[Mitch Bainwol, Chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), today discussed the issue of music piracy at a press conference at which Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced their bill entitled Artists' Rights and Theft Prevention Act (ART Act).

Specifically, Bainwol discussed the importance of this bill as related to piracy of music not yet released to the public. Once an early - often incomplete - version of an album is made available illegally over the Internet, it can interfere with the vision that the artist had for the music, as well as marketing strategies of the album and the significant commercial investment of everyone involved in creating, producing and distributing it. Additionally, pre-released albums available over the Internet will often be downloaded, burned to a CD, then sold illegally on the streets in the United States and abroad.

Because it's a particularly harmful form of piracy, the RIAA's online enforcement team continues to devote significant resources to tracking down instances of pre-released music illegally available on the Internet. The U.S. Department of Justice has also been active, recently securing a criminal copyright infringement guilty plea for the leader of an Internet pre-release ripping group known as Apocalypse Crew, whose members illegally obtained and distributed pre-release music over the Internet. Below is a comment from Bainwol.]

"I would like to thank Senators Cornyn, Feinstein and Graham for introducing the ART act. It's a timely and important piece of legislation that targets a particularly damaging form of Internet piracy: stealing music before it is even released into the marketplace.

"Just this week, two major artists have been forced to release their albums earlier than planned because Internet ripping groups distributed their music in pre-release form worldwide.

"Artists work day and night to get their music just right. Releasing an album before it is intended for sale to the public scoops the legitimate market for that work and damages a crucial sales period.

"The findings in this bill reflect the effects that piracy has had on record sales over the past three years. Sales in the music industry are down 31 percent. In 2000, the ten top selling albums sold 60 million units, in 2001 they sold 40 million units and in 2002 the top ten selling albums sold only 34 million units.

"Often, the pirated version is not the final product that reflects the artist's complete vision of the album, and it hurts the ability of the record label to invest in and produce great new music.

"This legislation makes it easier for law enforcement officials and copyright owners to bring cases under current law by recognizing that stealing pre-release works causes an indisputable amount of damage.

"It's natural that Senator Cornyn, the former Attorney General of Texas, who has a strong record of defending intellectual property rights, would identify this important need and demonstrate leadership by introducing this legislation. I would like to thank the Senator and his colleague, Senator Feinstein, a long time defender of copyrights, for their commitment to protecting creators and our economy."

Contacts:
Amy Weiss
Jonathan Lamy
Amanda Collins
202/775-0101

posted by riaaposterchild

"Often, the pirated version is not the final product that reflects the artist's complete vision of the album"


hmmm.... since most artist have the vision of moles in a tanning salon this is no great loss

If they are so concerned about albums being pre-released, why aren't they investigating who is leaking them? It has to be someone from the inside.

It's unbelievable that they put all of this solely on the public, rather than do an internal check.

But this is the norm for business in America today. Always blame someone else.

Releasing an album before it is intended for sale

why aren't they investigating who is leaking them? It has to be someone from the inside.

exactly, why blame p2p if it is a pre release, some one in thier circle is who released it, hell I dont have access to any artist new material other than my own, so if some one in thier "circle" ripped and released on p2p blame that person.

Inside job = blame it on the public. Same goes for MPAA.

"hmmm.... since most artist have the vision of moles in a tanning salon this is no great loss."

Now there is an open mind. Don't scapegoat an artist, everything creative in the World comes from an artist. If you don't like it, fine, ignore it. But don't condemn what most people aren't capable of doing.

As usual the same susupects in crime making every amaricans and other criminals right befor your eyes and as usual nobody stops it till they have done enough damage.

This is an area where the additional content on DVD shines, and the music industry should get a clue.

When DVDs offer deleted, uncompleted, or alternate versions of a scene to the extra content, it really adds to the value of the DVD. People (customers) get to see a little of what goes on in the making, and what gets offed during the editing. Its great.

When the deluxe Star Wars sound tracks came out, they offered 5-6 different takes on a certain passage. Why can't this be the norm on all CDs?

At a time when sales are declining, a smart company would listen to its customers, figure out what they want / what they would be willing to pay for and include it.

My take on the "artistic vision" thing, is that most songs and the way they are performed will change over time, as the artist changes. How many live concerts play the song exactly like it was on the album?

The whole pre-release pirate thing is a smoke screen to get more draconian measures in place that enslave consumers, and deprive them of their rights.

Maybe (as was suggested before) they need to look at who on the inside is leaking. Do it like Apple, an employee (like the infamous worker bee) leaks confidential stuff, Steve Jobs personally spits on him, rips his heart out, and stomps it on the ground before the victims dying eyes. (sorry, I made the spitting part up) Problem solved, example and expectations set, no new stupid laws needed.

In 2000, the ten top selling albums sold 60 million units, in 2001 they sold 40 million units and in 2002 the top ten selling albums sold only 34 million units.


REASON:

BUZZZ you got it scotty

CRAPPY MUSIC

They didn't kill Napster until the end of 2000. 1999 was their best year. Makes you wonder why they skipped it.

Unless it would distort their distortion.

geeze these morons just seem to lie more and more, that's why I'll never trust them. oh yeah, they forgott to add Fradulant in fron of ART, Then it would be FART, and totally truthfull of the riaa's evil acts

half the time their marketing strategy is to release a one hit wonder and let it hit the streets before they officially release it then sell all kindsa crap music because everyone was at prime hype about the one song. I don't want my country to support that type of behavior.

This is defetnly one to write to your reps about.