Yesterday, President George W. Bush signed into law the PRO-IP Act, a remarkable bit of pro-RIAA legislation that, while not as bad as it could be, is still not terribly beneficial to the U.S-based consumer. Those who look to benefit from the bill’s provisions couldn’t have been happier–a testimonial from RIAA head Mitch Bainwol referred to the bill as “music to the ears of all those who care about strengthening American creativity and jobs.” While some of the bill’s original language making the Department of Justice free lawyers for the music biz on piracy cases was thankfully removed, the United States will have its very own Copyright Czar (or “IP Enforcement Representative”) to run oversee the bill’s stricter provisions, which notably include increased damages (reportedly up to $1.5 million for infringement on a 10-song album) in criminal copyright infringement cases. [Ars Technica]
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October 14th, 2008 // 5 Comments
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This sounds like great news! I’m going to go snag some Torrent trackers off The Pirate Bay to celebrate!
Ew.
So, Bush created a new position of bureaucratic nothingness to waste time and money – under the guise of strengthening the economy? Blarf.
The big problem with this means that the RIAA will now be allowed to bully around labels and artists. Now artists WON’T be able to leak their own music or release their first single on their official website. They’re already bullying Epitaph, Sub Pop, Merge, Domino and the like by threatening to not certify albums gold or platinum if they don’t become members of the RIAA, and they will in turn force them to remove the oodles of free music on their websites. And this might mean the end of blogs like mine, Squirrel Food, Pretty Much Amazing, etc.
I can hear the RIAA breaking down Saul Williams’ door as we speak.
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