[F1Filter]

Excerpts below are taken from this Ars Technica Story

Pariser noted that music labels make no money on touring, radio, or merchandise, which leaves the company particularly exposed to the negative effects of file-sharing. "It's my personal belief that Sony BMG is half the size now as it was in 2000," she said, thanks to piracy. In Pariser's view, "when people steal, when they take music without compensation, we are harmed."

Pariser has a very broad definition of "stealing." When questioned by Richard Gabriel, lead counsel for the record labels, Pariser suggested that what millions of music fans do is actually theft. The dirty deed? Ripping your own CDs or downloading songs you already own.

Gabriel asked if it was wrong for consumers to make copies of music which they have purchased, even just one copy. Pariser replied, "When an individual makes a copy of a song for himself, I suppose we can say he stole a song." Making "a copy" of a purchased song is just "a nice way of saying 'steals just one copy'," she said.

Countless studies have shown that the majority of music on portable music players like the iPod comes from sources other than download services. For most people, that music is comprised primarily of songs "ripped" from CD collections to MP3 or some other comparable format. Indeed, most portable music players comes with software (like iTunes) which is designed to facilitate the easy ripping of CDs. According to Pariser's view, this is stealing...insofar as she clearly suggests that consumers have no right to make backups of the music that they have purchased in CD form or even in download form.

I knew that a lot of label execs were clueless. But now they're also

So based on what she testified. We're only able to listen on the media it's either purchased on, or downloaded to. So as soon as I transfer anything over to my iPod, I'm a thief. Even though my CD collection is actually my backup for if/when my iPod crashes.

[TheMissing]

The reason downloading hurts music is because people find out that what they're putting out is BULLSHIT before they drop money on a CD.

[eaeolian]

Originally Posted by F1Filter

So as soon as I transfer anything over to my iPod, I'm a thief. Even though my CD collection is actually my backup for if/when my iPod crashes.

That's an interesting opinion she has. It's a pity it's completely unsupported by copyright law.

[Metal Ken]

Originally Posted by Crazy Bitch

Pariser noted that music labels make no money on touring, radio, or merchandise, which leaves the company particularly exposed to the negative effects of file-sharing. "It's my personal belief that Sony BMG is half the size now as it was in 2000," she said, thanks to piracy. In Pariser's view, "when people steal, when they take music without compensation, we are harmed."

Sony BMG is half the size, because when people realized they only wanted 2 songs off your shitty CDs, they stopped buying them. Release good music, and maybe your profits wont be so fucking dismal. You might want to try a better method, like signing good bands instead of lowering the price of a CD from 19$ to 16$.

Originally Posted by Crazy Bitch

Gabriel asked if it was wrong for consumers to make copies of music which they have purchased, even just one copy. Pariser replied, "When an individual makes a copy of a song for himself, I suppose we can say he stole a song." Making "a copy" of a purchased song is just "a nice way of saying 'steals just one copy'," she said.

I got a pair of nuts she can lick if she tries to stop me from copying CDs i PURCHASED from her label to my Ip...wait... I don't buy any discs from artists on Sony BMG, cause they don't sign good bands! thats right!

[D-EJ915]

I wonder if they call it "stealing a soul" when I rip her head off of her torso?

[HighGain510]

Originally Posted by Sony R-Tard

"It's my personal belief that Sony BMG is half the size now as it was in 2000," she said, thanks to piracy. In Pariser's view, "when people steal, when they take music without compensation, we are harmed."

When I handed you $16 (about $7 more than I should have had to anyways) for that CD, were you NOT compensated for that music? What's that?! YOU WERE?!!!?! So I didn't "steal" the music, I rightfully paid for it. You're just a greedy bitch who would love to violate ACTUAL copyright laws and see me have to pay twice for music I rightfully bought in the first place.


OMG stop the fucking presses... this bitch just got pwned. Go fist yourself... as MK already said, I don't think they have any artists left that I listen to so if I can avoid it, I'm not supporting them anymore...

[noodles]

Originally Posted by eaeolian

That's an interesting opinion she has. It's a pity it's completely unsupported by copyright law.

IIRC music copyright law works pretty much the same as computer software copyright law. It is based upon the principal of one purchase allows one person to use it at a given time. So, if you make copies of your CD, or rip it to your iPod, then you're in the clear, because you cannot listen to two things at the same time. However, if you rip it to your iPod, and then lend your CD to someone else, you are breaking the law, because you and the other person could be listening to the same thing at the same time.

This statement is so extremely draconian. It couldn't be anymore obvious how out of touch the major labels are, both technologically and musically. As Mike said, they don't have force of law to back their statements. As Ken said, if they signed someone other than trendies, then people would buy entire albums again, instead of downloading just a handful of songs.

[Metal Ken]

I was looking at Sony BMG's page, and i find it funny that there's a direct link to executives and subsidiary labels, but no actual bands. THat in and of itself seems telling.

The only one i had even bought albums from before was Epic. So i decided to see what kind of stuff they have on there. Such provocative artists as:
Good Charlotte
Incubus
Jennifer Lopez
Jessica Simpson


The only people who i saw on there who had anything worth while were (in alphabetical order) Tori Amos, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai.

Ozzy Osbourne is signed to Epic, but i refuse to support him anymore.

[Rick]

Kiss my ass.

[Lee]

Dear Sony corporate morons,


Get bent.


Sincerely,
Lee