Looks like there is a threesome going down… and it doesn’t turn me on.
The word is that AT&T and Comcast, two of the nation’s largest Internet service providers, are expected to be among a group of ISPs that will cooperate with the Recording Industry Association of America in battling illegal file sharing.
The RIAA, a lobbying group representing the four largest recording companies, said last month that it had enlisted the help of ISPs as part of a new antipiracy campaign. They have declined to identify which ISPs or how many.
It’s important to note that none of the half dozen or so ISPs involved have signed agreements at this point. The companies are “skittish” about negative press and could still back out, sources said. But as it stands, AT&T and Comcast are among the companies willing to participate in what the RIAA calls a “graduated response program.”
I call it B.S.
Read the full article via cNet News
Posted Wednesday, January 28th, 2009
It’s a good day for iTunes users. Apple has announced that by the end of this quarter, all 10 million songs will be DRM free and released at higher quality.
What’s also good is that they are changing their pricing structure and will now have a tiered pricing… tracks will sell for 69¢, 99¢ and $1.29 based on a demand-based pricing system.
Good move Apple…
Read more via Ars Technica >
Posted Tuesday, January 6th, 2009
I almost spit coffee on my computer when I read this…
Then, I thought about the word “idiot” and how the RIAA must be made up exclusively of idiots.
So their new plan is this… with help from ISPs, the RIAA will shut off internet access for any suspected music sharers. Are you kidding me?
Everything I want to type right now would be offensive, so I will refrain. But go read about it yourself.
Read it on Tech Gossip
Read it on the Washington Post
FU RIAA 
Posted Monday, December 29th, 2008
Francesco Pizzetti, president of the official Italian body for Guaranteeing the Protection of Private Data, has ruled that Italian companies are not permitted to spy on individuals who engage in illegal file-sharing.
In the past, companies were allowed to obtain street addresses of file-sharers from their internet service providers in order to send registered letters to each individual.
Italian consumer rights groups protested this practice and a ruling was handed down preventing companies from tracking down people through IP addresses who were thought to be sharing files.
The consumer groups were happy with the ruling… but needless to say, Italy’s record labels are not so happy.
Posted Thursday, March 20th, 2008
When it comes to illegal music downloads, Spain is the king of Europe.
More than 1.2 billion music tracks were illegally downloaded from computers in Spain during 2007, according to authors’ and publishers’ society SGAE. In fact, the number of illegal music tracks downloaded illegally in Spain is up 566% from the year 2002 when only 180 million tracks were downloaded for free.
The European Interactive Advertising Association (EIAA) says that 58% of all Spanish Internet users illegally downloaded music during 2006… while the European average was 37%.
Free music reigns king in Spain.
Posted Monday, February 4th, 2008
