By r87652000

Ever since the internet started, people have been sharing files. Sure, at the beginning it was only between a select few that knew how to use the then complicated sharing system. IRC comes online, and a few more people learn to use it. Then the whole Napster fiasco happens. At the time, the only major sharing system used was Napster. After it was shut down, hundreds of companies saw their chance, and pounced on it. The Post-Napster era spawned many programs, including iMesh, Morpheus, LimeWire, Bearshare, eDonkey, and many others, including the one under the most fire recently, Kazaa.

Millions of users transfer billions of files using programs such as these each year, and those transfers have been brought to the attention of the Recording Industry Association of America. The RIAA is the association that represents over 90% of recording artists in the world. They are the same company that determines and awards Gold and Platinum awards for albums, and supposedly tries to protect the "intellectual property" of its artists.

The RIAA claims that file sharing has costs the industry over 300 million dollars in the past year, and has set out to stop that. So, by making a file available that is supposedly copyrighted music, but is actually a program that tracks your computer and sends the information to them, the RIAA has vowed to sue anyone who shares or attempts to download copyrighted music material.

This "File Sharing War" started in February of 2001 when Metallica and other bands sued Napster for sharing its copyrighted files. After Napster was shut down, the search to shut down the mainstream "big boys" of file sharing, mostly the groups that were downloading music, burning it to CDs, and selling them to make a profit off of the copyrighted music. There's no
problem with this, as the sale of copyrighted materials for profit without the consent of the materials creator or artist is illegal, and has been for some time.

But, using their spyware, the RIAA is going after individual downloaders, in most cases high school or college students, but there are a few cases against children under the age of 13, and many parents and grandparents that did not know of the downloading on their computers. Now, if each of these children and teenagers are causing such a large dent in the music
industry, how are album selling records being broken? How are more artists getting the rank of "Platinum" then ever before? And how are more and more new artists getting noticed?

These things happen because of the file sharing. Many of the file sharing programs and websites feature their "New Artist of the Week," and offer a song or two for someone to sample. If said person enjoys the music, they download more of their songs, and tell their friends about them, as the popularity of a band grows, they are eventually signed, and those same
people that downloaded and shared the new bands music now go out and buy the new album, to support their band.

Ever since the beginning of the internet, the music industry has become much more then just a few songs on the radio: it has become a worldwide phenomena. Downloaders in Europe and Asia that previously had to wait for the usually late shipping of albums from the states now get to hear and spread the music even more. More bands are being noticed worldwide, instead of only in the states. While only major albums were shipped overseas in the past, any new artist out of his garage can be heard worldwide.

The RIAA shouldn't be fighting file sharing, they should be thanking it, and all of the bands who have ever had a single song shared should be flattered.

Why should they be flattered? When an individual opens a program such as Kazaa, they have access to almost every song ever recorded. If that one user goes in, and out of the billions upon billions of songs they have to choose from, they choose one band's single, then that band has been given the honor of being chosen as one, out of billions. That band is the means
to an end, the needle in the haystack, the holy grail of music to that user. And isn't that what music is about? Music is defined as: An aesthetically pleasing or harmonious sound or combination of sounds. So, out of all the songs they have to choose from, that one single is the most aesthetically pleasing song to that user.

Before this modern day, music was solely a method of expressing feelings, or as a form of entertainment. Musicians were admired for their talent, but they were not well paid, and were not nearly as famous as modern day musicians. A Musician wrote and played songs because they enjoyed the melodious combination of sounds, and because others liked to listen to that same combination of sounds, something that they created. These musicians took the same pride in their song being enjoyed that a proud parent has in its successful child. That is what should be about.

But what is it today? According to the RIAA's actions, to get back the 300 million dollars that sharers have supposedly cost the music industry, it is a form of money.

The musical notes, bars, symbols, and words that compose a song are blurred by the dollar signs and bright spotlights of popularity. Bands and artists need to remember their roots, remember what music used to be, and remember what the real purpose of music is.

Music is supposed to send a chill down your spine, or put you in a better mood, but instead, they only try to empty your pockets.

r87652000

As my dad put, they are going to do whatever it takes to SECURE their income stream.

EXACTLY

I work for a national cable/interntet provider. We had a case a few months back that was disturbing. A local bar owner had cable service on all the TVs at the bar. During certain hours of the day, he kept the TVs on various Music Choice channels (whic play only a certain genre per channel). One day he received a letter from an attorney that stated he was being sued for broadcasting copyrighted material. The fines were outrageous! Give me a break. Are they going to start going after establishments that have jukeboxes, or even radios? Please!

When I worked for Hallmark last summer, we had a store on the West Coast that was sued by the RIAA. Get this. Hallmark has CDs for sale. Some are all instrumental. Some have current artists. Most CDs are themed (weddings, songs for moms, songs for women etc). Hallmark has permission to put these songs on their CDs. In order to encourage sales, they play the CDs in the store. Some RIAA jerk walks into a store one day and notices the music playing and voila! Lawsuit. This store was fine $1000 a day for playing copyrighted material! So let me get this straight, a store is playing the music in hopes of generating sales, which I sure would have benefited the artists and the RIAA. And they get nailed for it? Huh? Does this make sense to anyone? Does that mean record stores will now get sued for playing new arrivals etc? Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!

In the end, they'll have to compromise. The American public's patience will wear thin when thousands of people are subpoenaed, month after month, families bankrupted. At best, they might suppress file sharing slightly, for a while, although I doubt they'll even accomplish that. The RIAA is losing in the court of public opinion, and they're likely to lose in the U.S. courts soon in upcoming lawsuits. The recording industry is being dragged kicking and screaming into the internet age. Even simple economics will ultimately force them to offer good quality music files, in a format the public wants, at a minimal price, and without absurd restrictions on how the files can be used. There are huge profits to be made if they would revise their business model. They must adapt or change will be forced on them.

I know that Jimmy Buffett didnt really live by the words of his song, but.... the song 'Makin' Music for Money' is ringing in my ears right now.

"I won't make my music for money, no! I'm gonna make my music for me!"

We really need to get back to this

Well done - I couldn't have said better myself

It's really sad how much the RIAA (and the bands it supposedly represents) have lost touch with the foundations of music.

Music has, and always should be about, artistic expression - not profit.

Unfortunately, this is no longer about musicians eager to share their talent...

And the ironic fact is, many of these called RIAA represented "artists" (notice the quotes) don't even need talent or musical skill anymore.

Throw enough money their way, and any trained monkey can be a multi-platinum selling "major recording artist" (I needn't name names - just look at the barrage of bubble gum pop groups, for example). What's that? You can't sing? No problem... What's that? You don't play an instrument? Bah - backup bands are a dime a dozen...

My only hope is that any true musicians within the RIAA will leave their labels and go indie.

It takes alot of courage to leave the money grubbing clutches of the RIAA, and any bands that do this should be applauded.

Maybe just wishful thinking on my part, but what would happen if more bands followed in Pearl Jams footsteps

(read: left their label to circumvent the RIAA and cut out the middleman altogether?)

Maybe that's the RIAA's new business model - sue everyone for copyright infringement.

Some of the blame has to be put on the artists who, with fantasies of fame and fortune, sign whatever contract the record company dangles in front of them. I realize that most musicians aren't lawyers or businessmen but, by now, they ought to be very wary of the recording industry. The bands that have courage and make music for the joy of it will go it alone. With the availability of recording equipment, CD burners to make your own CDs, and the internet for distribution, it's now possible. It takes longer to gain an audience but at least you don't become an industry whore.

damn i quoted lyrics from a song.... guess i'll be getting a subpoena next

There's another name for this dubious, counterproductive "strategy" being employed by the Bolshevik RIAA at this time. It's called "extortion."

These Stalinist-wannabes claim most people "got the message" when they kicked off their mean-spirited, vicious vendetta against P2P'ers. Yeah, like most political dissidents, pro-democracy activists and independent journalists based in Cuba "got the message" after Fidel Castro, in April, cracked down on 75 dissidents and journalists. Why doesn't the RIAA move all their cases to Cuba and cut out the middleman, being that that island gulag's "justice" system literally IS a kangaroo court?

Dude, don't insult Stalin like that. I'd rather have old Joe the communist running the RIAA. At least he had the intelligence to supress dissidents quietly so as not to cause an outcry.

Just found this on CNN Tech. Your Government is putting file sharing to work, so it just goes to show, they DO see a benefit in all this

Supreme Court oral arguments now available for file-swapping

Thursday, August 7, 2003 Posted: 1439 GMT (10:39 PM HKT)
Chris Karr of the Oyez Project at Northwestern University. The project is now offering audio recordings of Supreme Court in MP3 format.
Chris Karr of the Oyez Project at Northwestern University. The project is now offering audio recordings of Supreme Court in MP3 format.
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The OYEZ Project external link

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Getting audio recordings of landmark legal arguments is becoming as easy as downloading the latest Snoop Dogg single.

For the first time, Internet users can download, edit and swap many of the U.S. Supreme Court's greatest hits.

Oral arguments available include those for the Roe v. Wade abortion-rights case and the disputed 2000 presidential election.

The audio files come from the OYEZ Project, a multimedia archive that gets its name from the synonymous phrase "Hear ye, Hear ye."

"There's so much more information and emotion in the human voice that a transcript can't do it justice," said Jerry Goldman, the project's director and a professor at Northwestern University.

Goldman said the bitterness in Justice Thurgood Marshall's voice is apparent when he explains his views in Regents v. Bakke, a 1978 affirmative action case. And the silence is deadening in Roe v. Wade when Jay Floyd, representing Texas, makes a joke but no one laughs.

Since 1994, the OYEZ Project, run out of Northwestern, has made audio of the cases available in a "streaming" format that requires a continuous Internet connection. Available were some 2,000 hours of audio dating to 1955, when taping of oral arguments began.

The project is converting the files to the MP3 format, which permits offline listening, use of portable devices and sharing through the same peer-to-peer networks used to swap music and movies. The first batch of MP3 files was released in late June.

Goldman said he ultimately wants to make available in MP3 every bit of Supreme Court recordings, about 6,000 hours in all. He also wants them easily searchable.

"The whole idea is to build a digital commons, make accessible materials that are really valuable in a free and open society," he said.

David Pride, executive director of the Supreme Court Historical Society, said the project appeals to attorneys, particularly those who argue before the court.

"It is the only opportunity you have to see what questioning before the court is like," Pride said.

What was the name of that Anti-copy format some Israeli company developed for the big 5? Guess they didn't trust any U.S. company to develop it. I find it hilarious now that some Palestinian company is working on software to totally hide anything you do from the prying eyes of Macro$loth, Uncle Sam, and those kosher friends of ours in the RIAA...I love it!!

If memory serves..(and that is too seldom)the internet was INVENTED to make file/knowledge-sharing easier for scientist working on the same projects in different locations...

IFeelFree..amen,bro!..If the Riaa labels are no longer the lying sob's that they are because they got no money....oh, well less bands will be attracted to the glitter, take better chances, and play the lotto...

Where did Code go?

Tip of the hat,
Captain C

CaptainCupca...he got flamed for NO reason by independentm, who told him in caps to SHUT UP...Code just left a frown face
and left. I don't think he is coming back, and in my mind, its a damn shame. I never saw any law that said there was a limit to posting, or that independentm had any more say so over who posted what than anyone else.
Thanx for asking...
-bulk
"Making blanks out of ones and zeros"

thats terrible! Code was one of the best posters in this forum! What news article did that happen in? And its not CaptainCupca... its CaptainCupcakes123, but it cant fit next to my messages.

Tip of the hat,
Captain C

I don't jump in too often, being a lonely Canadian, but I saw the stuff that turned Code Warrior off, so, Code, come on back, we need you here....we all have to learn to listen to the bad stuff and the good stuff and not get offended. We need to hear the bad stuff so we can work on it! To make it better....code, come on back!!!

CaptainCupcakes123,
It's in the 'West Coast lifestyle vibe' thread , I think about halfway down.
I didn't cut and paste, because, when someone writes something original, it is copyrighted according to the old Copyrigtht law. I didn't want to reproduce copyrighted material without permission. LOL
-bulk
"Making blanks out of 1s and zeros"

Hey Code if you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen......

Indy.....stop telling people to shut up.

Who you think you are? RIAA?

Freedom is a God given right. If Code wants to post let him/her post. You don't like it don't read it.

Code stop being such a litle b#$%$. Come back and post.

Metallicasucks, I think Code, like Elvis, has left the building. SUX!
-bulk

Bulk....that does suck.......

Together we stand, divided we fall.

great username btw Metallicasucks!

yeah, i remember goldenpi, gavsmom. seems like the folks who do and say the most leave or get driven out.
-bulk
"Making blanks out of 1s and zeros"

It may take time, but I think Code will be back.

Especially if he lurks for a while, and he sees how much support he gets.

Yeah, I have to admit it, you have to be willing to take a few flames now and then on a public forum.

I'm sure there have been a number of times peeps wish I would just stop, too.

Of course, if you told me to shut up, I'd probably laugh at you and look for ways to REALLY piss you off.

But, that's just me. LOL

I hope Code comes back, his postings may have been big and frequent, but they were always informative and thought provoking.

We do need to be more civil to each other or this whole movement's gonna come down like a house of cards. seriously.

Well....life is full of Codes and Indies.

Code is well spoken, but can't take a comment.

Indie likes to run his/her mouth.

I say lets put them on Pay-per-view....

WWE No Holds Bar

somebody needs to get this to the supreme court.

Hey guys! Check this out! Forgive me for multiple posts in diff. threads.

"For Immediate Release: Friday, August 8, 2003
Federal Court Spurns Recording Industry Enforcement Tactics
Rejects Music Sharing Subpoenas Sent to MIT, Boston College
Electronic Frontier Foundation Media Release
Boston, MA - A Massachusetts district court today dealt the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) a serious setback by rejecting its Washington, D.C., subpoenas for the identities of Massachusetts students. For the moment, MIT and Boston College need not respond to the RIAA demands.

"Today's ruling requires the recording industry to file subpoenas where it alleges that copyright infringement occurs, rather than blanketing the country from one court in D.C.," said Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Staff Attorney Wendy Seltzer. "The court ruling confirms that due process applies to Internet user privacy nationwide."

Massachusetts District Judge Joseph Tauro granted requests from MIT and Boston College to reject RIAA subpoenas demanding identities of students the RIAA claims are violating copyright. The subpoenas are part of a nationwide effort by the RIAA to identify and crack down on alleged copyright violators using peer-to-peer (P2P) software to share music on the Internet.

"We urge other colleges and Internet service providers to take similar steps to protect their users' privacy," said EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn. "ISPs should notify users whose information is sought, and fight against improper subpoenas."

Pacific Bell Internet Services has filed suit in California complaining of the threat to subscribers' privacy and the burden on Internet service providers. The RIAA has reportedly filed more than 2,000 subpoenas through the D.C. court and has announced plans to sue file-sharers later this month.

EFF offers an online database users can check to see whether their identities have been subpoenaed by the RIAA. EFF urges concerned citizens to learn more about ways to make filesharing legal while getting artists paid as part of the Let the Music Play Campaign."

you're forgiven Average. I think sometimes you have to if its something you think everyone needs to read.
I just wanted to say a few brief things and hope I haven't overposted
Since we really don't know much about each other, I wanted to tell ghosthouse that I for one appreciate his service to our country. Thank you brother! And for any other vets how are on board, I really thank you. We too often fail to fully recognize that freedom is rarely free (and never). I read that in Texas, Waco, they closed one of the better Veteran's hospitals, and now 28.000 patients are without care. I dunno how many people on this board have downloaded songs, and don't care, but I bet some have. I have come to kind of know each of you by your posts, what you say and don't say. I imagine we range in age from teens to, well, the older guys like me and Wabbitman, and a lady just a bit out of her 20s -Windowatcher. The RIAA calls downloaders "pirates". This evokes the image of bloodthirsty thieves that would murder you at the drop of the hat, predatory swashbucklers. I came here and found no pirates. What I did find, were people like me, who are concerned about their fellow Americans, and concerned about what is happening to their country. I found people who are motivate to help. People like directive who got out on the street with signs and protested,thus keeping up a proud tradition in this country.
We are students, grandmothers, soldiers, computer nerds, all with a dream of freedom that at times, is turning into a nightmare. I see this as an opportunity to really see if this republic really works like it has been taught to us it does. Probably, some us will get more politically active than we ever have. Shakespeare said something about the fact that it's an ill wind that blows no good. Sure, this RIAA thing is an ill wind, but there is potential for each one us to bring something positive from this experience, to take a depersonalizing thing like a computer, and find it to be something to unify us.
I hope I don't get flamed for this long post. I think I got some courage from watching Code say what he felt, and I was lurking around before I posted the first time, but I remember thinking, that, hey, take a shot, say what you think dude.
All this is from my heart, and yeah, it's a long post, but I think it's on topic and is something that deals with what we are all here about.
Props and respect to one and all.
-bulk

Damn good post, bulk.
I just wonder though what our good boys and girls in IRAQ, dying for us everyday, think about all this stupid, greedy RIAA P2P business. I bet some feel pretty isolated and resentful that America is all caught up in all this file sharing crap instead of protesting for them to come home now. I was kinda hoping that one of our good soldiers would wind up on the wrong end of one of those RIAA subpoenas and really cause some public relations nightmares for the RIAA.
A fellow veteran, USAF 1976-1990.

It could still happen. They may pick and choose once they find out who the names are connected to those IP addresses.

I still think about all those file sharers out there, and you have to think they represent all ages and professions.

All those IT professionals may decide they're not going to play nice any more when they get hassled.

this whole situation reminds me of one song.....sue me if im using it wrong


by bye miss american pie drove my chevy to the elvy but the levy was dry where goold ole boys were drinking whisky and rye singing to the day the music died

The music will Not Die.
We will continue to share.
We will Not Stop.
But we will Not buy it until they listen to us.
And.....we will Win.

Gee thanks Bulkeraser....I am over 40 years old anyways I can think of
another song, more contemporary..KMFDM
"Money is power, power is corruption. There is nothing to gain from the abosulute truth. Natural selection is based on deception, the ignorant elder impowers the youth...Now what so you suppose they are singing about?. I have been running around and telling everybody what I know & you know what?..they didn't realize what has been going on and don't see the big chess game being played out piece by peace, bit by bit...When they were informed of their privacy being infringed upon slowly (such as in each time Microcreeps get you to update to spy on you to build their buying profile about you..etc.) they got mad & agreed that even they must be guilty of supposed "stealing" for all the 8-tracks they put to casset tape & movies that they copied for friend from tv or their own...
I have also been in chat rooms & most people don't care...also you will find this to be very interesting.
MOST WOMEN THAT I HAVE TALKED TO DON'T CARE ABOUT POLITICS. All they care about is the home & feeding the kids & keeping their job. (NO KIDDING) They don't see what the Coralation is between the Republicans is VS the Dems when It came to prosper & Stability for families throughout our history. And they don't see how the corporations really control the $$$ (Look at all the job cuts etc...are the executives cut?...no just the working joe) I don't think I need to say more.
EXCEPT: I DID NOT VOTE FOR BUSH!!!

Beautiful post, bulk!

I don't know if this is really relevant but it seems odd that during the war, while the republicans, the president and the right-wing media were telling us to support the troops and not protest the war, bush was busy cutting veteran's benefits by $4billion. Odd. So all those guys over there risking their lives for Halliburton's oil money, believing that the President has their best interests at heart will come home, sick from depleted uranium poisoning and god knows what else, to fewer health benefits. We owe our boys better than that.

Yup, totally irrelevant, but it felt good to get it off my chest.

I can only imagine the nightmare the RIAA faces if they try to subpoena one of our brave fighting force. Man, they're pissing up a rope. I'm almost feeling sorry for them... wait... nope, the feeling's past. phew.

"Millions of users transfer billions of files using programs such as these each year, and those transfers have been brought to the attention of the Recording Industry Association of America. The RIAA is the association that represents over 90% of recording artists in the world. They are the same company that determines and awards Gold and Platinum awards for albums, and supposedly tries to protect the "intellectual property" of its artists."

...Uh, not to be nit-picky, but the RIAA does NOT represent anything NEAR 90 percent of the recording artists. Maybe 3-8 percent or so... the rest of us are INDIE and an ever increasing number of us vow to REMAIN independent even if we were to be invited into their evil elitist ranks!

Good Independant. With the advent of Protools rigs that can record a record on a home pc, I don't know why any sane person would kiss their life away in the music establishment. Record it yourself. Promote it yourself. Make a website. Who needs big whigs these days? Thats probably what all the recent fuss is over. I'm surprised they are not trying to inhibit home recording rigs or have they?

They're probably in their secret meeting room (in the 3,000 dollar a night suite of some lavish hotel--on the artists buck, no doubt) trying to figure out how to inhibit every aspect of our lives.

This is a satire (not true), but it might as well be true.. great read lol

http://www.satirewire.com/briefs/riaahumming.shtml

Windowatcher-
Just an FYI - I'm a woman. I am also very well-educated in Constitutional Law. I have written hundreds of letters over the years to congress, the president, the newspaper, etc. regarding civil liberties of all types. I've known about the corruption of our government since I first started getting involved in politics at age *14* (I am 33 now). I've known about the conspiracies to quietly steal away our civil liberties. I know a helluvalot about politics. And I don't give a rats ass if I ever get married and I've taken extreme measures to ensure I *never* have children. I only worry about keeping my job because I have juvenile diabetes and since America doesn't have socialized medicine I have to be sure to have health insurance or I will die. I can't fight if I'm dead. If I didn't have to spend so much money on medical issues I would be a Constitutional Lawyer and would definitely be defending P2P users. Also, I think more people not only need to be involved in politics, they need to be informed of more partys than just the Republicans and the Democrats. America is not a 2 party system and truth be told the only damn difference between Rep. & Dem. is what they do with your money after they take it from you. Republicans put it in their pockets, Democrats give it to everyone else in the form of "social programs" that do not work.

And one more thing, most of my friends are male and most of them are no more interested in politics than the women you mentioned. In America less than half the registered voters turn out to vote for the president. The president can't do anything without the backing of congress, and even less people bother voting for congress. Americans overall, male and female, are apathetic about politics.

I don't know who is a seneate seat for MASS, and I don't know if there is going to be a seat available in the next election there, and I don't even live there.

Massachusetts District Judge Joseph Tauro should be on the ticket for senator there.

To Windowatcher,

Agreed, beautiful post by bulk.

Also a question;
Do I imagine, or do I see an instant recession begin the moment the republican party takes office. Are they actually creating a "rat race", and for what purpose? Could the possibility exist that the "rat race" is designed to keep rats focused on the more self centered concerns of shelter, food and clothing, and not on the political working of the country.

I ask you because you are 10 years my senior.

wrong forum, I know, email flames and concerns, to HERMIT@EC.RR.COM

I despise the actions of several democrats at the moment. And everyone included in this list of authors/cosponsors of HR2517, "Piracy Deterrence and Education Act of 2003"

Mr. SMITH of Texas - 6/19/2003 the author

Rep Bachus, Spencer - 7/10/2003
Rep Berman, Howard L. - 6/19/2003
Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny - 7/10/2003
Rep Carter, John R. - 7/8/2003
Rep Coble, Howard - 6/26/2003
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. - 6/19/2003
Rep Deal, Nathan - 7/10/2003
Rep Feeney, Tom - 7/8/2003
Rep Forbes, J. Randy - 7/25/2003
Rep Ford, Harold E., Jr. - 7/8/2003
Rep Gallegly, Elton - 7/15/2003
Rep Goodlatte, Bob - 7/8/2003
Rep Green, Mark - 7/14/2003
Rep Hyde, Henry J. - 7/8/2003
Rep Jenkins, William L. - 7/9/2003
Rep Keller, Ric - 7/9/2003
Rep Olver, John W. - 7/8/2003
Rep Pence, Mike - 7/16/2003
Rep Schiff, Adam B. - 7/16/2003
Rep Shimkus, John - 7/16/2003
Rep Towns, Edolphus - 7/10/2003
Rep Wexler, Robert - 7/8/2003

The date outside the name is the date they cosponsored to add the FBI and prison terms to P2P users. And shows how much time they used to think about the bill.

Rep Coble, Howard is in my backyard.

"Rep" is abbreviated from Representative, both democratic and republican HOUSE REPRESENATIVES are listed.

Music? what music? Is the money man, the money. And that is all the RIAA cares about. Money money money. There used to be a song with the word money. There also used to be a song that went.. Those were the days my friend we used to laugh and sing...Humm I think the RIAA needs to learn that tune, because soon that is all they will have. The good all days! You can't stop progress, MORONS!!

I am growing rapidly more and more bitter against the government, the music industry and the consumer who falls for this bullshit and still buys RIAA music.

I am ashamed to be an American now. Our rights are being stripped away in the name of security and corporate greed and no one gives a damn. Not our elected representatives, not the media, and the majority of the public is too stupid to notice what's going on.

You can't educate ignorant masses who are happy being ignorant. They don't want to know the truth. Whatever it takes for them to get the new Britney Spears song, they'll pay it.

This world is tremendously fucked up and is due for destruction by God. I hope I'm in the first wave that He kills off, because I don't want to watch our country's desecration continue.

It makes me sick.

After 30 years of giving my heart and soul to music, the thought of getting up in front of a crowd full of stupid Americans who gladly pay the terrorists for garbage makes me want to puke.

If the music doesn't die completely, it's a fucking miracle. The music industry has certainly done its best to kill it.

This has ended my world already. My life's goal has become an empty facade. American music is all about the money. It's no longer worth taking part in.

Zie-mann, we've done it to ourselves. We bought all this hype and image crap, and now we just MUST have the music and the "stuff" they sell on the media.

When I say "we", I'm talking about the American people. The average mouth-breather has bought it all, hook, line, and sinker.

You're right, the govt always lays down a smoke screen to distract us. I'm puzzled, though, because I don't understand how they think the economy can exist and flourish without our participation.

Disillusioned with Uncle Sam? How many of you here remember watching Kent State on the news the night it happened? I do.

We forgave Clinton for wasting our money by fooling around with interns on company time. And he and his buddies were the ones who signed the present DMCA into law.

I don't single him out; substitute ANY politician's name for his, they're all the same. It's all the same to me now.

George, in medicine they say that the cure sometimes kills the patient. But, nature abhors a vacuum, and something else will take its place.

No telling how this all will play out.