Re: [Sheflug] Panorama - Are the Net Police Coming for You ?

[Bob Mottram <fuzzgun@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 16 March 2010 12:55, Richard Ibbotson <richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00rl4dl/Panorama_Are_the_Net_Police_Coming_for_You/


This is a pretty low quality report which doesn't make any sensible
attempt to discuss the issues surrounding copyright in the 21st
century.  Instead what we see is mostly just scaremongering.  Part of
the report is actually contradictory, in that they claim that people
downloading illegally also buy more music than those who don't, but
then also claim that this is harming the industry.  Clearly the
industry can't be shrinking if people are spending more money on it,
but no attempt is made to quantify what's really going on so that the
viewer can get a clearer understanding of the situation.

There is some attempt at balance, with quotes from Billy Bragg and a
few others, but mostly it's a very one sided tirade against
"downloaders".  There's no mention of creative commons or sites like
Magnatune or Jamendo as a possible alternative route which artists
could take.  Instead we're just told that "artists need the big [music
industry] machine", by folks who are an integral part of the old
guard.

The trouble with all of this is that I fear that if the legislation
becomes more and more heavyweight and indiscriminate then it would be
very easy for forms of downloading other than the illegal variety to
get lumped in with the rest - such as downloading linux distros, FOSS
or creative commons music.  If the politicians whip up fear and hatred
of "file sharers" then a lot of legitimate activities might also end
up being tainted by association.

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