The above image shows some replies to an article talking about EMI calling for ‘music pirates’ to be unplugged by their ISPs. These are your customers. Market to them. Don’t make them angry.
EMI, Warner, Universal and Sony have already had some success in Ireland:
“In a settlement between record companies EMI, Sony, Universal, Warner and Ireland’s largest ISP, Eircom has agreed to work with the record industry to combat illegal downloading.
The Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA), which represents the major music groups, is to begin compiling lists of web sites that it claims are damaging its business.
IRMA will then apply for a court order, requiring Eircom and other internet providers to block access to these sites.Eircom will then not contest any court order, meaning that the requests are automatically granted. “We have said we would not oppose an action to the courts,” said a spokesman for Eircom.”
Source: Zeropaid.
Apparently this comes in addition to a “three strikes, you’re out” measure already taken. So the four major labels have been ‘successful’, although it remains to be seen if their actions will actually lead to more profit or not. There have been previous studies which pointed out so-called ‘piracy’ actually stimulates record sales & revenue from live events.
To be fair, EMI is really trying to embrace technology, as they are the first to make use of iTunes Pass new ‘fan’ system (press release here). They’re comfortable with traditional ways of of making money through new media - how about new ways of making money through new media.
Instead of using that powerful lobby to target customers, imagine what type of money it could bring in if they licensed the ISPs. Pressure the government to make new laws, so that you don’t have to take down innocent websites and unplug users.
But we’ll see how that goes. Popular torrent tracker The Pirate Bay is on trial now and prosecution’s having a very hard time.
