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RIAA defends policies, likens itself to Miami Vice

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The RIAA has endured enough slings and arrows. The much misunderstood and vilified organization sent out its spokesperson, one Clara Duckworth, to chat with blogger Don Reisinger, a vocal critic of the RIAA’s policies. The interview, much of which shares a tone with an interrogation scene from 24, covers many familiar topics, but offers a few surprises.

Reisinger asks the tough questions, especially regarding the RIAA’s college deterrence program. Duckworth does an admirable job of deflecting his jabs, stating that:

“…too many students--some of music's biggest fans--were getting their music illegally and learning the wrong lessons about stealing and the law. There had to be a deterrence factor involved so that individuals knew that along with personal consequences (i.e., viruses, spyware infiltrating hard drive) there would also be legal consequences to engaging in illegal downloading behavior. Bringing lawsuits was by no means our first choice, but a necessary step we had to take.”

Reisinger follows his question by asking why college students receive so much of the RIAA’s focus. Duckworth again parries:

“First, it should be clarified that our college campaign is in addition to the lawsuits we file against individuals using commercial ISPs to illegally download and distribute music. Second, college students have reached a stage in life when their music habits are crystallized, and their appreciation for intellectual property has not yet reached its full development.”

Interesting as always, but not really groundbreaking. The RIAA has been clear about its disdain for college students’ downloading habits, even though it considers them “some of music’s biggest fans.” Reisinger strikes gold, however, with a couple of more basic questions.  When he asks why the RIAA is so disliked, Duckworth’s offers the following reply, which belies knowledge that she’s been painted in a corner:

“let it be said--the RIAA is much more than lawsuits. For example, we also are responsible for the Gold & Platinum program awarding artists who have achieved successful album sales and are active proponents of free speech in music. But no one likes lawsuits, and no one likes to get caught. It's not an ideal situation for any party involved.”
    
Better still is her response to Reisinger’s inquiry as to why the RIAA doesn’t go after real criminals:

“We have a physical antipiracy unit that assists law enforcement agents in shutting down piracy operations both big and small. Oftentimes street peddlers selling bootlegged copies of music are also involved in large-scale drug and weapons trafficking, and we find clear evidence of that on raids.”

Before I thought of the RIAA as a group of lawyers in a courtroom. From now on I’ll picture their “physical antipiracy unit” led by a Don Johnson type, piloting speedboats and banging down doors in order to  protect us all from the scourge of illegal downloading. [CNET]
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