The discussion about Terry Fisher’s copyright proposition.

The SCO–Linux lawsuit/soap opera.

Steven Levy on MSNBC:

I certainly was aware that some members of Congress wanted to snuff out the grass-roots phenomena of people’s swapping copyrighted songs on the Net. But I assumed that the crime of file-sharing, joyfully committed by an estimated 60 million pirates, was mainly a problem of lost revenues for the music industry. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, giving the opening testimony, argued otherwise, calling file-sharing networks a grave security risk to this nation. In reality, the hearing was nothing but one of several signs of a new hardball offensive against file-sharing for the same old reasons: protecting the business model of the record labels.

[…]

My guess is that the vast majority of those 60 million file sharers would never steal a physical object from the store. In a mixture of self-interest and rebellion they’ve taken the measure of the record industry’s karma (overpriced CDs, a history of ripping off artists), noted that stealing files isn’t like stealing stuff (maybe they’ll buy a disc later) and concluded that file-sharing isn’t that bad….

Lucid editorial on the RIAA’s war says the EFF.

[via Algorhythm → EFFector]

Sandra Abma, World at Six TORONTO – As the American recording industry steps up its fight against the illegal sharing of music online, Canadians are starting to look at the U.S. model.Peer-to-peer file sharing, or downloading, of music has cost the North American recording industry billions of dollars.

In Canada, CD sales have dropped 20 per cent in the past three years.The American recording industry’s latest attempt to squash music piracy is a two-pronged approach: sanctioning a number of online music services and intensifying litigation against what they call « music pirates. »Americans can legally download music online – paying from US $0.79 per song on sites like Buymusic.com and Apple’s iTunes music store – but those who continue to do so illegally are being singled out by harsh legislation.

A new bill before the House of Congress proposes a five-year prison sentence and a fine of US $250,000 for the sharing of just one music file on a peer-to-peer network.The Canadian Recording Industry Association has so far taken a softer approach to online music sharing, choosing an education program aimed at young music fans. However, the apparent success of U.S attempts has prompted CRIA president Brian Robertson to look into the American model. »There’s been quite a substantive drop in peer-to-peer activity, » Robertson said. « Particularly young people, who possibly didn’t know it was illegal before, now know it’s illegal and now are getting a little bit intimidated by subpoenas being served and penalties. » And now Canadians will be able to legally download music too. This fall, both Buymusic.com and the Apple iTunes service will be made available to Canadians. A Canadian service, called Puretracks.com, is also being introduced.Customers have been eagerly looking forward to this, said Puretracks.com co-founder Alister (sic) Mitchell. « Technology moves like lightning. It takes a lot longer to work through the labyrinth, the copyright ownership, that’s involved in any one particular track, in any one particular CD. »Music lovers will pay for online music if the service is easy, the music of high quality, and the process legal, Mitchell said.

[from CBC ArtsCanada]

Thanks Brightblue