UK capitalists clamping down on net piracy

[Dr Mindbender]

:(

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/BUSINESS/07/24/illegal.downloading/

CNN) -- Britain's leading online service providers are Thursday expected to join a government--backed scheme to tackle the illegal downloading of music and films, despite concerns it could curb the freedoms of Internet users.
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/BUSINESS/07/24/illegal.downloading/art.mp3.player.gi.jpg The record industry has long grappled with how to wrest back control of digital music.


http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/2.0/mosaic/base_skins/baseplate/corner_wire_BL.gif


The scheme is aimed at an estimated 6.5 million Britons who have downloaded files illegally over the past year, a practice the music industry says could cost it $2 billion over the next five years, according to the UK Press Association.
Under the new measures, the most prolific downloaders will be sent letters to inform them that their activity has been detected and is being monitored. Further measures will reportedly see their Internet access restricted.
The six Internet providers behind the scheme -- BT, Virgin Media , Orange, Tiscali, BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse -- are understood to have committed themselves to developing legal file-sharing services, PA reported.
According to the London Times newspaper, those who download illegally and ignore warnings could be subject to online surveillance and have their Internet speeds restricted to prevent them swapping large files.
"This is something of a step into the unknown for the Internet (http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Internet) providers, music industries and minister," former pop star Fergal Sharkey, who now heads musicians' body British Music Rights, told the Times.
"But we can't go on without it -- no business can survive after losing as much revenue as the music industry had."
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Illegal music file-sharers sent warning letters (http://edition.cnn.com/2008/BUSINESS/07/03/illegal.downloading/index.html)

The move has, however, generated concern among liberties campaigners who say the measures could unfairly target innocent Internet users, such as parents unaware their children are using their connection for downloads.
Musician Billy Bragg told the British Broadcasting Corporation that the music industry was in danger of alienating its audiences through the measure and should look at other ways of safeguarding revenue.
The scale of illegal downloading was highlighted in a recent survey by Britain's University of Hertfordshire which claimed most iPods or MP3 digital music players contained more than 800 illegally copied songs.
Users copy files illegally by downloading software from the Internet to gain access to a file-sharing network

[Led Zeppelin]

It's virtually impossible to track people who use torrents, so you shouldn't be too worried.

[Dr Mindbender]

It's virtually impossible to track people who use torrents, so you shouldn't be too worried.

'virtually' being the operative word.

The fact this was front page material on todays times suggests they're becoming more pro-active.

[Trystan]

This issue always reminds me of that episode of south park in which a cop explains to the kids how the rich lose out on luxuries due to downloading. Not a big deal huh?

[Dr Mindbender]

This issue always reminds me of that episode of south park in which a cop explains to the kids how the rich lose out on luxuries due to downloading. Not a big deal huh?

yeah but whenever they fuck up the poor for trying to help themselves to a piece of the pie it isnt such a laughing matter.

[Harrycombs]

yeah but whenever they fuck up the poor for trying to help themselves to a piece of the pie it isnt such a laughing matter.

I think the episode wasn't against downloading music and stuff. It was pointing out how ridiculous the music industry is. Have you seen the episode?

[communard resolution]

Independent labels and independent acts are the real losers in this. In the past few years, it's become a lot harder for bands to get signed with a label -not to mention to actually sell any CDs- because indie labels are going through a recession. Who will buy your CD when they can download all the songs for free virtually the night after you've recorded them?

Britney Spears and Madonna couldn't care less whether anyone buys their CDs or not. They're so rich they couldn't get any richer if they tried, plus they get lots of revenue via live shows, merchandise sales, royalties (use of their songs in advertisements etc). None of this is the case for acts that are starting out now.

As an effect, I predict that in a few years' time we won't have much left aside from a small handful of mega-sellers, much like the dinosaur rock bands that dominated the mid 70s. The music industry will not be taking any risks.

As is the case with any kind of recession, it's the little people who suffer the most.

I would be lying if I claimed that I've never downloaded: I'm not earning a lot, and of course I want to listen to much more music than I can afford to buy. But really, it's a double-edged sword.

[Dr Mindbender]

i dont really take an ardent interest in my music collection anymore anyway. The availability of my favourite tracks and vids on youtube pretty much makes CD's and MP3's redundant to me. What bothers me more is how they will police the pirating of movies, games and so fourth?

[Kami]

The fact this was front page material on todays times suggests they're becoming more pro-active.

Aye, this'll primarily effect thing like Limewire rather than torrents though. Even then, how they're legally do that without looking at the contents of your incoming traffic (which I should hope is illegal), I don't know.

[Dr Mindbender]

Aye, this'll primarily effect thing like Limewire rather than torrents though. Even then, how they're legally do that without looking at the contents of your incoming traffic (which I should hope is illegal), I don't know.

isnt that how they catch people who download child porn? :confused:

[Trystan]

I think the episode wasn't against downloading music and stuff. It was pointing out how ridiculous the music industry is. Have you seen the episode?

That is correct. It was damn good satire. Can't find it online though.

[Cult of Reason]

Aye, this'll primarily effect thing like Limewire rather than torrents though. Even then, how they're legally do that without looking at the contents of your incoming traffic (which I should hope is illegal), I don't know.

In the case of torrent they can connect to the tracker and then to you and stop before they start downloading. That way they see that you have stuff available for others to download (which you probably downloaded as well, especially if it is unfinished with obvious 'parts' missing, which makes it obvious: they can see all this just by connecting to you). That is why Peerguardian (http://phoenixlabs.org/pg2/) exists. Unfortunately there is not a version for Vista yet, for those who have it.

Similar strategies are used against the eDonkey200 network (fake servers) and presumably other networks, including limewire. Peerguardian will work for any network, though, since all it does is block certain malicious IP addresses.

However, this article gives me another thought. Should I try doing this (http://www.revleft.com/vb/possible-new-campaign-t80279/index.html) again?

[ships-cat]

I think we're seeing the last Huzaaa of the big record labels anyway. (OK... Sony are hardly going to go bankrupt, but they may close down their recording section). They're like dinosaurs bemoaning the sudden bright light that has started appearing in the skies, and getting bigger.

In my Kittenhood, the big labels fulfilled a function. They where greedy, but they DID allow musicians to produce records/tapes etc, and promoted them to get the public's attention. This was necessary; how else could a band suceed ?

To do even a half-decent recording (say a 16 track) would require the 2008 equivelant of many thousands of pounds - possibly more. (studio hire charges). To buy the equipment to do it yourself would cost the equivelant of TENS of thousands of pouds. You could print the records yourselves (or rather, commission someone to print them for you), but the cost was outrageous. Finaly, how could you promote your work ?

Set against those impossibly large capital outlays, the music business fulfilled a purpose by covering the cost of recording/printing/promoting the song. (at the cost of requiring the band to repay the costs if the song was sucessful).

These days.. with care.. a home PC with a special sound card (few hundred pounds) is a 256-track high-quality "tape" recorder, complete with mixing desk and sound effects. You can by a full symphonic orchestra courtesy of Roland, Casio or Yahama for less than £1000, and they would also include synthesiser modules that would make Jean Michelle Jarre drool.

So producing a master tape is within most peoples pockets... (although such a 'home studio' is harder to use than a full-blown studio with all the knobs, buttons, amplifiers and keyboards all laid out...and takes more time and dedication).

CD's can be bulk-printed far cheaper than the old Vinyl/Cassettes. Indeed, home equipment (and again.. patience) would allow you to produce hundreds of them for demo/promo purposes.

Heck.. even promotional video's are now coming into the realm of the DIY enthusiast... the equipment is more expensive than audio recording (a GOOD home computer, camera, lights.... about £1000 of software... and a LOT of learning the techniques), but it's available if you're enthusiastic enought. Just 10 years ago, promo video's weighed in at multiple tens - if not hundreds - of thousands of pounds.

So some of the reason d'etre of the recording labels is being undermined. That just leaves promotion. And THERE, the internet may be your friend. Remember Sandi Thom and "I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair" ? The story goes that she promoted that initialy by singing it as a webcast concert from her basement.

The established recording industry has FAR more to fear than loss of revenue from downloads. I suspect that they are facing extinction by mass UPLOADS... by bands that "do it themselves".

Meow Purr :)