"yeah this is great...because they broke the law, 20 young people are getting paid to be the center of attention in a major Super Bowl ad"

Yea and I'm sure you never did anything immoral in your life. a**.

Half the reason people downloaded before was because there was no other way to easily get a particular song you wanted without paying the RIAA fatties $20 for it.

Is it moral for someone to charge for something 500% more then it's worth to the person who actually created it (the artist)? Is it moral to s**** the artist repeatedly with outrageous contracts that give away their rights and hardly make it worth being an artist?

This issue has NEVER been as simple as "you're wrong for stealing music". So don't make it out to be like that. These were friggin KIDS that got sued by the RIAA. Most of them can't even afford to go to collage, let alone hand over $10,000 to the greedy RIAA b*******.

The RIAA doesn't give a sh*t about iTunes or any other download service. They don't care about things that make them money, only things that prevent them from making money. Big difference.

Putting 20 RIAA defendants in an ad for iTunes is like saying, "iTunes is better than stealing. Use it and the RIAA won't sue you."

Pepsi is not advocating stealing by putting these people in the ads, but emphasising the legal alternative (free music through Pepsi).

"These were friggin KIDS that got sued by the RIAA."

Better yet, where are these kids PARENTS??? I can understand college students away from home, but parents need to be much more involved on what is being brought into their home.

It's like people somehow use the RIAA as a scapegoat to justfy being cheap. Last time I check, it was clearly illegal to download music. Why is this such a huge deal? Do you blame the police if they pull you over for speeding or stealing ANYTHING from a store?

As for the RIAA s******* artist, none of you have ever actually seen a artist contract or know the real details. This whole, "RIAA screws artist" argument is really old and based on nothing but hearsay.

It's amazing how so many arguments in the Mac community go back to people simply being cheap. "iPods are too much... iLife should be free... .Mac should be free... G5's are too much... 99 cents a song is outgragous..." on and on.

You know the US is not the entire world. Believe it or not there are places in which this is perfectly legal.

Take Canada for example. The Canadian Copyright Act allows for copying of CDs for personal use *even if you don't own them*. That's right you can borrow a CD from anyone you know and just copy it. Now you can also download songs from the net as a result of changes in the act. How does this work?? Well we all pay taxes on HDs for portable devices as well as CD-Rs and CD-RWs. Errr?

Well the CRIA (the Canadian RIAA) tried pulling a fast one by insisting a few years back that the government tax CD-Rs and CD-RWs and give them the money to pay for the alleged copying going on. The government said fine but then the law allowed for copying (which did not please CRIA very much). Having not learnt their lesson CRIA asked for an increase in the levy as well as inclusion of HDs and CFs (which now would be dependend on capacity instead of a fixed rate). Again the gov't said fine but with the catch that the levy for HDs would be only $25 and that it would allow downloading as well as copying CDs to HDs.

If you don't believe me go check the iPod in Canadian Apple Store. The price includes the new levy.

" They have never been entirely against downloading. It is just that prior to the iTunes Music Store, no one was providing a properly designed and organized pay service. "

Including the RIAA themselves (those f****** hypocrites)

You can't claim lost sales on something people want (the ability to download songs legally) that you don't offer in the first place.

"As for the RIAA s******* artist, none of you have ever actually seen a artist contract or know the real details. This whole, "RIAA screws artist" argument is really old and based on nothing but hearsay. '

Perhaps you should get YOUR facts straight, idiot. Go ask Courtney Love (http://dir.salon.com/tech/feature/2000/06/14/love/index.html) yourself moron!

Sometimes laws need to be broken if they are outdated, inapplicable, or otherwise irrelevant in modern society as a means of teaching the governing bodies what the people will tolerate.


Damn that Rosa Parks for getting all famous for breaking the law.

' It's amazing how so many arguments in the Mac community go back to people simply being cheap. "iPods are too much... iLife should be free... .Mac should be free... G5's are too much... 99 cents a song is outgragous..." on and on. '

Then there are dipshits like you that pretend to know everything but really know nothing. Typical American.

"
As for the RIAA s******* artist, none of you have ever actually seen a artist contract or know the real details

"

And I suppose that you have? Perhaps you would care to enlighten us (not that I think you actually can) instead of just spewing out the BS arguments in your post.

"Then there are dipshits like you that pretend to know everything but really know nothing. Typical American."

What does this have to do with anything at all regarding the subject at hand? I read nothing of what you spouted out in the posters words that you decided to comment on. You were just looking for some cheap excuse to jump in with your little political agenda, whether it was appropriate or not. I'd like to add that Americans have not cornered the market on ignorance, arrogance, stupidity or shooting their mouths off, as you have so beautifully illustrated for all of us. Those malformities of the human experience come in every size, shape, color and nationality. This is not a political issue, so don't try to make it one.

As for the issue at hand, I don't trust the RIAA at all, given their track record, but it's good to see them finally starting to get a clue about technology and the effects it's having on their business models. I see glimmers here and there that they it's finally dawning on them that Pandora is out of the box on this, and no matter how hard they try, they'll never be able to contain the technology and how it's used. The next step will be for them to find ways to work with the advances in the tech sector rather than against them. Interesting that Apple's been the one to help them see that there are other ways to approach this.

RIAA = US b******* organization (obviously you didn't know that) so this is very much relevant.

Americans don't care about politics.

That's why they don't go vote, or even know how to do it properly.

Besides, that person WAS a dipshit for what was written: a bunch of fallacous c*** without any supporting arguments (choice quote: ' This whole, "RIAA screws artist" argument is really old and based on nothing but hearsay '... so let's see that evidence that's it's hearsay).

At least another poster actually provided a link with actual evidence.

It's getting hot in here!!! Just one request, can we please stop with the anti-american generalization. Some of us here are american and we can't help it that the majority of the people in this country are complete idiots. Just because our leadership and the majority of the country are a bunch of mindless tools doesn't mean all of us are. I know what we must look like to some of you outside the country, but not all of us are inarticulate money corrupted rednecks like our president.....

I like all the American bashing that goes on in MacNN all the time.



As an American, not a green-card-holding-live-off-the-state-t** a******, or some illegal alien who wants to have their child born in the USA so they can suck of the big t** either. I'm an actual US f****** citizen who really hates you fuckers bashing my country.

Especially the one's that live here and love to bash the MAJORITY for being idiots. Which is it? Did the majority really vote in GORE and he got robbed? in which case I guess by your definition they are not idiots, or did they actually vote in BUSH in which they are idiots? You can't always have it both ways, but as always you democrats insist on it. Give-me-give-me-give-me. Suck on this t**.

Don't like our president? Too bad, as he is the best one we have had in a decade, not that you would no, as you all have your heads up your asses. Invent some other lies.

Apoligistic twit.

Quit talking and actually DO something then!

It amazes me how Americans will b**** and complaint along with the rest of us about their governments' policies, but won't take responsibility for actually having put those people in office, either directly or indirectly (by not voting at all)

of 'hypocrite'

Uhh, idiots can make the right decisions... especially when the chance of making the right decision is essentially 1 in 2.

But of course, being the idiot you are, you couldn't even see that very simple concept.

This is one native-born American who wishes he never voted for Bush in 2000. In nearly 4 years I've watched him 1)destroy our nation's good reputation among our Allies, 2)kill thousands of Iraqis and send 500 of our soldiers to their deaths over a grudge his daddy had against Saddam and 3)then caught lying about WMDs while 4)the true terrorists responsible for 9/11 go scot free and ready to attack American citizens, and furthermore 5) convert the Federal budget surplus into a 1 trillion dollar deficit as the jobless rate reaches record highs.

Gee, maybe we WILL do something about it when it comes to election time. In case you didn't notice, the U.S. Constitution only allows for electing a new president every FOUR years. We can't just circle petitions and recall them. And if you remember, at least HALF of this country's voting public didn't even want Bush as president -- possibly more than half, depending who you believe. So it would be nice if you'd not lump us all into the "Bush supporters" camp.

Now what were we talking about?

did Swarchneggar (whatever the spelling is) get into office then????

recall...

They really DON'T know anything about their system, do they?

"Now what were we talking about? "

We were talking about how teens got sued because the american government is corrupt and allows coporations to dictate everthing instead of being for the people.

What's that oxymoron they keep shouting "...By the people, for the people..." yeah, right!

And here's something you CAN DO between elections: support the EFF; but since americans don't get informed about anything, I'm not suprised they don't know a thing about the EFF

I'm so glad MacNN moderates their forums and keeps them on track with the topic. It almost makes visiting this website worth while.

It is too bad we happen to live in the greatest country in the world. You can call us what you want, it really doesn't matter, it just shows how jealous you really are.

BTW: I am in support of the EFF dumbass, but I can't stomach you zealotous losers backhanding Americans, while being total scumbags yourselves. Go take a friggin shower and wash that stink off.

I am sick and tired of the red neck bashing !!! Now stop it . My 6 kids read them chat boards .. We might be red necks but we aint stupid like some of you ero trash moneky boys !! THATS RIGHT !! IM CALLING U MONKEY BOY !!

He called you monkey boy :)

We were talking about how teens got sued because the american government is corrupt and allows coporations to dictate everthing instead of being for the people.

So wait, on the one hand you're telling us we shouldn't let the RIAA walk all over us and prevent us from downloading music. But then we're also being told that it's illegal so suck it up and live with it. Well, which is it?

They don't call them (you) Eurotrash because you bath so much.

Trash talking, do nothing, name-calling, swine from the smellier side of the world. Have a great day, badmouthing Americans, it's just too bad we make the world go around. It shows how much a young nation like ours can lead the world. Can't take it, can you? Enjoy.

"As for the RIAA s******* artist, none of you have ever actually seen a artist contract or know the real details..."

90% of the music out in the marketplace is still cover by thses artist s******* contracts. All those fabulous oldies from the 50's and 60's pay nothing to their creators and in many case those very creators are living in poverty despite the success of thier works.

"Don't like our president? Too bad, as he is the best one we have had in a decade"

BWWWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA....
That has got to be the funniest comment I've heard in the longest time...that's like saying Fox News is "fair and balanced"....OMG...can't stop laughing.....gotta breathe....

Yes, this is true, as most of the greatest artists of all time are treated to zero royalties if any and are living their golden years in near poverish conditions. Sad to say, the big fat cats are the one's with the nice juicy contracts living high on the hog off of something they did nothing to create.

Don't like our president? Too bad, he is one of the finest in a decade. I hope you choke.

"So wait, on the one hand you're telling us we shouldn't let the RIAA walk all over us and prevent us from downloading music. But then we're also being told that it's illegal so suck it up and live with it. Well, which is it? "

I never said that. Learn to read.

Don't like our president? Too bad, he is one of the finest in a decade. I hope you choke.

Mm... being that's a total of 2, and even at only being two, you have a debatable term with "finest" being so specific and all - I think you have problems with langauge.

This is one native-born American who wishes he never voted for Bush in 2000. In nearly 4 years I've watched him 1)destroy our nation's good reputation among our Allies

Our Allies let us down, well some of them did. We still had over 30 Nations with us when we went in which people like you seem to overlook constantly.


, 2)kill thousands of Iraqis and send 500 of our soldiers to their deaths over a grudge his daddy had against Saddam

If you believe this, I truely feel sorry for you. You can Michael Moore should go bowling together.

and 3)then caught lying about WMDs while

If Bush lied, then so did Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, and the leaders of 30 other nations that said the same thing. They ALL said he had WMD. Show me proof that he lied.


4)the true terrorists responsible for 9/11 go scot free and ready to attack American citizens, and furthermore

Scot free? 45 of the Top 55 Iraqi leaders are in custody, including Saddam. We're not sure where Osama is, but most intelligence points to the him living in the mountians in Pakistan. We've had NO FUTHER ATTACKS in this country which if you would have asked ANYONE on September 12, 2001 if we would make it TWO MORE YEARS safely, not many would have agreed. We're fighting them on their turf, not ours and I'm thankful for it.

"We still had over 30 Nations with us when we went in"
Ummm hmmm and name any(besides the UK) that either matter in the grand scheme of things or who weren't/aren't getting kickbacks from our government.

"If you believe this, I truely feel sorry for you"
No I feel sorry for you that the deaths of our soldiers over a war that didn't need to be fought in the first place doesn't bother you.

"Show me proof that he lied."
Ok Mr.Knowitall.....then where are they???? Bush said we knew where they were and mysteriously they don't happen to be there anymore....funny, I didn't know WMD's could just get up and walk out of Iraq without someone seeing them.

"Scot free? 45 of the Top 55 Iraqi leaders are in custody, including Saddam."
It's common knowledge that none of them were directly involved in any aspect of the attack on the WTC. So how does this validate your point?

"We've had NO FUTHER ATTACKS in this country"
That's because al-quada isn't stupid....they may be evil fundamentalists, but they're not stupid. They know we're looking for it, that's why. Not to mention it took them years to plan the WTC attacks and it may be years before something else that well organized comes to fruition. They are patient people and will most certainly strike when our guard is down, just like last time. This has absolutely nothing to do with what dubya's done in Iraq. In fact if anything we've basically hit the beehive with a stick and the bees are pissed. Unfortunately for us we hit the wrong hive and it's gonna come back to sting us in the a**.....

Ummm hmmm and name any(besides the UK) that either matter in the grand scheme of things or who weren't/aren't getting kickbacks from our government.

Japan, Spain, Portugal and it's not like the UK is insignificant. To say that these or other country "don't matter" is condescending and ignorant. Tell the families of the dead soldiers from these countries that they "don't matter".

>No I feel sorry for you that the deaths of our soldiers over a war that didn't need to be fought in the first place doesn't bother you.

It did need to be fought, and 30 other countries AND BILL CLINTON agreed. Bill bombed Iraq three times himself and none of you left wing wackos cared.

>Ok Mr.Knowitall.....then where are they???? Bush said we knew where they were and mysteriously they don't happen to be there anymore....funny, I didn't know WMD's could just get up and walk out of Iraq without someone seeing them.

Just because we can't find them, doesn't mean they weren't/arent' there. We're still looking, and again Tony Blair, Bill Clinton and many others said the exact same thing. He had WMD's. What amazes me about you people is that you're going to take the word of murdering, ruthless dictator over the word of your president. Dispicable.


>It's common knowledge that none of them were directly involved in any aspect of the attack on the WTC. So how does this validate your point?

Ummm, no it's not. We don't know how much aid he gave Al Queda, but we do know that operatives of that organization stopped there to get aid on numerous occasions. And it's not too far of a leap to assume that the two partnered together on occasion to fight their common enemy.

>In fact if anything we've basically hit the beehive with a stick and the bees are pissed. Unfortunately for us we hit the wrong hive and it's gonna come back to sting us in the a**.....

They hit us first you moron. We didn't hit any beehive, it hit us. Saddam and Osama share a hatred of all things western and Osama has declared a Jihad on the US years ago. We're just taking it to THEM now instead of waiting for them to hit us.

"We've had NO FURTHER ATTACKS in this country."

Are you that f****** inane to not realize how stupid your comment is? So what are you going to say when we are attacked again?

Time for peace talks with our enemies. Let's give that a shot. Ask them what the f*** we're doing to piss them off so much. I am sure they know some things we Americans don't know about our own government's policies and foreign exercises.

First off name calling is not necessary, but so be it....I don't blame you, most people start personal attacks when they know they're wrong, but won't admit it. Anyway this debate could go back and forth indefinitely and I'm done playing with you, but I do want to ask why you think I give two s**** about Clinton??? Or is that just the stock response that you're supposed to give to non-republicans?? I could really care less what that a****** has to say. Your assumptions about me speak volumes about the kind of person you are and how quick you are to make assumptions about what's going on in the world around you. I'm no left wing wacko, I just don't believe a word that comes out of ole GW's mouth. Like wise I didn't believe a word that came out of Clinton's mouth. If that some how makes me a left wing wacko than so be it. I "assume" that makes you a right wing wacko....see isn't this fun, you call me names and make incorrect assumptions, then I call you names....good times for all....anyway, like I said I'm done playing with you....good luck in your fantasy world, your apparently going to need all the help you can get....I apologize to all you other fine people for hijacking this thread....

from super bowl to presidential elections, this place is pretty bad with attention span.

I don't see what the big deal is about the ads. All it is doing is putting itunes music store out there. why have all of this discussion about the riaa?

"you're going to take the word of murdering, ruthless dictator over the word of your president"

What amazes me is that what you're describing is two people that are one and the same.

"you're going to take the word of murdering, ruthless dictator over the word of your president"

What amazes me is that what you're describing is two people that are one and the same, and don't even realize it

"What amazes me is that you are describing is two people that are one and the same, and don't even realize it."

Spoken like a real f****** idiot. I guess you didn't realize Saddam used WMD's on his own people, yet they don't exist?

"So wait, on the one hand you're telling us we shouldn't let the RIAA walk all over us and prevent us from downloading music. But then we're also being told that it's illegal so suck it up and live with it. Well, which is it? "

"I never said that. Learn to read."

Yes, that's right, YOU didn't say that, which is exactly why I worded the sentence the way I did, because I knew you'd respond like that. Throughout this entire discussion, people have been telling us we should either get rid of our government, or that we should obey them because downloading music is illegal therefore it's wrong.

So, MacNN'ers... which is it? Are we supposed to change our laws, or resign to obeying laws with which we disagree? Ah, if only we could have it both ways.

"5) convert the Federal budget surplus into a 1 trillion dollar deficit as the jobless rate reaches record highs. "

Everyone is ripping their shirt over Irak, while the real job of the Monkeys in Power is covertly being done.

One day, USA will go down the drain. Who will be there to help?

BWWWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Who is we? Give the Latitude and Longitude please, and help will be rocketing to you.

"The real job of the Monkeys in Power is covertly being done."

What pray tell is that? What exactly, and a little proof please.

"One day, USA will go down the drain. Who will be there to help?"
Ok sparky, back in the trailer and take your medication.

"Yes, that's right, YOU didn't say that, which is exactly why I worded the sentence the way I did, because I knew you'd respond like that"

So, you simply put words in people's mouth. Nice.

And now you expect us to agree with your arguments. Yeah, right; good luck with that.


















































Idiot!

"So, you simply put words in people's mouth. Nice."

No, as I said, I was well aware that Talk? didn't say that, but others on this board did. Here's what I originally said:

"So wait, on the one hand you're telling us we shouldn't let the RIAA walk all over us and prevent us from downloading music. But then we're also being told that it's illegal so suck it up and live with it."

I didn't say, "but then YOU are telling us"... I used the passive voice and said "we're being told"; I didn't say WHO was doing the telling, because it was others, and not Talk? who said it. Some people here want us to change our laws rather than just bitching about them, and others want us to obey them because if they're laws then they must be correct. So, as I stated in the first place... which is it? We certainly can't do both. And as someone else stated, Rosa Parks broke an unjust law to bring about its repeal, and she certainly didn't shy away from media attention.

moron!

So basically:

1) I'm an idiot because I was born here in America.

2) I'm a criminal because I don't have any moral problem downloading a clock-radio-quality mp3 from a private party over the internet.

3) I'm safer from terrorism now that Bush Jr. has Bush Sr.'s former-second-best-buddy-in-the-mideast Saddam Hussein in custody.

4) I may not understand the finer points of the American political process and I may rather stay home and watch my 200+ channels of cable TV instead of actually voting, but our American standard of personal hygiene is UNMATCHED in the free world.

Thank y'all fer participatin'. I gotta go rustle up some more Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy fer dinner.

what you said. I gotta get me some beef, but minus that mad cow s***.

I just want to take a moment and send a message to the rest of the world.

























Go get fucked you pussies.

Whenever I hear people talking about 'stolen music' I'm reminded of a story I read as a child. I can't remember the title or author but it was a collection of tales about a judge in feudal Japan who was famous for being impartial. Each story was a single case or dispute that this judge would hear. He would listen to all sides and render a final decision. The stories seemed to be part Sherlock Holmes mystery and part King Solomon object lesson.

The story I'm reminded of was called "The Case of the Stolen Smell." A poor student was living upstairs from a restaurant that he could never afford to eat at. One day the restaurant owner overheard the student telling a friend that although he was so poor he was forced to eat his rice plain, the rich smell of fish cooking in the restaurant below would waft up into his room and enable him to enjoy his humble meal. The restaurant owner was outraged that this student was 'stealing' the smell of his fish so he brought a case to the judge. The judge in his wisdom made the student pull out all his money and hand it to him. He counted the coins, loudly clinking them together in his hands one by one before handing them back to the student. He told the restaurant owner he was now paid in full because what the student owed for the smell of fish was only the sound of money.

I know, I know, this is no airtight analogy and there are plenty of pro-business types who can point out many differences between this case and the whole mp3 thing. Quite a few similarities I think they'd have to admit to as well.

Ha, got lucky! Just googled the whole story:

http://www.rutherford.k12.nc.us/public/tech/test/reading/ooka.html

Thank you, as you have raised the bar in here considerably. Thank you again.

"No, as I said, I was well aware that Talk? didn't say that, but others on this board did. Here's what I originally said:"... blah blah blah... blah.... blah blah.....

You know, argueing on MacNN is like running in the special olympics: Even if you win, you're still retarded.

"You know the US is not the entire world. Believe it or not there are places in which this is perfectly legal."

So what? That is totally irrelevant.

These kids were breaking the law in the US where they live. They are now being rewarded with fame and money.

"Sometimes laws need to be broken if they are outdated, inapplicable, or otherwise irrelevant in modern society as a means of teaching the governing bodies what the people will tolerate."

Yeah sometimes laws do need to be changed. This is not one of those situation/

There is nothing about modern society that justifies pirating music, software, or any other copyrighted material. It is illegal for good reason.

"Right, Arnie got in on recall...

They really DON'T know anything about their system, do they?"

Ummmm, hello, that was California. Before you mouth off about Americans not knowing anything about our political system, you might want to educate yourself a little first.

California is only one state in the United States.
California has different rules than other states.
California has different rules than the federal government of the US.

The President of the United States cannot be removed from office by a recall petition.

"90% of the music out in the marketplace is still cover by thses artist s******* contracts. All those fabulous oldies from the 50's and 60's pay nothing to their creators and in many case those very creators are living in poverty despite the success of thier works."

Ok, how about providing us with a SPECIFIC example of a recent artist who was victim of one of these contracts?

By recent, I am talking about anytime in the past decade.

Name the artist and tell us exactly how much they are getting paid compared to how much you think that they should be receiving.

"Time for peace talks with our enemies. Let's give that a shot. Ask them what the f*** we're doing to piss them off so much. I am sure they know some things we Americans don't know about our own government's policies and foreign exercises."

Radical Islamic terrorists pursuing an alleged "holy jihad" have absolutely ZERO interest in making peace with us.

You obviously have no clue. Peace talks are not an option in this situation.

"Are we supposed to change our laws, or resign to obeying laws with which we disagree?"

What laws are you talking about?

Are you suggesting that copyright law should be changed to make it legal for everyone to copy and distribute copyrighted material?

Do you realize how absurd that would be?

What exactly do you disagree with? Do you not believe that people should be compensated for their intellectual and artistic property?

How do you think that copyrights should be handled? Or do you just think that we should abolish copyrights altogether?

If you are going to try to make piracy into some kind of noble cause then please explain exactly how things should be different and explain why it would be better.

Now that this is off the main page, probably no one will read this, but here goes anyway.

"How do you think that copyrights should be handled? Or do you just think that we should abolish copyrights altogether?"

Which is *exactly* my point. Several non-U.S. residents here said we should change our laws instead of just bitching about them. Yet, there is clearly a good reason to have copyright laws. Would the Canadians on this board suggest we abolish copyright laws?

However, I will say this: we need to end the nonsense of estates receiving millions of dollars for something their great-grandfather created. We already have enough uberrich families with "old money" that have never worked a day in their life because one of their ancestors happened to be rich. Every now and then, Congress increases the length of copyrights, which now go beyond 75 years after the creator's death. And even then, they can pass those rights on to their children in their will. No one is necessarily entitled to gobs of royalties just because they happened to be the grandchild of Irving Berlin. That, to me, is what needs to be changed in copyright law, but has little to do with downloading mp3s.

" It is illegal for good reason. "

So are monopolies; and golly-gee, the Bush administration has done SO MUCH to dicipline Microsoft, hasn't it!

This alone poves the US government and justice system, along with most of its laws, are FsCKED UP!

'If you are going to try to make piracy into some kind of noble cause then please explain exactly how things should be different and explain why it would be better. '

I'll do the opposite with a real life example of hypocrites:

Way-back-when, then unknown-Metallica started off its career by distributing demos of its work, even encouraging others to copy and distribute it so they'd get known.

Fast-forward to 2 years ago, the internet gives new unknown artists an easier means to do the same, then these f****** hypocrites come along and say the internet is evil and everyone should be jailed for what they themselves encouraged in the past.

Of course I'm sure you'll say everything is BS and won't bother to even try to comprehend anything I've said (given your obviously low IQ), so I'll just tell you to FO now.

" If you are going to try to make piracy into some kind of noble cause then please explain exactly how things should be different and explain why it would be better. "

Metallica - when first unknown, distributed demos of its work to get known, even encouraging people to make copies to 'spread the word'

Now those same hypocrites are against the very thing that helped make them famous, claiming that it would hinder new 'unknown artist' from getting known. This is, of course, pure BS since it's been proven that more artists are discovered with sharing now, and it's been suggested that CD sales have gone UP because of this extra exposure.

I certainly wouldn't say to abolish copyrights or anything similar, but such holders should not be able to sue, or claim lost sales, when they refuse to provide to their own consumers what those consumers are asking: legal way to download songs. Untill recently the RIAA are the only one that have refused to do this (most book publishers have provided downloadable versions of their books for ages now, same for most sw publishers), and it took someone else to actually do it; the idiots at the RIAA just sat on their fat asses doing nothing all this time. Quite 'leading the way' at Rosen once stupidly said on her soapbox.

So there you go, proof that in the past, a similar thing WAS beneficial.

I trashed all my Mental-ica cds. f*** lars that p****.

Every time I hear their name in a conversation, though it is rare because they are soooooooo much has-beens and OLD, I simply say I hate that band and anyone that listens to them. I make friends fast. Just kidding, about the conversation part, because I don't know anyone with such poor taste in music that they listen to that c***.

'spread the word' Mentalica sucks.

of what was mentioned here of RIAA's unwilingness to provide what consumers want: http://news.com.com/2100-1023_3-982344.html