Having followed the digital music scene for years, I think I can say without any disclaimer that if you’re looking for the most evil among the RIAA, BPI and IFPI, you really can’t go wrong with the Brits. I thought I’d seen everything, from copyright extension lobbying, asking for tax credits for A&R costs, crazy attacks on ISPs to demands that British police spend more time fighting P2P and less time fighting crime. This story, however, really shows the level to which Peter Jamieson and his flying monkeys crew will stoop.
From a letter to musicians promoting a joint seminar by Own It and The BPI, "You want audience adoration, respect from your peers and the music industry and the chance to keep your name and music in the public psyche for years to come. However, success in the music industry comes from a series of partnerships between musicians and industry. Such partnerships most likely involve a musician exchanging their intellectual property rights for the expertise that enables them to distribute and sell their music whether on or off line." (emphasis added)
Whoa, hold the phone guys. Signing away intellectual property rights isn’t such a bright idea for a young musician, and certainly not so smart given the radical changes to the music business which are happening almost daily. Frankly, in 15 years time, the BPI/RIAA/IFPI may well be reduced to second tier players. Jon Newton of P2Pnet equates this practice to Droit de seigner, the middle ages tradition which allowed the lord of an estate the right to "first night" with any virgins in that estate.
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