The RIAA is right, it’s you that’s wrong

As a part time troll it’s long been my style to defend companies and ideas that the ignorant masses rally against.   Particularly if they’re rallying for a stupid reason – like having to pay for music.

The freedom to make your own opinion appears to be quite rare or under-used these days.  The internet has provided younger generations with whole volumes of pre-made opinions (well … a handful of opinions) that satisfy their immediate need to feel included in the dead art of debate.

The RIAA

The Recording Industry Association of America is a company formed by some of the largest record labels in the world, to defend their rights and properties.

They’ve built an enviable reputation amongst the younger generations, who hate them with all the passion a million half-educated minds can muster when they share only have four opinions between them.

What your rights really are

You have the right to buy the music or not buy the music.  It really is that simple.  You don’t need the music, you’re not going to die if you don’t get it.  You’re not going to live a crippled life if you can’t have it.

Music is a “want”, not a “need”.  If you don’t “want” it badly enough to pay for it then don’t get it.  That’s why I don’t have a Porsche, a mansion or an incredibly huge plasma tv and a thong-clad girl to sponge bath me in my bathroom while I watch tv.

Part of being an adult is being able to identify the difference between a want and a need.  The difference is really pretty simple – if you’re not going to die because you don’t have it, then you don’t need it.  If you want it but can’t afford it you do what the rest of us do – go into debt.

What the RIAA and record labels rights really are

Their right is to set a price for their products, to insist you pay that price for their products, and to sue you if you you think you’re an exception to the law and steal their products. 

They’re a business, you’re a consumer.  It’s just like Walmart demanding you pay for merchandise, or Apple insisting you put the MacBook Pro down if you’re not going to buy it.  Or McDonalds requiring you to pay for their psuedo-food.

I don’t think prison is an appropriate sentence for copyright violation, even if you get a leaked copy of some new movie and distribute it to 10’s of thousands of people before it even hits the cinemas.  But I have no problem with people being sued and settling for a few thousand dollars.  As long as they did the crime.  And despite the sensationalist spin put on the RIAA’s blunders, the sheer number of people settling instead of fighting suggests a lot of people “did the crime”.

The Opinions

These few opinions are kicked around harder than cement soccer balls in Germany.

1. Fuck the RIAA
2. Record labels are obsolete
3. Music is too expensive
4. I wouldn’t buy it anyway

1.  Fuck the RIAA

Nothing says “I have a serious argument, so take me seriously” better than these three little words.  They perfectly sum up both the angst this powerless generation feels, and their inability to express themselves.

This argument usually comes out whenever somebody gets sued for distributing music online.  Consequences are a bitch huh?

Now I admit, the RIAA has initiated lawsuits that make Liberaci’s suits look dull.  Some particularly hilarious moments include when they tried to sue a dead person, or the family with no computer or internet access they accused of sharing music.

However the widely touted “Fuck the RIAA” argument just doesn’t carry much weight.  Suing the wrong people doesn’t pardon piracy or make it ok or acceptable to steal* from people.  I’d go so far as to say there isn’t even a connection between suing the wrong people and justifying piracy.

* I used the “s” word to descrbibe piracy.  Yes, it really is stealing.  You can throw an endless stream of analogies at me about how you’re copying, not stealing, the original.  None of it matters.  Not even the one about Jesus turning  some bread and fish into enough to feed 5000.  You’re taking something which you’re required to pay for without paying.  That’s called stealing.

Record labels are obsolete

This one always makes me giggle.  The music charts say pretty clearly that record labels aren’t obsolete.

The rationalisation for this argument is very cute.  A tiny selection of indie bands have “made it” using sites like MySpace instead of the traditional approach.  To find these bands all you need to do is trawl MySpace for several months.

Nobody wants to believe there’s a connection between popularity and marketing.  Obviously that’s some kind of twisted misinterpretation of reality …. right?  I mean, nobody needs marketing to get brand awareness!  If you want brand awareness all you need to do is post on profile sites and forums and stuff!

Music is too expensive

I always get a laugh out of this one.  Music starts at free (legally) and the majority of it peaks at $0.99 at iTunes.  The hypocracy of people complaining about spending up to $0.99 on a song is incredible.  They spend significantly more on cell phones, iPods, laptops, shoes, hats, “bling”, and beer.

Keep in mind this very simple fact – to pirate music you need a computer and an internet connection, or an mp3 player and an internet connection.

At the very least you need to shell out for an mp3 player and some time in an internet cafe.  And $0.99 is too much?  Right.

I wouldn’t buy it anyway

In a very weird twist this is supposed to justify stealing.  Not having the intention to buy something makes it ok to steal it.

In conclusion

If you’re one of those many people who runs around on forums and websites posting such silly arguments as the ones posted above, grow up and get a clue.

The world doesn’t owe you anything for free.  A computer and internet connection aren’t some sort of “golden ticket” that let you have everything you can take.

Even if you disagree with the RIAA’s practices, or believe record labels are obsolete, you still have to abide by their conditions if you want their products.