flynn23 wrote:
] The EFF's ultra radical stance is not a bad thing. Sometimes
] you have to stand a little further off balance than you would
] normally do just so you can make your point crystal clear. I'd
] rather they endorse file sharing rather than some cockamamee
] scheme that the RIAA buys into.

This really speaks to the heart of it, though. You're asked to choose between the EFF's ultra radical stance and the RIAA's ultra radical stance. Am I with the Americans, or the terrorists?

Things like Napster and iTunes operate with the full blessing of the RIAA.

You are right in the sense that independent artists can apparently distribute their music on itunes. Thats progress, maybe. It remains to be seen whether small artists are going to be able to negotiate reasonable percentages, or if we just replaced the RIAA with Apple.
Is the DRM stuff that Apple uses accessible unbundled.... I.E. Can I setup my own itunes store? If not, maybe we should be thinking about a framework that encorporates similar technology in a distributed fashion.

One problem is that they make it very difficult for you to learn about new music unless it comes with the support of the recording industry because you have to buy it before you can listen to it. Their object is to make sure that you listen to what they sell, and that you pay for it.

Independent internet radio holds promise as a way out. Thats why they've put so much effort into setting up fees that are more expensive then the fees that large commercial stations have to pay. Of course, this creates a competitive opportunity for small artists. (Major label's resistance to MTV changed the face of music in the 80's. Thats why normal people remember strange stuff like devo fondly.) I think there should be a central location that points people running small internet radio shows at content they can stream at a more reasonable price. Basically I'm talking about another group that is both a BMI/ASCAP and an RIAA. Which holds both copyrights, but which actually has an interest in making this work, as opposed to stomping on it.

RE: [Politech] Reply to EFF over its position on RIAA, file swapping [ip]