Decius wrote:
] ] This model predicted the CD sales of RIAA members to
] ] within thirty million dollars (less than one-quarter of
] ] one percent) given the performance of the economy in
] ] 2002, as a function of nineteen other similarly-sized
] ] corporate sales, and the performance of the RIAA three
] ] previous years.
]
] In other words, piracy is not impacting sales. (Note: This is
] extremely unlikely to be a conspiracy theory. The people that
] run these companies do NOT get this.)

I did a panel at Dragon*Con 2 years ago during Napsters heyday that clearly demonstrated CD sales were NOT being impacted by the P2P networks. In fact, gross revenues had increased by over $2,000,000,000 over the previous year. No - definitely no conspiracy theory here - these were RIAA's own sales figures from their web site.

The RIAA would just as soon blame P2P networks and make up bogus claims to have legislation passed then look at their own antiquated business model as the real problem. Any "loss" of revenue they are experiencing right now is because we are in a double dip recession, but of course its just easier to blame "those damned kids" and their P2P clients.

Someone pull out the clue sticks.

Laughing Boy

RE: Analysis of RIAA revenue figures versus overall economy

Oh, yeah, this was such a GREAT idea the first time around when it was called DIVX.

The discs stop working when a process similar to rusting makes them unreadable. The discs start off red, but when they are taken out of the package, exposure to oxygen turns the coating black and makes it impenetrable by a DVD laser.

You get a week from most rental places. I don't see what the consumer appeal is going to be with these. They are not going to sell.

Oh, wait, I know.. You can buy them, take them home, and copy them with the DVD burners that are starting to become cheap..

Yahoo! News - Disney to Begin Renting 'Self-Destructing' DVDs

Abstract: The entertainment industry, facing a formidable threat from peer-to-peer piracy networks, is exploring every possible means to attack these networks.

The industry is also employing defensive strategies to protect media and media players from those who would extract and copy their content. These content protection systems depend on the computer industry’s newly announced ‘trusted computing’ technologies.

While "trusted computing" technologies may better protect media and media players from content extraction by pirates, we assert that the very same technologies can be employed to better protect pirates and their peer-to-peer distribution networks from the entertainment industry.

Trusted Computing, Peer-To-Peer Distribution, and the Economics of Pirated Entertainment [PDF]

,----
| VANCOUVER - A top White House drug policy official is threatening
| retaliation from the U.S. if Canada relaxes its laws against marijuana
| possession.
|
| David Murray, right-hand man to U.S. "drug czar" John Walters, says he
| doesn't want to tread on another country's sovereignty, but warned
| there would be consequences if Canada proceeds with a plan to
| decriminalize the possession of marijuana.
`----

Would the shrub administration get off its f*cking highhorse please?

CBC News: U.S. warns Canada against easing pot laws