April 13, 2002

Gateway's Statement to Consumers and RIAA: "Burn Baby Burn"

What type of salary does Hilary Rosen of the RIAA receive? Although I do not know the accuracy of this information, I once saw a report stating she was paid $1 million per year. Whatever the amount, the only thing Ms. Rosen has done lately with her comments is make the labels look like total fools.

The latest Rosen major fuck up can be read here. Rosen is responding to Gateway Computers and their admirable stance on digital music, which rightfully supports the consumer.

In essence, Gateway is advocating the consumer's Fair Use doctrine by stating it is ok to encode music to MP3 and copy your own CDs for your own personal enjoyment as long as you have purchased the music. Gateway also takes a shot at the newly proposed CBDTPA bill, which would take away the consumers' rights by placing copy protection hardware into computers. To read why this bill is nothing more than a piece of legislative garbage intended to screw over all consumers and tech companies, go here.

Gateway's position on digital music is sensible and straightforward. They realize that if computers are "tampered" with by installing copy protection devices into them, this could cause the collapse of an entire industry. Let's face it, who is going to buy a computer with such limitations?

More importantly, Gateway relaizes its consumers are being jacked around by some greedy music industry types whose only interests are to fatten their wallets - at the consumer's and computer industry's expense.

Gateway is the first major tech company to stand up and fight for the consumer. Hopefully, other high profile tech companies will stand up and also stick it to the RIAA porker.

Now for the fun part - the RIAA's response to Gateways comments. Here it is:

"No one has proposed anything that would 'prevent all digital copying.' If Gateway truly believed that illegal copying hurts all artists and labels who make the music we enjoy, they wouldn't be relying on these misleading scare tactics -- they'd be working with us to find a solution to the piracy problem. If only they would devote a little bit of the millions of dollars they're spending on this ad campaign to help stop illegal downloading...but that wouldn't help them sell more CD burners, would it?"

First off, no one really gives a shit about illegal copying hurting the labels, as we can only hope they continue to go down. The label's disappearance can only help music culture.

The only artists who will be hurt are the corporate sell outs who have become an extension of the labels. As for the real artists, thanks to the labels, they are already in the dumps.

Contrary to what the RIAA believes, it is not Gateway's (or any other tech company's) responsibility to spend money on the recording industry's piracy problem. This is not even the government's problem, as it is the problem of the recording industry alone. The message is clear to the labels: adopt to the new technology or take a hike.

Rosen fails to support her claim that Gateway is using "misleading scare tactics." She throws out this absurd comment without providing any evidence to support it. Sounds a lot like the schoolyard bully who knows he has won his last fight. You know, the longer you shy away from the truth, the more painful it will become later.

The final comment by Rosen is classic RIAA garbage. They are requesting Gateway spend money to stop illegal downloading instead of advertising their products. When was the last time the greedy fucks at the RIAA spent money on solving the tech industry problems? On the contrary, the RIAA has done nothing but time and time again attempt to screw over tech companies and the consumer. RIAA, you had your shot and you blew it - next!

Rosen also makes a wise ass idiotic comment about Gateway promoting the sale of CD burners. How is that for the pot calling the kettle black? Excuse me Ms. Rosen, but doesn't Sony (one of the RIAA members) also manufacture and sell CD burners?

So as the consumer continues to burn CDs and enjoy music they way they want to enjoy it, the RIAA is also burning - straight down the ground. Burn baby burn!

Gateway is the first major tech company to stand up and fight for the consumer. Hopefully, other high profile tech companies will stand up and also stick it to the RIAA.

If you are a consumer who has had enough, go to this EFF page to see what you can do to protect yor rights.

Sphinx
"There's Only 1 Station"

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