Derrick
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- Joined
- Nov 22, 2010
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According to Reuters, British pop acts can’t seem to agree on the best means to handle the illegal sharing of their music. This comes on the back of a British government proposal to block internet access to people who repeatedly download illegal files.
The outline required ISPs to handle the offenders, by reducing access speeds or temporarily suspending an account. The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), with members such as Robbie Williams, Tom Jones, Annie Lennox and Radiohead, stated on Monday that “the proposals would cut off an important source of promotion.”
FAC recognises the internet as an important means of distribution for young artists who aren’t well established and supported by a major label. They do not support or condone illegal downloads however, but view those who profit from the illegal downloads as the real criminals.
FAC stated: “By demanding blanket suspension powers from the government, the industry is in danger of cutting off a promotional tool that is of great use to fledgling artists who seek to create a buzz around themselves yet don’t have the financial support of a major label.”
FAC added that the enforcement of the proposed policy could only be achieved through a “wide-scale invasion of personal privacy.” FAC proposed that the solution to illegal file sharing is a programme that educates the public as to why they should pay artists for their favourite music. FAC also suggested reform in the way the music industry remunerates artists.
Singer Lily Allen, whose views are supported by the likes of James Blunt, reacted to the FAC statement on her blog, saying that it “just doesn’t make sense. The FAC seems to be viewing the government’s proposed legislation as an attack on freedom and liberty, but stealing’s not really a human right, is it?”
“The proposal is to look at P2P (peer-to-peer) sites – which are public anyway – to identify people who are acting unlawfully, so they can be asked, and then made, to stop. Not really an attack on civil liberties there,” she added.
The outline required ISPs to handle the offenders, by reducing access speeds or temporarily suspending an account. The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), with members such as Robbie Williams, Tom Jones, Annie Lennox and Radiohead, stated on Monday that “the proposals would cut off an important source of promotion.”
FAC recognises the internet as an important means of distribution for young artists who aren’t well established and supported by a major label. They do not support or condone illegal downloads however, but view those who profit from the illegal downloads as the real criminals.
FAC stated: “By demanding blanket suspension powers from the government, the industry is in danger of cutting off a promotional tool that is of great use to fledgling artists who seek to create a buzz around themselves yet don’t have the financial support of a major label.”
FAC added that the enforcement of the proposed policy could only be achieved through a “wide-scale invasion of personal privacy.” FAC proposed that the solution to illegal file sharing is a programme that educates the public as to why they should pay artists for their favourite music. FAC also suggested reform in the way the music industry remunerates artists.
Singer Lily Allen, whose views are supported by the likes of James Blunt, reacted to the FAC statement on her blog, saying that it “just doesn’t make sense. The FAC seems to be viewing the government’s proposed legislation as an attack on freedom and liberty, but stealing’s not really a human right, is it?”
“The proposal is to look at P2P (peer-to-peer) sites – which are public anyway – to identify people who are acting unlawfully, so they can be asked, and then made, to stop. Not really an attack on civil liberties there,” she added.