Activist protests RIAA/DCMA by stealing 60 seconds of silence from iTunes

[Ian David]

From Scott Moschella's Plastic Bugs:

Breaking The Law

I’m gonna preface this by saying that I love Apple and their products and I hate the RIAA and their shortsightedness. My only complaint with Apple is the restrictive DRM built into iTunes Music Store songs (also, those new G5s could be a little cheaper).

In protest, I’ve committed a real crime and documented the entire process. But it shouldn’t be that way and that’s why I’ve done it. Come and get me, Apple! Come and get me, RIAA!

It all started with a free song code from the Pepsi iTunes promotion. I tilted several Pepsi bottles at the local Ralphs (just look for random letters under the cap), found me a winner and scored a free song.

You may not know this, but there are several tracks that you can buy from the iTunes Music Store that consist of nothing more than total silence.

<snip>

One file is legal, the other one is definitely not. Can you spot the one that’ll get me in trouble? I’ll give you a hint: it’s the one without the little lock over its icon.

There’s just one law left to break. I’m offering this very file for download here on my website. So go ahead, download it (1.1 MB) and break the law with me. Right click, save as, and crank it up on your favorite portable electronic music player.

More:
http://plasticbugs.com/index.php?p=223

[Rush1184]

1. So, What exactly are you trying to accomplish by this?

[Ian David]

3. It's not ME! It's that guy who posted it on his web page

Here's more info:


RIAA v. The People

Tired of being treated like a criminal for sharing music online? In July 2003, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced it would begin gathering evidence that will be used to sue individuals who use file-sharing software. On September 8, 2003, the recording industry made good on its threat, filing a first wave of 261 lawsuits against individual file-sharers. With 60 million Americans using file-sharing software, more lawsuits are simply not the answer. It's time to get artists paid and make file-sharing legal. If you agree, or want to learn more, check out our Let the Music Play campaign.
http://www.eff.org/share/

More:
http://www.eff.org/IP/P2P/?f=riaa-v-thepeople.html



Take a Stand Against the Madness; Stop the RIAA!

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is on a rampage, launching legal attacks against average Americans from coast to coast. Rather than working to create a rational, legal means by which its customers can take advantage of file-sharing technology and pay a fair price for the music they love, it has chosen to sue people like Brianna LaHara, a 12 year-old girl living in New York City public housing.

Brianna, and hundreds of other music fans like her, are being forced to pay thousands of dollars they do not have to settle RIAA-member lawsuits -- supporting a business model that is anything but rational. This crusade is generating thousands of subpoenas and hundreds of lawsuits, but not a single penny for the artists that the RIAA claims to protect.

Copyright law shouldn't make criminals out of 60 million Americans, and it's time for a change. Tell Congress that it's time to stop the madness!
http://www.eff.org/share/petition/

[Berserker]

2. Well

I downloaded it and cranked it up and the Mime next door went nuts and called the cops. Now I am in trouble.