Music sales plunged another 15 percent in 2007. Meanwhile, the record labels via the RIAA continue to treat paying customers like criminals. You can rip your CDs to your computer and other devices. No, wait you can't. Yes, actually we misspoke IN COURT. That's not what we meant. Fair use? What's that?
So you bail on the music industry and start watching TV. But wait, there's a writers strike. So no new shows which require writers are being made. And this has been going on since November.
If it wasn't in the news would anyone have noticed? Or care? Is anyone going to miss the Golden Globes when the actors won't cross the picket lines and so it won't be televised? Doubt it.
Seriously. What the entertainment industry hasn't quite grasped yet is that there are a billion forms of entertainment out there. If they don't offer a product or make it too difficult to use fairly people will just go do something else.
I can't legally rip my CDs to a shared folder on my server so I can access them from my desktop and my laptop? Gee, thanks. Maybe I'll watch some CSI:Fargo reruns instead.
Or maybe I'll go to the library and get a book. At least that's still free. For now.
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2 comments:
Sadly, even libraries are occasionally under attack by book publishers, because book publishers don't like the idea of people being able to read books without paying for them.
All media companies (book publishers, record companies, movie companies) occasionally attack the idea of selling used media.
Never underestimate the power of human greed...
Well, you point out a great solution, read a book. I think the writers strike is a blessing if it gets people to stop vegetating in front of the boob tube. Step away from the idiot box...
As for the RIAA and fair use, IMO they are doing the same thing the gov't does when they make "tax evasion" a huge crime. That is how the gov't got the king pins of organized crime and it is how the RIAA is trying to go after people who DISTRIBUTE songs. Of course once they have that on their side there will be no stopping them from using it on everyone so I hope the courts step on them. I am just stating that I can see why they are doing it.
As for Eds fear of the publishers attacking libraries... well, as he says, they are "occasionally under attack". Fact is they have been since they started existing in Athens (or perhaps before). Hasn't stopped them or even slowed them down. Give to your local library. Buy their used books. It is a good thing.
Speaking of libraries, I just picked up "The Princess Bride" at ours and am going to start reading it to the kids tonight. A mighty fine book.
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