[tags]RIAA, politics, opinion, podcast, podsafe, music, activism, EFF, RIAA Radar[/tags]

I thought of busting out the soap box to rant about how much I despise the tactics of the RIAA. I thought again. Although I like to rant about the Gestapo-like agency, there is a down side to it. I confess to feel some, not much but some, guilt because some people construe my views on this topic as pro-piracy.

I do not in any way, shape or form encourage the illegal distribution of music. I do not engage in such activity. I am very, very serious on this next point. I think piracy is wrong. However, I do often rant on how much worse the Gestapo-like tactics of the RIAA are.

One of the kewlest things about this new media commonly referred to as "blogging" is that it creates a great feedback loop. Often, the comments left by readers are as informative as or more informative than the actual post. One of my previous post here had a comment that applies perfectly here. Thank You Lisa Miller for leaving the comment and allowing me to use it in this post.

I enjoyed this piece very much. It appeals to the "smacking me will result in ingenious forms of payback" in me. The most effective form of payback on a personal level is to remove your magnificent presence from that person’s sphere of influence. The most effective form of payback of a business entity is to withhold from them exactly what they covet, your money.

Thank you for the compliment Lisa and I commend you on how well you have summed up the current situation.

For me, it is easy to see how the comment fits here but, then again, I already know what I am going to write. If you like an artist, would you desire to steal from them? When you pirate, you are in fact doing so.

It violates the wishes of the musicians who choose to distribute their music as they please. They have every right to be angry and offended by such practices. If a band wishes to distribute their music via a bully-like obsolete organization, let them.

If you disagree with their choice, simply abstain from buying their material. That is how to make a real statement. You have made a statement and not committed a wrong. But is it that simple?

I can even empathize how some of these "renegades" may feel somewhat like a 21st century Robin Hood. It is not hard to comprehend how a human being may be tempted to wage in guerilla warfare with the RIAA. They are pretty easy to hate. I can see how they could create a desire for revenge. However, I think Lisa is thinking more deeply on the matter.

Yes, Mr. Renegade, they sue dead people, deplete college funds, behave so badly that racketeering is likely a good description of their behavior and, adding insult to injury for any geek, they have exceptionally poor math skills. But no, Mr. Renegade, pirate-like activity does nothing to truly solve the problem.

I think piracy is only serving to perpetuate the current behavior of the music industry and are delaying the inevitable change of things for the better. Piracy only hurts the artist and fuels the fires of misbehavior by the most disliked company in America. You did not leave the sphere. You have made the argument for their case stronger.

I realize it is not that simple. What exactly is illegal and what is not illegal is still a gray area. Our legislative and judicial representatives are, for the most part, very misinformed on the reality of the current situation of digital media. A better action would be to try and influence the legislative bodies to make a better choice; as in actually representing the people and not an industry.

The more civil solution would be to engage in active informing of your Senator and Representative… Write them, call them and, yes, threaten them with loosing your vote.

When you write your Senator and Representative, you should also let them know that you are aware the RIAA has themon the take. (Note the contact link to the right in the table.)

If your respective representative isn’t on this list, contact Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both of whom have lined their pockets with RIAA monies. Better yet, how about both.. your reps and the candidates. You might also want to mention that you are aware that the Democrats hire RIAA staff to run their convention.

There are also organizations that exist to aid in the efforts I am discussing here. Join the EFF or at least keep up on EFFnews topics closely related and relevant to this new digital age. Stop off at Save Net Radio and chime in their efforts.

To close, don’t contribute the problem by giving the Racketeering Idiots Association of America any more legitimacy to their argument. DO NOT buy RIAA material. DO NOT participate in illegal downloading and file sharing. Instead, check out the RIAA Radar and get informed. Use alternative music sites like the ones mentioned in bullet number three and the comments of my post in March. E-mail and/or write musicians like Thomas Dolby and Howard Jones who have allowed podcasters to play their music via podshow (Thomas Dolby Page Howard Jones Page). Last but not least checkout the RIAA radar site and cast and "economic vote"by buying some of the more recent releases of the above mentioned artists. (No longer on RIAA label.)

In my humble opinion, the best way to, quoting Lisa, "smacking me will result in ingenious forms of payback" is to use your voice to encourage change and cast your economic vote in a manner to do so.

Thanks for reading and please comment.