Senator Norm Coleman wants the music and motion picture industries to get ahead of the curve in creating new customers, instead of alienating them.

Saying he's scheduled a September 30 hearing of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), of he's the chairman, Coleman says the hearing will, "scrutinize the RIAA's crackdown on illegal file-sharers".

The subcommittee will also examine the impact of technology on the future of the entertainment industry, proposals by peer-to-peer networks to change their business models and the potential changes that are coming in the recording industry, including the motion picture industry, he says in a statement, going on:

"My goal is to focus on today's problems facing both consumers and the industry given the runaway expansion of file-sharing with an eye toward tomorrow's solutions. I want to seek balanced solutions that preserve individual privacy, protect industry copyrights, and look to a future in which the music and motion picture industries are ahead of the digital curve in creating new customers instead of alienating them."

Coleman says "key" issues to be examined include:

Is the industry being reasonable in its application of the sweeping powers granted under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and targeting of potential illegal file-sharers?

What role is the peer-to-peer industry playing in the industry troubles and what are they doing to address the problem of illegal file-sharing?

What is the future of the music recording and motion picture industry in this digital age and how can new technologies be incorporated into business models?

"While still being compiled, the panels will likely include representatives of the RIAA, the peer-to-peer industry, other entertainment industry representatives, a subject of an RIAA subpoena and a perspective of an entirely new business model that assumes future changes in technology and its impact on the entertainment industry," he adds.

Can we get Bill Evans invited to this?

DeadMan2003 stole my question
How about it Bill..got the RSVP from Sen. Coleman?
~code

DeadMan2003:

I was just going to say that too.

We need to get Code, Z-Man, and Bill there bad.

The problem with Bill being there is that he would offer constructive solutions. I'm not sure politicians and the RIAA would understand that

We have to get BILL, Code and Z-man there, lets get started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Code, BIll, Z-MAN do you have sen. COlemans Email???? if so please post and we all need to begin this today.
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE

The only thing to fear, is fear it self.

What a waste of time this will be.

Congressmen understand dollars and cents, and thats what the RIAA will be talking. They will hear the same old RIAA doom and gloom sky is falling story and probably disregard everyone else.

Who will be doing this "scrutinizing" ? Without someone there to call the RIAA on their BS I don't see what is preventing them from doing the same thing they did the last time Coleman ask for answers.

Isn't is funny that all the points they will be examining have been discussed at great lenghts here? Solutions have been offered numerous times but they seem to fall on deaf ears outside this group.

ILUVELPEES: You are absolutely right.

Notice they only ask for heads of corperations and special intrest groups to attend and speak. They rarely have people speak to counter the claims of what one groups points are.

We need to get people like Bill, Code and Z-Man there to give the publics intepretation of what is going on. Also we need them there to ask the really tough questions that Congress seems to be avoiding.

I seems that there are so many questions that the RIAA needs to answer that no one is asking except for us here. I feel if those questions were able to be asked in a forum such as this upcoming hearing by whom ever we could get there, alot of the Congressmen, I feel would start to see the RIAA for what they really are.

Senator Coleman's contact page -- http://www.senate.gov/~coleman/contact/index.cfm

Bill Evans and Ann Gabriel should be sufficient representation. I am financially, emotionally and spiritually despondent and do not belong in a public setting of any sort. I was almost unable to restrain myself at the DMCA hearings due to the volume of lies being told there and would only get myself arrested if I went before the Senate.

I am already in contempt of our government.

Wow gdZ, I guess that's what happens when you have the ability to prove those in power are wrong.

Well Z-Man, I still would have like to see you there. Your vast knowledge, and critical counter remarks would make a mockary of anything Cary Sue could ever come up with.

I just sent my letter to Coleman, requesting appropriate representation in these proceedings and recommend everyone do the same.

I think we need the 12 year old up on the hill to ask the government why she is now being subject to an unlawful (God willing one day ) lawsuit from the riaa

You have more faith in me than I have in myself.

No offense, but just because those of you here think I should be there doesn't really mean anything. This is not a city council meeting, it's the US Senate.

As much as I would love to have the opportunity to call Sherman a liar to his face and prove it with his own statistics, (I wrote to Senator Coleman, gave him the link to my analysis of Cary Sherman's lying response), the Senate Subcommittee has not invited me.

I don't believe that you can show up at a Senate hearing uninvited.

If I were to be requested to attend, I think I have my opening words ready...

"Mr. Chairman, I am not here to defend criminal acts. Mr. Sherman will have to speak in his own defense!"

~CodeWarrior

When this subject of Sen. Coleman's comitte first came up about 2 or 3 weeks ago, I sent a fairly long letter to congress suggesting Bill Evans, Fred von Lohmann, and Ann Gabriel... looks like I should send that again. Good thing I saved it!

Good thing i used spell check in the letter, dang.

Do you think Sen. Coleman actually read any of these letters?

I wonder, even if you send P2P representatives there, I doubt they will be able to say anything at all. The RIAA will probably start hurling accusations and what not towards those people and not really trying to accomplish anything. I wouldn't be suprised to find them new Targets for the RIAA afterwards either.

*Laughing* Nice opening statement Code.

I have been politically active for some time now, on a street level.. Yeah, money is heavy in Congress, true, but the sheer volume of mail.. snail, email, otherwise,.. is making a difference. Chairman (?) Powell is fuming as we speak because his FCC ruling was upended by the Senate. According to some news reports the public outcry has had a role in this. We are approaching the thick of the fight now, friends, and determination and consistency is important now. If you have been writing, keep writing.. I think the momentum of this fight is finally.. if not actually going our way.. at least it is slowing down the rampant bullying of the Riaa cartel.. Public opinion is key.. REGISTERED VOTERS are scary. Candidates are out there campaigning like they need every vote.. so why don't we continue to register folks and give our supporters the vote they need. I appreciate Code, Thumb, George et al and their substantial expertise, but each and every one of us must take an active role for this to be effective. We are millions and millions strong.. now only if we can get a dolla of support and a promise to vote.. now THERE'S a movement!!! This IS the USA, and you CAN vote.

BOYCOTT. EDUCATE. REGISTER. VOTE.
ARE YOU REGISTERED AND READY?

A couple of things. First I believe that only committee hearing that have a direct impact on national security (ie intelligence committee meetings where sources and methods may be discussed) can be closed. You can attend but may not be invited to speak, unless you speak with one of the members of the committee (or their chief of staff) ahead of time. Antoher thing to remember is that the reason Capitol Hill lobbying groups are effective isn't the amount of money they give to Congress Critters, it's the amount of time they spend hanging around with Congress Critters (which takes a lot of money to live in DC and hang around with Senators and Reps all the time) Also how we package ourselves and our message for consumption is important, for example we are essentially acting as a "Music Consumer Advocacy Group". Play that up if you talk to the media, elected officials, or any other interested party, it will give extra weight to your positions in the eyes of many of the masses.

Autolux; it would be for us to be targets with the RIAA, this would get us the publicity we so desperately need.

Autolux; it would be good for us to be targets with the RIAA, this would get us the publicity we so desperately need.

After all we are not distorting the truth so we have a big advantage.

Sorry, I messed up my above post. : (

cmitch21:

You're probably right, about Sen. Coleman not reading any emails, but at least if he just read the subject lines of 1,000 emails with Bill Evans or Ann Gabriel in the subject line, he would get the point.

I have though, gotten responses from two of my home state reps. in Congress, although a little wishy-washy to not offend either side. So, it's worth the 5 or 10 minutes, I'd say, plus, You never know who will write back.

And seriously, even if no on reads the letters, ever, at least you DID something, other than sit on your @ss and complain. - No Offense to anyone

Bill needs to get in on this. I just sent a brief letter to Sen. Coleman requesting that those opposed to the RIAA get their voice heard- one subpoena subject won't have the knowledge to testify before a Senate panel.

And stevebugge said that all hearings except for those that deal with national security and defense are open to the public. THIS IS TRUE. Anyone can gain access to the hearings, provided two things:
1) They wear proper business attire and
2) Sufficient seating is available (and there almost always is).

So if anyone lives near DC or can take off of work or school on 9/30, do it. Even if you're like me and hate politics with all your heart, going to a hearing on capitol hill is a really educational experience.

"What is the future of the music recording and motion picture industry in this digital age and how can new technologies be incorporated into business models?"

First industry in history where our government took them buy the hand and talked to them in a very sweet voice to give them advice on what they should do to thrive in the country. Most people that have acted the way they have would simply be under investigation. Their gonna get off way too easy.

well i'm still whateing to hear from bill about this bill are you talking with your contacts about the hearings is thair a way you could possably be heard? can we help? what should we do to help?

Senator Norman Coleman

Washington, DC Fax # 202-224-1152
St. Paul, MN Fax # 651-645-3110

Maye this will help in getting one of the boycott people on. Write everyone! pepe

Does the good Sen. Coleman now have an ally:

http://arstechnica.com/archive/news/1063819604.html

Perhaps the EFF's petition against the RIAA is having an effect already. Whether it is or not, Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) has apparently taken notice of the RIAA's unsavory legal tactics. (And guess what? He does not like what he is seeing.) The Senator introduced legislation on Tuesday that could throw a serious monkey wrench in the music industry's plans to sue every file-sharing citizen out of existence. The bill addresses two major issues in our digital world, the first and foremost being "Privacy". ...more

gdZiemann,

In my humble opinion, you are an extremely intelligent person (from what I've noticed in your posts!) I think that you can hold your cool and effectively represent the file-sharing community in the Senate hearing - along with CodeWarrior and Bill Evans.

Hello All. I live in Minnesota and would very much like to attend this hearing. If anyone can help me find out exactly when and where this will take place that would be excellent. Please mail me at Bladestorm@email.com

Thank You

Fred Loehmann, Bill Evans and Ann Gabriel would be my picks, I'd bet that Chuck D would have some interest in this, he'll probably show up regardless. I'm sure all the p2p supporters are going to come out of the woodwork on this one. The EFF will definitely be the power players on this one, though.

As much as I love gdZiemann, I'm going to have to agree with him, although his information is invaluable and should be on hand by anyone (Bill) from here that may attend, I think given the tough ride that Mr. Ziemann has had lately, I can't imagine him being able to sit through any RIAA bilge without getting visibly upset (only George knows how upset he'd get).

I hope if Bill goes, he'll have in his big box of documents, all the great work that George has done on the issues.

Bless you, George.

The future of the music and movie industry is clear. Like the software industry, they must learn to survive a high piracy rate. If software companies can do it, so can music and movies. They wont like it, they will continue to predict the end of the world if new anti-piracy laws arn't passed for a long time yet, but they will survive. Unfortunatly. The pirates will survive of course, they make roaches look fragile. Large piracy operations mass produceing counterfit CDs or DVDs will risk being caught by the RIAA, MPAA or BSA (depending on whats being pirated), but the smaller p2p users will be relatively safe. Once the stupidity of the sue 'em all campaign is realised, the worst a p2p user can suffer is a complaint to their ISP.

"FOCUS"?!!! THAT MEANS "BOFUS"!!!!! AND "OUR RIGHTS" TOO!!! GET A NEW JOKE YOU ASSHOLES!!!!! And JAZZMARYChrismas2U!! AND IF SENATOR POWELL REALLY HAS SOME BALLS LET'S SEE SOME STEAM FROM ALL THAT "FUMING"!!!! BULLSHIT!!!!
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER DOG AND PONY SHOW AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED AND THEY'RE ALL OUT OF RIBBONS!!!
I AM FLOORED OVER THE AUDACITY OF THE RIAA TO BLANKET OUR COUNTRY WITH THIS TYPE OF EXTREME TERRORISM, ESPECIALLY TO A 12 YEAR OLD POVERTY STRICKEN CHILD!! AND AN HONOR STUDENT!!! HOW DARE YOU RIAA!!!!!

WHOSE CLILD IS GOING TO BE NEXT????!!!!!
LET FREEDOM RING!!!!
GOD SPEED!!!!
GOD BLESS

JusticeForAll- thanks for the kind words and vote of confidence..much appreciated
~code

Of course, George can speak for himself, but I think he really can't stomach what goes on with the lying and all in Congressional hearings...
there's an old saying...
two things you shouldn't watch getting made....sausage and laws
~code