POLL - Is AG Perfectly Legal?

[TC75580]

AudioGalaxy has a copyright system that prevents nearly all album songs from major bands from being downloaded, unless a song is being promoted. Recently the RIAA has filed a suit against AG. Is there any reason for this? Is AG totally legal and are the RIAA being greedy bastards who are doing this to get some more $$$? Please post your opinion.

[Renesis]

I read the RIAA press release. It's a sad day.

And while AG does has a system to prevent DLs of copyrighted materials, it isn't very effective. I often got the banned stuff by just messing with the track name I searched for.

I'm not gonna get into whether file sharing is right or wrong. I steal music, if that's wrong, oh well. I like music, and don't mind being called a theif. I didn't like AG much, but it was liked by many, It'll be sad to see it destroyed. Because they don't have much of a chance now. Being so centralized in nature, I was really surprised it lasted as long as it did.

And yes, the RIAA are greedy bastards. I thought this was a given. It's not like they have the artists in mind, they treat them like crap as well.

[lemoke]

RIAA wouldnt be able to sue is AG was fully legal. Regardless, AG packed so much info with its music, it will be sorely missed. A recent survey by Jupiter stated that hard core file sharers where more likely to buy music. I wonder which app they used most often. My bet is AG, and RIAA is shooting themselves in the foot. (although it is probably a flesh wound at worst, maybe a lost toe)

[wiggum]

it will be sorely missed

It hasnt gone anywhere

RIAA wouldnt be able to sue is AG was fully legal

lol :) RIAA sues whatever the fuc* it wants. Remember they tried to prevent the production of Mp3 players and lost the case

[Renesis]

True dat, wiggum. True dat.

[Rickio]

The internet was created to faciltate communication. The problem is it works to good!
The sharing of music is a arbitrary symptom of our wanting to share and enjoy. If our culture was different the sharing could just as easily be spiritual wisdom, (but who's to say music is not wisdom), it's just a example.
Perhaps what is going on with this controversy is we will decide if we want to be stifled or not.

Like Stewart Brand , one of the pioneers of our informations age said. " The information wants to be free"


btw he was the creator of "The Whole Earth Catalog" and founder of the "Well" one of the first public internet sercive providers.

[The_Duke_of_Elsik]

They were legal and would have won the suit...problem? Not enough money to fight. Their lawyer assured them they were legal. I have a law degree and I believe they are legal. Who has the $500,000 it would take to fight it in court? You don't make that kind of money from banner ads. We who download the stuff from each other on the other hand are NOT legal, but that is not their problem. It's like saying let's throw the gun sellers and automobile producers in prison every time someone dies using their product...same logic. Doesn't wash. AG was legal, is legal now, and will have to work its arse off to survive, but they just might. They sure buckled to this settlement quickly enough that it makes me beleive they have a trick or two up their sleeve and didn't want to waste any of their limited funds fighting a lon-term protracted court battle, albeit winnable, just to go back to square one and live off banner ads. Look for a pay service that works. The RIAA is a MONSTER and it will eat us all right out of our music enjoyment and cost themselves big bucks at the same time. They are IDIOTS and NAZIS! No vision and are only full of greed and averice. Good Luck to AG...they are the best!

[backmann]

It's the same old discussion. The software itself is not illegal, but the content that is being shared may be.

Ivan
"In the dark we make a brighter light"