Over the years, I've downloaded the music of everyone quoted in this press release. (Gord Sinclair of The Tragically Hip, Jann Arden, Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies, and Kathleen Edwards)
I also own almost every single album released by each of these artists (yes, even the disappointing ones).
I
really, sincerely hope that one of you reads this: Get a clue. I am not
a thief, I am a fan. Downloading is not the equivalent of theft. Here's
an offer that I hope you don't refuse: Make it easy for me to get a
heads-up on your tunes without having to jump through a lot of
hoops or endlessly listen to a stupid radio station hoping that your
new single gets played and I will stop downloading your music.
But I mean all of your tunes, not just the new stuff.
I honestly expected more intelligence from these artists. I've also, as of now, stopped buying their records until the lightbulb goes on above their heads.
I especially love the part about our "woefully inadequate Copyright Act" - I think that's a sign they want us to have a DMCA.
Hey, maybe if the CRIA would spend a little less time trying to enslave the general population to the Copyright Regime and a little more time disbursing the levies I got charged on my spindle of data DVDs, the artists would be happier.
DMCA? Downloaded Music Copyright Act? What's that?
I agree; it's frustrating that artists don't unite and come up with a creative solution. Killing downloading will erase the smaller artists totally off the map.
I have no sympathy for the recording industry bigwigs. They're blinded by their rage over "lost" money. Biggest bunch of sour-grape, uncreative babies capitalism has ever seen.
The Digital Millenium Copyright Act in the States. Info at the EFF
Basically, to attempt to reverse engineer any system designed with the intent to protect digital content - no matter how bad a job they did designing said system - is illegal if you don't get permission first. In doing so, it tries to do away with fair use - I can't legally make a copy of a song to play on something else, even if I already paid for the song, unless I first get permission.
There are probably better, more complete, more coherent ways of describing it, but I'm frankly too tired right now :)