Canadian Artists speak AGAINST Suing Fans

[liam]

From www.isohunt.com

Canadian artists such as Barenaked Ladies, Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan, Chantal Kreviazuk, Sum 41, Stars, Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace) , Dave Bidini (Rheostatics), Billy Talent, John K. Samson (Weakerthans), Broken Social Scene, Sloan, Andrew Cash and Bob Wiseman, have formed a new Canadian Music Creators Coalition (CMCC). They are speaking out against the same entertainment industry associations such as the RIAA and CRIA, who claims to represent artist rights. Stop the piracy! Feed the artists! Apparently that's not the case according to the CRIA's own study. Talk about irony.

I'm also a fan of Sarah Mclachlan. In moments like this, I'm proud to be a Canadian. Laughing

The CMCC outlines 3 interesting points in their stance:
Canadian Music Creators Coalition wrote:
1. Suing Our Fans is Destructive and Hypocritical

Artists do not want to sue music fans. The labels have been suing our fans against our will, and laws enabling these suits cannot be justified in our names. We oppose any copyright reforms that would make it easier for record companies to do this. The government should repeal provisions of the Copyright Act that allow labels to unfairly punish fans who share music for non-commercial purposes with statutory damages of $500 to $20,000 per song.

2. Digital Locks are Risky and Counterproductive

Artists do not support using digital locks to increase the labels’ control over the distribution, use and enjoyment of music or laws that prohibit circumvention of such technological measures. The government should not blindly implement decade-old treaties designed to give control to major labels and take choices away from artists and consumers. Laws should protect artists and consumers, not restrictive technologies. Consumers should be able to transfer the music they buy to other formats under a right of fair use, without having to pay twice.

3. Cultural Policy Should Support Actual Canadian Artists

The vast majority of new Canadian music is not promoted by major labels, which focus mostly on foreign artists. The government should use other policy tools to support actual Canadian artists and a thriving musical and cultural scene. The government should make a long-term commitment to grow support mechanisms like the Canada Music Fund and FACTOR, invest in music training and education, create limited tax shelters for copyright royalties, protect artists from inequalities in bargaining power and make collecting societies more transparent.


In france, non-commercial uploading and downloading on P2P networks are ruled to be legal. And Band sells 120,000 copies of album thanks to online downloading, consistent with the CRIA's study showing no link of P2P as the cause for dwindling music sales.

However, to be fair, the internet and P2P networks does present a new kind of sharing on a global scale, that was never possible before between friends on restriction of geography. But DRM is clearly not the answer, as locks do not stop real theives, it only inconvenience casual internet users like you, who would pay directly to support artists if it's convenient and the price is fair. So I see a middle ground, to remove this last "mass piracy" argument: watermarks. And my question for you is this:

If you are paying, at a fair price, for downloaded digital media in support of musicians and other content producers, would you allow watermarks that can trace back to you, should the file you purchased be traded openly on P2P networks? Such watermarked files would be completely DRM-free, with freedom to be played on any device and traded to friends, in a number within reason. If you are an artist, is this even a concern for you, that your works are traded on global P2P networks that would not directly support you financially? If you are a consumer and a fan, do you care?

Ok, that's more than one question. This announcement has a poll attached, vote and discuss below. I and developers here at isoHunt Inc. really would like to know what you think, fans and artists alike. Perhaps, we can also come to a common ground with the MPAA, despite their pending lawsuit against us. We can hope.

[Random Name]

[Random Name]

Oh wait.

Already another thread! http://www.clumsymonkey.net/phpBB2/view ... highlight=

[faninor]

Raine spoke about this during the concert last night.