Recording Industry vs. The PeopleSource: recordingindustryvsp...In December, 2008, they had represented to Congress that they had "discontinued initiating new lawsuits in August [2008]". I decided to look at September 2008 and see what the RIAA's "John Doe" cases look like, and there appear to be a number of such cases in September alone.

Radiohead to Testify Against the RIAA | TorrentFreakSource: torrentfreak.com

Radiohead, the band that made millions of dollars by giving away their music for free, has very little to complain about when it comes to piracy. On the contrary, in a landmark file-sharing case, Radiohead has responded positively to a request to testify against the RIAA.    In addition, the artists are unhappy with the fact that the labels, represented by lobby groups such as the RIAA and IFPI, are pushing for anti-piracy legislation without consulting the artists they claim to represent. Fans are unnecessarily portrayed as criminals according to some.    

I'm hearing the same thing from many directions this year: Law makers changing copyright laws, primarily to protect musicians, without consulting musicians.

From Radio Head

In addition, the artists are unhappy with the fact that the labels, represented by lobby groups such as the RIAA and IFPI, are pushing for anti-piracy legislation without consulting the artists they claim to represent. Fans are unnecessarily portrayed as criminals according to some.

From Veteran singer-songwriter and political activist Brag

"What I said at the meeting was that the record industry in Britain is still going down the road of criminalising our audience for downloading illegal MP3s, if we follow the music industry down that road, we will be doing nothing more than being part of a protectionist effort. It's like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube."

from Creative Freedom NZ

The Creative Freedom Foundation announced today that thousands of artists have signed their petition against the removal of New Zealander's rights through changes in copyright law, purportedly done in the name of protecting artists and creativity.

APRA member and Wellington musician Phil Brownlee

RIAA Sued for Fraud, Abuse and Legal Sham | TorrentFreak

It’s been a rough week for the RIAA as massive layoffs are about to cost many employees their job. On top of that, the anti-piracy outfit is being sued for abusing the legal system for its war on piracy, civil conspiracy, deceptive trade practices, trespassing and computer fraud.

A story, out of italy - and i only have the recording industry's version here:
http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/20090127.html

It's an online music retailer, that believed they had paid all fees for the rights to sell some music (they purchased the rights from the author of the music) - but it turns out they missed out paying a fee to the recording company.

The first court threw out the charges - but the appeals court resulted in a guilty verdict (i'm not sure how italian legal system works, but it seems appeals court can do that).

So, now they pay this fee surely?? no - they're now being sent to a prison - on a criminal sentence. That's shocking that something like copyright infringment isn't a civil case. The defendants also have to refund 80,000 euros of legal costs to the recording company.

Okay, so that's italy -- why do you need to worry, you're in (insert country that's not italy).
Then check this wishlist item from leaked ACTA Treaty documents:

2. Provide criminal sanctions for any act of copyright infringement that takes place on a commercial scale, including in the online environment, regardless of whether such acts are undertaken with a financial incentive.

That's the US' RIAA's wishlist for an international trade agreement that's been negoriated with New Zealand, Canada, UK, Japan... and more countries.

from wikipedia

Making intentionally false allegation of copyright infringement is a really really bad idea - i suspect it would be considered fraud - and i'd advise anyone planning such things to rethink. Suggestions in comments that someone should accuse the prime minister, cabinet, APRA and more is really bad advice.

There is no penalty for mistaken false accusations -- that's not the same as intentional false accusations.

Most torrent trackers include a large number of false IPs - they list people who aren't sharing at all, they're just randomly chosen - and that is how a group of researcher easily convinced the RIAA to falsely accuse a printer of sharing/downloading films illegally.

It has been suggested that you can find a list of government departments, libraries, schools and hospitals and add them to a tracker -- make it look as if they too are sharing stuff when they're not -- trivial to do.

This also would be a bad idea - and i advice folks to not do it - but i can't think of how you'd ever be caught.

p2pnet news » Blog Archive » Google dumbs down videos: literallySource: www.p2pnet.netp2pnet news view Movies | Music:- Google has taken the concept of dumbing down to a new level which’ll bring joy to the icy little hearts of Vivendi Universal, EMI, Warner Music and Sony BMG and their RIAA.

Internet NZ have published the answers to questions sent to NZ political parties -- including a good section on the ammendments to our Copyright Act
http://internetnz.net.nz/issues/newzealand/2008%20General%20Election%20Questionnaire

Snippets:

Democrats for Social Credit: Copyright law needs to be completely reviewed. Not because it is no longer relevant, but because it is no longer working.

The New Zealand Government continues to participate in ACTA treaty negotiations.

Our Ministry of Economic Development (MED) reports on ACTA Negotiations: Report on Round Three, 8-9 October 2008, Tokyo and have even published the Agenda. As mentioned on the NZOSS list, MED have noted that "Participants confirmed their intention to continue consulting with their respective stakeholders, and to share the results of the consultations at their next meeting.". Who are these stakeholders? Who are they going to share these with?

ACTA is "Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement", a treaty originating in the USA, and to date still secret. Many snippets have leaked, including an assertion that the Copyright Hoarding entities (RIAA and their clones) have been consulted for their wishlist.

Internet Society of NZ has made a submission on the proposed Anti-Counterfeit Treaty: ACTA:
http://www.internetnz.net.nz/issues/submissions/2008/acta (pdf)

ACTA is DMCA style legislation wrapped up into a Treaty. It orginates in the USA, and New Zealand government is asking for comment on it..

all about me again

the system i use -

if it's an RSS feed, i'm reading it with google reader, and the nifty "Next" bookmarklet, in opera at either work or home. Sometime i view the mobile version with the Palm or the Nokia tablet.

If it's podcast, video or audio, it'll be in the Quicknews on the palm. That downloads it for me. Then AudioGateway gives me Bluetooth audio, and A2DP for listening and controlling while walking to work. Video podcasts i view with wired headphones, since the slight delay with bluetooth audio is noticable enough to annoy.