Reporter Seeking File Sharing Interviews

[greggannett]

My name is Greg Wright and I am a reporter from Gannett News Service in Washington, D.C.

I am doing a story on the RIAA subpoenas to find the identities of people who are sharing copyrighted music through file-sharing networks such as KaZaA.

I'm looking for people to interview about this and interview on the record. My question is, "Has this action deterred you from using such software?"

Also, do you think this action is going overboard on consumers and can the recording industry expect a backlash?

Our policy is to only talk to people on-the-record. Also, we do not want to know if you use KaZaA. Just your opinions on this issue.

Please contact me at 1-888-467-4040 (toll free), direct at 202-906-8113 or e-mail me at [email protected].

Thank You
Greg Wright

[zapjb]

Why would anyone want to go on the record & possibly incriminate themselves?

[nostalgia]

See you are a registered member, so you can find the answers on this forum!

[Rat Faced]

Read the second to last sentence again.

He wants you to go on the record with your views...not with whether or not your a filesharer.

I would hope he's trawling around here because he wants a balanced article, and what the "average" joe thinks he just needs to go on the street......wonder if he realises how many of those "non-sharers" he has already, probably are filesharers


@ gregganett

If you search the Forum, you'lll see plenty of views....all of them "On the Record", as the nick is what we know people as.

It is however, an international board.

Not all countries have a music industry as suicidal as the USA.



Couple of things you may ask questions about though....


The members of the RIAA are also the people that sell the hardware and software to be able to Rip music in the 1st place (eg Sony, Time Warner)......seems a double standard to SELL the gear then complain when people use it.

It also seems a little suspicious that the largest ISP (AOL) has its own filesharing technology, and dont get asked any questions....possibly because its Time Warner? ie Part of the RIAA..........again, one rule for one and another for anyone else.

Did you know that the Porn Industry is represented by the RIAA?.....again search the forum for the links etc....

Lastly....the music Industry in most countries have concluded that p2p increases Album sales, which is why i say suicidal. People that are into filesharing hear music they would not normally be exposed to...and then buy the Album.

Pirates are a minority, and if they lowered the Price of the CDs then most people would buy them more.


Seems they are quite happy to rip consumers off, but arent happy if they appear on the surface, to be getting ripped off themselves.....while at the same time jumping on the bandwagon to make it possible and popular (ad making more money out of it this way)



Very contradictory people the RIAA......

[Illuminati]

I'd be fine with being asked for this - I'm surprised that a few in the media are willing to hear things from our perspective I'm willing to be on the record, but it's under the alias 'Illuminati' for obvious reasons - If you want my real name, then don't even bother noting any of what I say.
=================================
To answer the original question, "No - The recent action by the RIAA has not deterred me from using it. In fact, it's actually strengthened my confidence in it. The bitter truth (for the record labels) is that being an industry body supported by the government will not mean the people will not bend for what they say.

A lot of times, 'industry bodies' put pressure and the people fight back in their own way - The state of the multiple communities which use P2P (peer to peer - The collective term for the type of software) has and is becoming a classic example of it; The RIAA allegedly put fake files and those with piracy warnings on - The communities share notes on how to detect these. P2P hunters use tracking software to detect P2P users - Software is produced which automatically block connections between users and known P2P hunters. P2P softwares get shut down, and a few quit but the rest carry on to other programs (like what happened with Kazaa when Napster was shut down). The RIAA makes promises that "pirates" (P2P users to you or me, but that name doesn't sound criminal, does it? ) - The news travels fast to forums of P2P software like this one with not only advice on how to watch out for such action but also analysis which shows that such news is laughable.

P2P has grown into a magnitude that makes it practically impossible to disrupt with collateral damage. To break it down, what the RIAA are really doing is alienating a considerable portion of the fans of artists which they represent - They are a considerable number who (instead of simply downloading music for their own use) download it for previewing reasons to see if the album/single is worth their cash (which they buy if it is). Then again, with a lot of the crap music which record labels bring out in the majority, I can now see why they want to shut down P2P

About a backlash - In my honest opinion, it isn't a question of if but when a backlash will occur. It's extremely well noted in the P2P community that the RIAA web site has been hacked multiple times, mainly by P2P users who also have considerable hacking knowledge (even to the point of the RIAA gained a new "more secure" server - That'll probably be graffitied the next time the RIAA make a press statement). Many others have vowed not to buy any more albums produced by labels under the RIAA (The lists of which labels are represented by the RIAA are common on the Internet). And of course - Many, including universities, have been fighting the RIAA due to privacy issues which have in some cases a much stronger case than copyright infringment claims.

The RIAA are digging themselves into a pretty big hole - The truth is that those who have been using P2P for a long time and have understood it know that the RIAA's intended action is laughable and is in truth giving the body a bad image. If they were to take a stance of educating P2P users (like the UK's equivalent, the BPI), then chances are that a lot more would listen to them. Unfortunately, because of the apparent 'download a file and expect to be sued' stance by the RIAA, they are giving the image of flipping the bird to the fans who buy their labels' music.

And millions are giving the finger back as a result.
========================
That's all I've got to say for now If you want to use it, then it should be under the name 'Illuminati' or under a false name (if you want a name ). Otherwise - Don't use what I've said above.

EDIT - Other than that, Rat Faced puts some good points ahead. I agree with him on them

[Hdestm8r]

The real question is who is he looking for? Is he looking for someone who will answer questions and speak intelligently regarding this matter, or for someone who will espouse the loud, obnoxious theme that will sell papers?

There are plenty of people out there who have a considerable amount to say but are ignored because they won't talk without the "Flipping" someone off attitude. Its tough to have an intelligent reply in the three sentences sandwiched around RIAA comments.

I agree with the others here. Just read the board you will find out all you need to know from the intelligent to the rather stupid.

[RealitY]

First, I wonder if he intends to read theses comment or is here and gone waiting for the phone to ring, perhaps I'll call don't mind really.

Seems Rat Faced has made a few strong points about the contradictions which bother me as well. In addition my biggest issue at this moment is that cures have been offered to the AA and refused. All this madness and kaos could end overnight with something as simple as Bandwidth Levies or others suggested at http://www.eff.org/share/compensation.php.Though unfortunatly we are talking about an industry that tried to put radio, tapes, dat, betamax, vcrs out of business and other issues going back almost 100 years. They have also managed collect on many forms of media such as CDR's which they get more income from regrdless of what they are used for. Seems congrees will have to step in as they did with radio.

I find this all strange considering at a time of the creation of "Copyproof", an article at http://news.com.com/2100-1027-994565.html, and signing a multi year with those such as Microsoft to protect their material, that that are diving in to attack the general public this way. It makes me wonder if they are intentionally waiting to get more income, such as from CDR's, from ISP's or the makers of P2P software and then follow their campaign of "Copyproof" as well. Quite a thought to once again profit from more avenues.

As far as Fileshareing and the AA stopping it, its simply like throwing rocks at a tidlewave.

[asmithz]

I sent an e-mail to him answering his questions wounder if its really a reporter.

But i do like the fact that a reporter takes intreast in us the people that are involed in this.

[Rat Faced]

Well i emailed him with a link to the thread....whether he ever bothers coming back or waits for the phone to ring, is upto him.

[Illuminati]

Originally posted by Rat Faced@14 August 2003 - 18:32
Well i emailed him with a link to the thread....whether he ever bothers coming back or waits for the phone to ring, is upto him.

Well he did say email him

To most I think, the opinion of a vast majority of the board has been aired here through a few views - Should be enough for him. If he comes back, great for both sides - We find that we were asked as a community about the issue, Greg (should) gets more than he needs on our views. If he doesn't come back - Well, we don't lose anything

But I'd love to see the final article when its done, whether or not what we've given is used or not