So, the VoW are trying, just as Berman did for his bill, and Hollings for his own, to justify what they did. They are also trying to correct misrepresentations, although they fail in both. It is clear that based on the document that came out of it that the RIAA got the greediest, most self serving webcaster’s into one room and told them they could either save their own asses, or watch the industry die. Pressure from the Chairman of the House Judiciary committee James Sensenbrenner didn’t help either, and in my opinion was undue pressure on a group that could not represent the whole industry. They spoke for themselves, not the webcaster’s industry. Their wallet’s were negotiated for and no more.

This is a pathetic group of people, who masqueraded as industry advocates looking to save all of internet radio, who have shown that, given the chance, they would simply save their own asses, and sell out the entire web casting industry to save their own 13 stations. Yes, their stated goal was to save commercial webcaster’s, and for that alone it is clear the biased self interest they had when they entered that room. If their stated goal and their goal in negotiations was to save the industry, then they would have had a right to negotiate a deal, but they only went in their to save 13 stations, and they walked out with a sweet deal that succeeded in that goal. Congratulations, Mr. Hanson, Mr. Hodges and the rest, you succeeded in saving yourselves at the sacrifice of the rest of the industry.