Bootlegged Music in Russia

Guppy06 writes "MosNews.com has an interesting article on the thoughts and opinions of everyday Muscovites on the rampant music (et al) piracy in their country. It seems that some of them don't have much trouble justifying it to themselves, with quotes like 'Yes, I know that some of the sellers are here with burned CDs. But they have to earn a living too, I can understand them.' The article also mentions 'In a country where the average monthly salary is about $240, buying the latest album for $15 is a grotesque luxury, let alone spending $600 on Adobe Photoshop or a similar computer program.' Apparently, catchy slogans like 'Listen up, you pirate, I choose copyright!' just aren't working."

Maybe they need a new slogan

[Dancin_Santa]

"Listen up, Russia. You signed the Bourne treaty, so start living up to your side of the bargain by eradicating these large-scale piracy rings or face the coming winter without trade partners."

or

"Information wants to be Free! That CD wants to cost 15 bucks!"

or

"In Capitalist America, nubile faux-lesbian rock groups ignore YOU!"

damn pirates!

[fulana_lover]

those godless communist bastards are preying on our innocent capitalism aryan heros like 50 cent, eminem, and britney... think of the children!!!

Whoa

[sbszine]

I'm hardcore, man, I listen to heavy et al.

Can You Imagine the Heart-Warming Ads?

[dasunt]

Shot of a thin gaunt man dressed in an old jacket hawking CD's with Cyrillic lettering in the rain. The rooftop of an Orthodox Russian Church can be seen in the background.

Announcer: This is Boris, a hardworking Russian music pirate. Every day he is on the streets, twelve, fourteen, or even fifteen hours, hawking his burned CDs of the latest hit albums from the US. He even has created his own mixes with high-quality jacket art that caters to the Russian market.

Shot of a fat man driving a Ford SUV and eating from a bag of McDonald's food. In the interior of the SUV, an in-dash satellite radio and GPS system can be seen. In the back is an in-car DVD player.

Announcer (cont.): This is John, an American music producer. Unlike Boris, he has a steady job, including health, vacation, and retirement. He only works a measily 8 hour day, and lives in a 3000 sq ft home, with central heat and air. Unlike Boris, who owns no vehicles, John owns a late-model SUV, which he parks in his own private three-stall garage.

Shot of a typical upscale gated community in the US.

Announcer (cont.): If you buy legitimate music, you are throwing your money to rich Americans who already have the good life.

Shot of a Moscow slum.

Announcer (cont.) But if you buy the latest songs from the Russian pirates on the street, your money stays in the Russian economy, benefitting many more people than just the pirate.

Announcer (cont.): Please buy locally.

Re:Maybe they need a new slogan

[Anonymous Coward]

It's a sad day on slashdot when Bourne gets a reference to the book/movie but not the shell.

Arrr!

[Ziviyr]

let alone spending $600 on Adobe Photoshop or a similar computer program

Really, I'd rather pirate The GIMP than buy it for $600.

Re:Whoa

[Bishop923]

meh, I listened to et al before it went mainstream, I've moved on to etc and ...

Re:15 bucks

[NanoGator]

" and the publishers would be fucked."

Damn you supply and demand!

Re:Arrr!

[node 3]

Really, I'd rather pirate The GIMP than buy it for $600.

I'll sell you a legitimate copy the GIMP for $600 if you ever change your mind.

For as little

[OneArmedMan]

as just 1$ a day you can help sponsor a RIAA Music Producer. With your help we can get them another Porche for the garage, that flat they have always wanted in the Bahama's, you could even help cover the cost for the private school tuition of their childeren, and other things their own goverment can not proivde.

So please give generously help make the life of a RIAA Music producer better today.

---- ..

Seriously tho the Russian guy on the street, and that is where most of them are, have had the shit end of the stick for the last 60'something years, and now the people up on high are pissing and moaning cause someone wants to listen to some tunes....

get your prioities straight people!

Re:Same in America, comrade.

[Anonymous Coward]

am I going to blow $20 so myself and a date can go watch Eurotrip? Get real.

Um dude if you're wondering why you can't get laid, here's one reason. If you don't think a date's worth $10, but you do think what you need is to buy the top 100 books USED and read them in your parent's basement you've got serious issues, and its probably a good thing you're unlikely to breed. You're not savvy, you're just plain CHEAP.

Re:Thanks Russia for cheap music downloads!

[myowntrueself]

"Specifically, it is always illegal to import a work that was made in a manner where, had US law applied, it would've been illegal, regardless of the local law where it was made."

Wow, no wonder the Saudis *finally* abolished slavery in, what, 1964?

Otherwise the yanks would have been legally unable to import their oil...

but... b-but...

[Cryptnotic]

It's not illegal because I don't WANT it to be illegal!

Re:Maybe they need a new slogan

[julesh]

It's a sad day on slashdot when Bourne gets a reference to the book/movie but not the shell.

Perhaps we need a new sequel. Let's call it the Bourne Again Identity.

Re:Geneva Conventions

[brainburger]

"law is nothing more than the rigorous application of pedantism" You mean 'pedantry', not 'pedantism'.

Re:True

[xilet]

It's the RIAA's new version of Pokemon. I choose you litigationchu!