of bucks. Because the numbers of new and current releases offered for sale are so large, the profit margin for Internet sellers is negligible. What's kept the used CD market viable is the record labels' bizare system of taking recorings out of print. Mildred and Celerino say that CDs by members of the Marsalis family are much sough tthese days, and a best-of CD from '60s pop band The Left Banke goes for no less than $75...

"'It's a self fulfilling prophecy, also,' says Celerino. 'If they take everything out of print and there's nothing left for people to buy when they're at a record store, then they'll say, "Well, nobody wants CDs anymore."'"

Thanks autodidact,

The quote is RIGHT about how the RIAA/Industry is manipulating things.

This BS we keep hearing about how the "CD is dead" is just market spin.

The CD might be dead for the RIAA labels, but it is very much alive for the independent music artists as a viable commercial option.

RIAA say: "OMG, don't let those unwashed indie wannabe's have a commercial viable option! Let's just declare the CD dead! and hope for DRM infected downloads to become the new paradigm...

...uh, oh shit! The customers ain't liking the DRM... uh, uh, O no! What to do???"

-------------

...and so it goes.


lol

Sony didn't learn its' lesson.

...they have now started infesting PC gaming with their invasive DRM. Facts have surfaced that show that the recently released PC game BioShock installs a rootkit, which embeds itself into Explorer, as part of its SecureROM copy-protection scheme. Not only that, but just installing the demo infects your system with the rootkit.

time to brandish one of those rootkit purgers

Copyright advocacy group caught infringing copyrights.

"Commercial scholarly publishers are beginning to get afraid of the open access movement. They've hired a high-priced consultant to help them sway public opinion in favor of copyright restrictions on taxpayer-funded research. Funny thing is, their own website contains several copyright violations. It seems they pulled their images directly from the Getty Images website — watermarks and all — without paying for their use."

Torrentspy disables access for US IP addresses.

states: 'Torrentspy Acts to Protect Privacy. Sorry, but because you are located in the USA you cannot use the search features of the Torrentspy.com website. Torrentspy's decision to stop accepting US visitors was NOT compelled by any Court but rather an uncertain legal climate in the US regarding user privacy and an apparent tension between US and European Union privacy laws.

Gonzo steps down. Good Riddance!

Good lord, ANOTHER Sony rootkit!

F-Secure is reporting that the drivers for Sony Microvault USB sticks uses rootkit techniques to hide a directory from the Windows API.
The Sony MicroVault USM-F fingerprint reader software that comes with the USB stick installs a driver that is hiding a directory under "c:\windows\". So, when enumerating files and subdirectories in the Windows directory, the directory and files inside it are not visible through Windows API. If you know the name of the directory, it is e.g. possible to enter the hidden directory using Command Prompt and it is possible to create new hidden files. There are also ways to run files from this directory. Files in this directory are also hidden from some antivirus scanners (as with the Sony BMG DRM case) — depending on the techniques employed by the antivirus software. It is therefore technically possible for malware to use the hidden directory as a hiding place."

Allofmp3.com store back online.

According to a Russian court, their music store did not violate any copyright law in Russia, so there was "no reason for them to keep it closed" said Allofmp3.com

Deezer.com has struck a deal with the SACEM to stream music.

MS responds about Vista's poor networking and audio - says that this performance trade-off is necessary to simply play an MP3.

Fair use is a bitch.

http://www.techliberation.com/archives/042724.php

A law firm commissions a ridiculously self-congratulatory song about itself. It leaks to the net. People point and laugh. They issue DMCA threats. YouTube capitulates but Fair use prevails.

Wil Wheaton rants about why going to the theater sucks.

Rails against camera's filming movie-goers to catch would be film filmers.

Dance on the grave of DRM

Mash up Red Hat's anti-DRM video

Digital music services try to nibble away at Apple

Musicians, instruments strapped to their backs and signs in hand, marched to the French Quarter on Sunday, demanding better wages and asking tourists, music lovers and political leaders not to take them for granted.

SanDisk's new super small mp3 player

Does more than Apple's shuffle, cheaper too!

Why Some Brands Seem Anti-Social

Nike, Coke, Mattel, Wal-Mart, Nickelodeon, etc. all try getting into the "social networking site" biz with varied amounts of success.

Google has promised to give content makers control over advertisements overlaid on video clips they post to its YouTube video sharing Web site.


...but still no word on sharing the revenue.

Internet Users Experience More Content, Less Talk

As of May 2007, Internet users spent 47% of their time online consuming content, compared with 34% in 2003, according to the Center for Media Research.

Teen Trades Hacked iPhone for New Car!

Aug 28, 9:16 AM (ET)

(AP) George Hotz, 17, holds an iPhone that he has unlocked and is using on T-Mobile's network, Friday,...
[Full Image]


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The teenage hacker who managed to unlock the iPhone so that it can be used with cellular networks other than AT&T will be trading his reworked gadget for a new car.

George Hotz, of Glen Rock, N.J., said he had reached the deal with CertiCell, a Louisville, Ky.-based mobile phone repair company.

Hotz posted on his blog that he traded his modified iPhone for "a sweet Nissan 350Z and 3 8GB iPhones."

"This has been a great end to a great summer," Hotz wrote.

The 17-year-old Hotz said he will be sending the three new iPhones to the three online collaborators who helped him divorce Apple Inc' (AAPL)s popular product from AT&T's network. The job took 500 hours, or about 8 hours a day since the iPhone's June 29 launch.

Hotz made the deal with Terry Daidone, co-founder of CertiCell, who also promised the teen a paid consulting job.

"We do not have any plans on the table right now to commercialize Mr. Hotz' discovery," Daidone said in a statement.

---

On the Net:

http://iphonejtag.blogspot.com

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All right reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Japan Will Research Internet Replacement

By Yuri Kageyama, Associated Press

TOKYO — Japan plans to start research on new networking technology that could one day replace the Internet amid its growing quality and security problems, according to the nation's communications ministry.
U.S. and European researchers already have started similar efforts to rebuild the underlying architecture of the Internet.

Yoshihiro Onishi, assistant director at the Japanese communications ministry, said Japan must follow suit to stay competitive. Post-Internet network technology is expected to become imperative by 2020, he said.

"The Internet is reaching its limit," he said. "We feel this research for the technology is definitely needed."

When researchers largely knew one another, the Internet's early architects kept the shared network open and flexible — qualities that proved key to its rapid growth. But that later allowed spammers and hackers to roam freely.

The network's designers also assumed that computers would be in fixed locations and usually connected; problems developed as laptops and other mobile devices proliferated.

Many scientists are starting to believe a totally new network is needed. It could run parallel with the current Internet or eventually replace it, or parts of the research could go into a major overhaul of the existing architecture.

Researchers may also seek a network that consumes lower levels of energy.

The Japanese ministry wants to set up an organization with private sector involvement by the end of the year that will do the groundwork for starting the research. It will request money in the fiscal year to begin April 1, although the amount has yet to be decided.

Onishi said collaborating with other nations will be an option.

Such efforts in the U.S. aren't expected to bear fruit for 10 or 15 years. Congress has yet to provide full funding for the research.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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