U2's Manager Calls For Mandatory Disconnects For Music Downloaders 658
sleeplesseye writes "In a speech at the Midem music industry convention in Cannes, Paul McGuinness, longtime manager of the band U2, has called on Internet service providers to immediately introduce mandatory French-style service disconnections to end music downloading, and has urged governments to force ISPs to adopt such policies. McGuinness criticized Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' pay-what-you-want business model, saying that 'the majority of downloads were through illegal P2P download services like BitTorrent and LimeWire'. He also accused ISPs, telcos, device makers, and numerous specifically named companies such as Apple, Google, Yahoo!, Oracle, and Facebook of building 'multi billion dollar industries on the back of our content without paying for it', and of being 'makers of burglary kits' who have made 'a thieves' charter' to steal money from the music industry. The full text of his speech has been posted on U2's website."
What a crock (Score:5, Insightful)
Aside from that, Paul continues to show his disconnection from reality by using Radiohead's example. Radiohead made far more money distributing it this way than they ever did with a record label. His entire speech was nothing more than a "oh noes! Please help me save our dying business model."
Talk about profitting off the backs of other's work- he's using U2's name (and website) to push his agenda!
Re:What a crock (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm curious what U2 has to say about this. I haven't had much reason to buy U2 music lately anyway, but until now I've been OK with their politics. Be a shame if I have to start bad mouthing them because he supports a completely assinine potition on net rights.
Re:What a crock (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:What a crock (Score:5, Informative)
Re:What a crock (Score:5, Informative)
Re:What a crock (Score:4, Informative)
http://news.google.ca/news?q=amazon+international+rollout+music&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&hl=en&sa=X&oi=news_result&resnum=1&ct=title [google.ca]
Re:What a crock (Score:5, Informative)
Re:What a crock (Score:5, Insightful)
Fortunately, there's enough good music [musiccreators.ca] out there that I only need to offer the briefest lament for U2's downfall before I move on.
Re:What a crock (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:What a crock (Score:4, Informative)
- Directly executable, in which case (window) users would have to rename the file.
or- Exploit an unpatched flaw in a media player, which dramatically reduces your targets.
Neither scenario is conducive to rapid, widespread infection. I doubt anyone would go to the trouble of specifically crafting a file that passed signature checks (esp if the signatures checks are chunked) with such a small target audience. Also bear in mind that any virus that did match a know signature would require people to be after that specific track, further limiting your targets.Re:What a crock (Score:4, Interesting)
Conversely, If I was an advertiser and the audio ad available for download at my website just happened to have the same signature as something blacklisted - and caused my "potential customers" to lose their internet, then I'd be looking to sue someone....
Re:What a crock (Score:5, Insightful)
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Dude, you're looking in the wrong places. Seriously.
Re:What a crock (Score:5, Insightful)
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U2: Union Busters (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:U2: Union Busters (Score:5, Insightful)
Which method does U2 employ?
Re:U2: Union Busters (Score:5, Informative)
Re:U2: Union Busters (Score:5, Informative)
It looks like the unions nailed them to the wall - they don't even seem to exist anymore, do they?
Re:U2: Union Busters (Score:4, Informative)
I Googled it ("U2 Stage Crew Services union") but only found a single reference after a few pages (http://www.mlkclc.org/winter_1998.htm) [mlkclc.org] which is pro-union, talking about how Stage Crew Services got rid of union employees and activists that were unsurprisingly let go after they tried to infiltrate and unionise the place. Did you manage to find anything vaguely objective?
Re:U2: Union Busters (Score:5, Interesting)
Well then why didn't they go to work for a union shop?
I guess I have different opinion of "unions". When I was a kid a friend's father worked for Piper Aircraft. A Union tried to get in there. He said that the union people where threatening them to vote for the Union. At that time Piper paid really well, offer health benefits and even offered scholarships for the kids of employees. They didn't let the Union in. Oh he was a the guy that welded the motor mounts so yea he was just a worker.
The other experience has to do with going to trade shows in Union towns. Yea it is so helpful for me to have to pay $100 for some union hack to bring me an orange extension cord.
So you are willing to make a statement of fact based on what you heard...
As far as I I can see a Union is the last thing that employees should want. If you are getting abused in by your employer and the law alone will not protect you then yes you may need a Union.
Otherwise they are a blight on society from my experience.
Re:U2: Union Busters (Score:5, Insightful)
The shop across the street was unionized. The manager at my dad's plant said, "I'll give you everything the union shop gets, no questions asked. They can go on strike, get a better deal, and then you'll get that deal. Plus, you don't have to miss that pay while you'd be out on strike."
They never unionized, and never went on strike. I guess the moral is that if you treat your employees with respect and treat them well (with good pay, good benefits, etc.) then unions aren't really required.
Re:U2: Union Busters (Score:5, Insightful)
If anything your dad leeched off the union. He got the benefits of it being in the other shop, without having to pay for it [no dues, no having to strike for better pay/benefits, etc].
my old prof (Score:3, Interesting)
And the best part is: when you go back and actually fact check that statement, he's exactly right.
You just don't see unions at places that treat their workers well. And in the converse, you almost always see unions where they don't (or at least attempts to unionize). Sometimes they intersect when the unions try to recruit new members at "good" companies but for the m
Let me tell you about the One Big Union (Score:5, Interesting)
I uphold that anyone should be able to hire whoever they like. But I and my friends should be able to bargain collectively, and we will point out, quite vociferously, when you as a business owner are trying to screw us over. That's free speech, and the Wobs used to read from the Constitution in town squares across the US just to make that point. That's one reason the IWW was suppressed so hard. Even to the point of being literally [wikipedia.org] massacred. [wikipedia.org]
We are NOT like other unions.
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Re:U2: Union Busters (Score:5, Funny)
"You can't treat the working man this way! One of these days we'll form a union, and get the fair and equitable treatment we deserve! Then we'll go too far, and become corrupt and shiftless, and the Japanese will eat us alive!"
--1920s version of the pimply-faced teenager, The Simpsons
Re:U2: Union Busters (Score:5, Interesting)
I used to work in a Union shop a few years ago. The union I was in wasn't all bad, but it wasn't all good, either. In short, what I found was that a union is a lot like a bureaucracy -- it exists to perpetuate its own existence and if that helps the worker then good, but if not that's too bad. Case in point: I worked for a manager who was a really good guy. Before our shop went Union, our manager gave us a lot of flexibility in our jobs. If we wanted to work slightly non-standard hours, that was okay. If we needed a little extra time off to run errands, that was fine. If we needed to stay late to fix something, that was kosher, and we could come in late/go home early later as we needed. I negotiated a 4-10 work schedule and really enjoyed three-day weekends every week. Then we went union, and everything changed. Now there was a contract that said our shifts were 8-5,4-midnight and midnight-8. If were just minutes late, we were reprimanded. If we were still working on something at the end of our shift, we were to pass it off to the next shift. In short, our work environment went from a very happy, very relaxed, very "do what it takes, and we'll make it work" kind of place to a very adversarial, workers vs. management environment within a few months. It just wasn't any fun working there anymore. So I quit and found a better (non-union) job, and I've never looked back.
Re:U2: Union Busters (Score:4, Informative)
It goes beyond that... I used to exhibit at CES (10 years in a row - this was the first year I didn't show). I couldn't carry ANYTHING on to the floor without being challenged - it had to be union labor loading and unloading boxes into our booth (never mind I built all the gear being loaded). Expect a $1500 bill for the drop off and pick up of the boxes. When it would have taken my crew and I literally 20 minutes to load or unload a single, 11 passenger van with all the boxes (we know, we pre-set the show in a taped off area of our warehouse, then loaded the van and drove the products to our crating company).
And power? Not just the cord cost - you had to PAY an electrician to plug in your outlets! At the 2003 and 2004 CES shows, I was a Nevada state licensed power engineer (with my PE). I was licensed by the STATE to actually design and sign off on the electrical network in the building! But heaven forbid I dare plug a power strip into an outlet - why, only a UNION electrician could do that!
Re:U2: Union Busters (Score:5, Insightful)
I've worked union, as well as non-union shops. Until recently, in a non-union special effects shop in Hollywood (Burbank, actually). In my experience, the biggest difference, besides pay, is safety. In a union shop, if I think something is dangerous I can call for a shop steward and we can discuss the safety problem. In a non union shop, I can call the foreman and discuss the safety problem. The difference is that the union shop, in general, won't have the safety problem because they know it will stop work. The non-union shop has safety problems, and if you bring it to their attention, you don't work there for too much longer. And there's always somebody who's willing to work unsafely to be the macho, "I can do it with no gear" guy.
Here are some of the "safety problems" I'm referring to - from personal experience.
- Working from large heights with no safety gear, because it's "just for a few minutes".
- Workers standing under equipment being lifted, because it's "just for a little bit".
- Untrained guys driving heavy equipment (forklifts, etc) with little or no training, in a crowded space.
- The owner of the company accidentally hitting workers with forklifts or things being moved by the forklift, several times a year. Broken bones included.
There are plenty of good (and abusive) unions out there, but a lot of them are actually needed. In my opinion, when the company is large enough that the CEO/owner doesn't know you, you become just another replaceable item. That's the point when things can become very impersonal and you should consider some sort of group representation.
Re:U2: Union Busters (Score:5, Informative)
While the rest of them went to the relatively down market Mount Temple it's a far from working class school.
Re:U2: Union Busters (Score:4, Interesting)
Hmm...I actually see that as a point in their favor!!
Why shouldn't they be able to hire who they wish, and pay according to market just like most other industries?
That being said, I thought most of what this guy said was rubbish. The manager clearly doesn't understand how things work in the tech area...closing up one 'hole' will only mean a new one will open. More undetectable modes will work if something like regular bittorrent is closed. There is no way to shut off everything without shutting the pipes down so much that normal traffic is affected.
One thing I will give the speech giver is this one quote:"U2 own all their masters but these are licensed long term to Universal with whom we enjoy an excellent relationship. With a couple of minor exceptions they also own all their copyrights, which are also licensed to Universal. U2 always understood that it would be pathetic to be good at the music and bad at the business, and have always been prepared to invest in their own future. We were never interested in joining that long humiliating list of miserable artists who made lousy deals, got exploited and ended up broke and with no control over how their life's work was used, and no say in how their names and likenesses were bought and sold."
You can't do anything for a living without also being decent at business. The thing is....the business rules have changed now...adapt or go extinct.
Re:U2: Union Busters (Score:5, Insightful)
The corporates have really, really brainwashed today's workers. The fact is that union shops CAN hire who they wish, and DO pay market rates. Non-union shops CAN'T hire who they wish; union people won't work for them. And non-union shops DON'T pay market rates; they pay far less than martket rates.
The then-President of (IIRC) United Airlines (I think, it's been a while, early 80s; this guy ran a non-union airline, I think it was United) famously said "any company that gets a union deserves one." I have to agree with him. If you treat your workers fairly, they won't organise.
If your employer can join an organization (say, the RIAA, the MPAA, the whatever trade organization Sun and Microsoft are members of) why can't their workers?
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http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-forms-contracts/business-forms-contracts-overview/ [findlaw.com]
But above and beyond that society keeps people from doing stupid things all the time for example meat inspections so we don't buy tainted meat. Do you want to go back to the days of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle?" I think not...
http://www.amazon.com/Jungle-Uncensored-Original-Upton-Sinclair/dp/1884365302 [amazon.com]
Or how about the days of child labor of
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Oh, thank you so much. Now I properly understand that South Park episode I mentioned here [slashdot.org]. Thank you, thank you, thank you. :)
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Well duh! Anybody could have told you that.... Bono is 80 Kurics [wikipedia.org] of excrement ;)
Re:U2: Union Busters (Score:5, Insightful)
For me, no one has successfully argued why even a really good artist deserves to make millions. A good school teacher, who works just as hard doesn't. A good doctor who works longer hours and has more responsibility shouldn't (I know there are some that do, but those that are in it to do good certainly don't charge their patients exorbitant rates). Why should a musician or a film or tv star make millions? Then record companies and event organizers make ten times the money on top of that. We over-value these people.
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If refusing to work on a wage below X is extortion, then refusing to pay someone more than Y for that work is also extortion. Given this, you may wish to rethink your statement a little.
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[alan partridge voice]
Yeah, really like that U2 song - it really captures the pain and frustration of a Sunday - the shops are shut, the kids are running round and you think to your self "Agh! Sunday, Bloody Sunday!".
[/alan partridge voice]
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Not to mention the fact that downloading is not stealing, illegal or not. No one is deprived of their property through a download as has been pointed out many times before.
Re:What a crock (Score:4, Insightful)
Of course that could mean depriving them of money, beating them to the market, ripping them off in any number of ways, but it's not stealing, it's not theft, it's a different phenomenon which is why we have different laws to deal with it. RTeality is not blasck and white. Just because something is a little bit like something else, doesn't mean they're the same.
Re:What a crock (Score:5, Insightful)
Strange. I would have said It's not theft unless you're -
a) trying to scare 9 year olds who have a simple view of the world
b) are an idiot with a simple view of the world
The world isn't black and white, realty is nuanced. Unless you're a retard.
we have different laws surrounding these phenomenon because they are fundamentally different. Stealing a car takes it away from the original owner. copying his car does not. It MAY take money away from ford/GM/whoever, but there's nothing to say that had you been prevented from copying that you would have bought on anyway.
This is not to say that copyright infringement is a good thing or in any way permissable, but you have to be a SERIOUS FUCKING RETARD to not see the difference. Either that or someone who is deliberately trying to muddy the waters and that has a specific, legislative agenda.
Which are you?
Re:What a crock (Score:4, Informative)
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Hell yeah. The real world is in full color.
we have different laws surrounding these phenomenon because they are fundamentally different. Stealing a car takes it away from the original owner. copying his car does not. It MAY take money away from ford/GM/whoever, but there's nothing to say that had you been prevented from copying that you would have bought on anyway.
There used to be a time when bands/artists were happy and grat
Re:What a crock (Score:5, Insightful)
Do you pay royalties every time you sing happy birthday at a birthday party? Do you feel guilty for not paying the royalties, as you are required to do by law? Perhaps we should throw you in jail for your blatent criminal violations, after all violating copyright is like stealing, right?
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"1 a: to take or appropriate without right or leave and with intent to keep or make use of wrongfully"
To take or appropriate, both of which imply doing so without the owner's permission. If I own a CD and share a copy with a friend, he has my permission. The word "keep" implies the depriving of the original party of the property.
"b: to take away by force or unjust means"
Key word here is "away".
"c: to take surreptitiously or without permission"
Again, the p
Re:What a crock (Score:5, Funny)
TFA:
Wait! Why stop there? Creative Labs made my speakers and sound card! They're the ones enabling my illegal habits! Get 'em! It's about time they stop profitting of the backs of hardworking musicians. They didn't write ANY of the music! Oh and for god's sake can we please start charging Microsoft for allowing us to even install these P2P apps? For the longest time, Microsoft has profitted off the backs of artists by allowing this filth to be installed on their operating system!
And so on and so on. Seriously, grandpa, stop bitching, you're making your band look bad.
Re:What a crock (Score:5, Funny)
And we should shut down the recording companies who make those CDs that people are ripping to put on PSP networks.
hmmm, I actually kind of like where this is going.
But seriously, since when did ISP profit from content? I worked for an ISP at one point, and we didn't see a damn bit of money from content, all we got paid for was access to the Internet. Where we getting ripped off?
Re:What a crock (Score:4, Informative)
This system is already in use here in Cannes by the MIDEM organisation and is called SIMRAN. Throughout this conference you will see contact details and information. I recommend you look at it. I should disclose that I'm one of their investors.
Why should ISP lose profits? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Why should ISP lose profits? (Score:5, Insightful)
In the name of love... (Score:4, Funny)
Hardly
The ones who have the most to lose (Score:5, Insightful)
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Ohmigod, what a freaking insight! Next you'll be telling me that a bunch of server kickers and cable pullers can afford to sneer about copyright because they've never created anything useful in their lives and never will.
Oh, Really? [oreilly.com]
I mean, seriously - you're sure about that? [boingboing.net]
Idiot.
If we still had 14 or 23 year copyright... (Score:5, Insightful)
U2's good stuff would be public domain by now if we had reasonable copyright lengths, like we used to.
like we used to? (Score:3, Informative)
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The engineer in me just found a more efficient solutions than fixing copyright laws.
to expand (Score:5, Informative)
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Remind me again, is copyright supposed to encourage creative works, or is it supposed to create never ending money streams for work done over 20 years ago?
Re:If we still had 14 or 23 year copyright... (Score:4, Funny)
Dude, she doesn't charge that much to get naked and drunk anymore.
Hey Paul (Score:5, Insightful)
I've bought U2's albums, t-shirts, concert tickets and other crap. Over the years, I've easily spent several hundred dollars on your band's products. Same goes for hundreds of other artists: Concerts, posters, tshirts, albums, box sets, fan club-only items. Hell, some albums I've bought multiple times in multiple formats over the years.
I've got a huge DVD library, and it keeps growing. I'll happily pay premium prices for Criterion editions, I'm a hardcore movie geek who's always loved going to the cinema, sometimes even repeat fucking viewings for movies I really like.
So when you come out with this ignorant, self-serving tripe and try to pass it off as a moral issue, I look at you and get sick to my fucking stomach. I'm terribly fucking sorry I downloaded your band's last album just so I could get my hands on that lame "quatorze" single. Fuck, I can't even remember the last time I listened to that song (I sure as shit didn't bother with the rest of the album).
Hell, if it makes you feel better, I'll delete it when I get home tonight. Not really any skin off my nose. I've got my $120 Led Zep Box set to keep me warm at night. I've got the Joshua Tree and Rattle & Hum, 2 albums I've paid full retail for more than once.
Big big fan of U2, at least until Pop, anyway. Shame they're on the decline. Shame you're a douchebag.
One last thing. Facebook? Apple? Get some meds, man. Even the worst **AA shill isn't that shrill.
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This guy deserves to have a new asshole ripped for him.
Paul:
Apple? Oracle? Huh? Apple's a REAL stretch, and Oracle is just -- well a mind-bogglingly super stretch. Apple sells music, dumbass. Oracle? Oracle makes databases. In fact, they don't make anything else, really. Databases that are used for all sorts of stuff, including cataloging YOUR BAND'S ALBUMS FOR SALE on music and retail Web sites. Not to mention probably half of your financial history and most of your medical
U2's always been like this (Re:Hey Paul) (Score:5, Informative)
Paul ain't due much respect. U2 has been on the forefront of anti-fair-use since the incident involving Negativland [negativland.com] in 1991: The Letter U and the Numeral 2
The track parodies the whole top-40 industry by sampling the backbeat of "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", and punches in bits of Casey Kasem going apeshit!. It's not just hilarious, it's one of the single most important cases in the history of sample-based music. Long story short, after a multiyear legal battle, Negativland won. By this time, most physical copies had been recalled and/or destroyed, but you can download the MP3 [negativland.com] from their website.
In 1998, the last few chapters of the legal battle played out, also to Negativland's favor, and RIAA rewrote its rewrote [negativland.com] its guidelines on sampling, fair use, and parody.
Which brings us back to our next top-40 hit - it's no surprise that U2 and RIAA are back in bed with each other, working ever diligently against any form of fair use: they still haven't found what they're looking for.
> I've got a huge DVD library, and it keeps growing. I'll happily pay premium prices for Criterion editions, I'm a hardcore movie geek who's always loved going to the cinema, sometimes even repeat fucking viewings for movies I really like.
If we could only find someone like Casey Kasem ranting like that off-mike, the war for fair use would be over, and we geeks would finally have won.
Sure, sounds like a great idea (Score:5, Funny)
For the record, U2 has always sucked. Whiner music.
Oh yeah? (Score:3, Funny)
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Illegal P2P download services (Score:3, Insightful)
Wow, there are legal P2P download "services"? Are they only in Canada?
Re:Illegal P2P download services (Score:5, Insightful)
Wookie Defense (Score:5, Insightful)
Let's for a second assume that Limewire, et al were "illegal download services", how does that reflect negatively on Radiohead's distribution strategy? Radiohead said: "Hey, download it HERE and pay what you want for it"; So some people downloaded it "THERE" and paid nothing for it. How is this any different from someone saying: "Hey, buy it in stores, and pay $15 for it" and then seeing people downloading it "THERE" and paying nothing for it?
If anything it shows proves that it's not just about the money. It's about how people prefer to access music. Radiohead offered it for free "this way", and people took it for free "that way". It's about a delivery mechanism that is not being provided by the industry.
Antitrust. (Score:2)
SDMI bombed, and there are bitstrippers out there which have <buzzphrase>substantial non-infringing uses.</buzzphrase>
As if forcing another business to do the things you couldn't do due to antitrust reasons makes it any better...
everyone at sometime in their lives (Score:4, Insightful)
well now is the time for you to relish, jeer, or commissurate (condescendingly)
for here we have the experience of "just not getting it" playing out on someone else's dime, on a much larger scale, to a much larger audience
Byte me... (Score:5, Insightful)
Make CD last more, invest in the technology that promotes your sound.
Make Copyright time frames reasonable.
And don't forget if we didn't listen to your crap you'd be a broke begging musician.
Shush you greedy F...s.
Oh Yes, They Deserve Better (Score:5, Interesting)
There's more exciting music being made and more listened to than at any time in history. Cheap technology has made it easy to start a band and make music. This is a gathering of managers; our talented clients deserve better than the shoddy, careless and downright dishonest way they have been treated in the digital age.
I haven't heard any artists speaking out about their royalties drying up. Maybe because they made 10 cents on the dollar before and now they make 10 cents on the quarter now since it's all digital?
Funny how he starts with "We've been used to bands who wrote their own material since the Beatles
Is he complaining that Steve Jobs pulled the $1 per song price out of his ass? No, he's pointing the finger at file sharers. This guy is losing his income and his bands are probably curious as to how they can get that $1 per song from iTunes without having to pay their manager 40 cents for
Earth to U2's Manager: take your cut of the work you actually do like arranging concerts and press coverage and then shut the hell up and let the artists do their thing and make money.
Re:Oh Yes, They Deserve Better (Score:5, Informative)
Just to stand up for the Monkees for a moment, they were young and jumpped at the chance to be on TV and all, but they did have enough guts and pride to eventually go on strike unless they were allowed to play their own instruments and material. And they did do some catchy pop songs. Not exactly the Beatles, but at least they wised up and grew some spines. Can't imagine this week's X-Factor/American Idol wank-stain ever doing that.
TWW
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ISP suicide? (Score:5, Insightful)
SCO et al. found this out the hard way. AT&T does not seem to be picking up on this either.
Calls for reform will only be taken seriously when they are financially feasible.
Tag as waahmbulance (Score:4, Funny)
Dangerous Thinking (Score:4, Insightful)
That's the brunt of the problem here anyway, these people are more than willing to disrupt every, every internet connection in the world in order to protect thier profits.
Say what? (Score:4, Insightful)
The guy is off his rocker, clearly.
U2 next Metallica? (Score:3, Interesting)
Sounds like rich Republicans crying about taxes (Score:5, Insightful)
Call me paranoid... (Score:5, Insightful)
It's about time we recognize that what it going on here is _not_ an attempt to reform capitalism. It is an attempt to replace capitalism with _mercantilism_. Remember that minor North American rebellion in 1776? It had in part to do with British plans for how the colonies would buy imported crap ad infinitum, regardless of how they felt about the matter.
My fellow conservatives, allow to me scream 'wake up!' in your general direction. When an industry owns a market, it's no longer a _free_ market! Duh!
(sigh).... Rant over. Thanks for your patience.
U2 Website Terms. (Score:5, Insightful)
Heaven forbid that U2 might rig their website to enable them to profit off the creative output of other people.
Didn't Bono advertise iPod? (Score:5, Informative)
Radiohead and not Metallica (Score:4, Insightful)
A Cure Worse Than The "Disease" (Score:4, Insightful)
In the U.S. at any rate, if an ISP tries to filter out "copyrighted content", then they automatically become liable for any "copyrighted content" that subsequently gets through. I am quite sure that is not what they want to do. This issue was discussed here at length just the other day.
Pots & Black Kettles (Score:4, Insightful)
Principle is correct (Score:3, Interesting)
The principle behind what he says is correct. There is an attitude that because people can do things that they should do them and that by downloading music etc illegally for free that they are sticking it to the man.
The techology companies have paid lip service to trying to solve the problem. They offer up solutions but their heart isn't really in it. The ISPs find illegal media downloads profitable especially on capped tariffs. The hardware makers are happy to have music etc on their systems as its another reason to buy/upgrade. They want it to be as easy as possible to get stuff onto them. They will do the minimum possible to ensure that the lawmakers don't feel compelled to legislate.
Blaming the problems on a poor, or outdated, business model might work to salve people's conscience but the weasel words still don't hide the fact that what is being done is illegal. From a ethical point of view they are taking the product of fellow human beings endeavours without paying for them. Somewhat of a moral dilemma.
I fully expect people to heap derision on my simplistic view of the world but in the end the above is the truth of the matter. Anything else is just an exercise in smoke and mirrors to justify theft.
As a final thought. Its now possible to buy music, on a track by track basis, for a reasonable amount of money, without DRM. Has this made a dint in illegal filesharing?
[/removes suit][on second thoughts dons suit again, this is slashdot afterall]
Who are U2? (Score:4, Funny)
Best wishes,
Bob
He's a SIMRAN investor (Score:5, Insightful)
And I quote...
There is technology now, that the worldwide industry could adopt, which enables content owners to track every legitimate digital download transaction, wholesale and retail.
This system is already in use here in Cannes by the MIDEM organisation and is called SIMRAN. Throughout this conference you will see contact details and information. I recommend you look at it. I should disclose that I'm one of their investors.
I think that puts it in context...
Short sighted and ignorant... (Score:5, Insightful)
This guy is completely oblivious and ignorant of the current generation of consumers. The consumer market is still extremely strong, but the average consumer wants to be able to try before they buy, high quality, cheap, and they want it immediately. Overnight shipping is too expensive for this generation along with it's not immediate.
Ignoring the generation's desires along with the technology at the finger tips is completely ignorant. I don't mean to come across as a "fan boy" but Steve Jobs single handedly rescued the music industry. He had given the current generation the ability to satisfy all the needs of the current generation with technology of today.
I have always felt that piracy was the entertainment industry's excuse for making poor investment choices. Putting out bad bands and bad movies results in low sales. Piracy has always been around, and there have been people renting videos and copying them to VHS tapes for EVER. People used to make Mixed tapes for their friends. People used to sit around recording the radio onto tapes.
If you think about it, piracy is another form of "airplay". The record industry pays hundreds of thousands to get your song "radio airplay", because it helps create buzz and get your album noticed and then people buy it. This is the trend that has been going on for decades. There will always be people who buy albums and people who don't. There's a small group of consumers on the fence who don't buy music because it's too easy to get through some other means. I think this is a small group, because the larger group consists of people who had never bought an album, and never would buy an album, but have TONS of music because they enjoy music. But these people would rather listen to radio than buy music, but since they can download stuff for free, they do. You can find these types because they have gigs and gigs of music, and they have their music players on 'random' and don't care what is being played. You can identify a music "buyer" by their numbers of playlists and/or how frequently a specific album is played. These people are the "music buying" people.
The music industry is a tough one. But not impossible. You need spectacular talent and incredible foresight to work with musicians who are wanting to be their own thing and not ride the coattails of what is already popular. Individuality rewards a lot greater in this kind of market, where as being a "me too" band is a waste of time and money.
Summary of U2 Manager's Speech... (Score:5, Funny)
Oh, I cant close my eyes and make it go away
How long...
How long must they steal our songs?
How long? how long...
cause tonight...no sales of our song "One"
tonight... they're all downloading "One"
Tonight...
Broken models of our business bleat
Record execs thrown out on the street
And we won't make our earnings call
It puts my back up
Puts my back up against the wall
Pirate bay, bloody pirate bay
Pirate bay, bloody pirate bay...
So... (Score:3, Interesting)
Realpolitik (Score:3, Funny)
For U2, however, I will make an exception. I'd use Azureus and hurt them myself, but my broadband connection would start crying and go on strike at having to carry such shite.
The same goes for the film Lady In The Water. What a godawful piece of shit that movie is. I didn't even pay to see it and I want the ticket price back as compensation.
Let that be a lesson? (Score:4, Interesting)
How did he get influence? Truckloads of money flowing through the band he manages.
Where did he get his truckloads of money? You.
Lesson: Stop giving these people money and they just might go away.
Your wallet is more powerful than you might think - who you give money to determines who influences your government in the future far more than your insignificant vote ever will.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
U2's agent actually mentioned Oracle, Intel and other major companies in a plea for a solution to "save the music industry". While I disagree with his plea, he's not as dumb as the summarizer to suggest Oracle profits from so-called "piracy".