Ben’s Weblog

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) seems to think that destroying the computers of people who swap copyrighted materials is a good idea.

There’s one problem that the Senator doesn’t quite get - technology solutions to enforcing copyright invariably fail. The entertainment industry hasn’t been able to do it with videos…or DVDs…or CDs…or video games, etc. The record industry is wailing and gnashing their teeth because their sales are down - they blame file-sharing. I blame the industry. The music industry turns out tons of crap a year, and tells their key audience that they’re criminals. Great way to connect, people! Jack Johnson and John Mayer make it big? Great, let’s pump out a bunch of copycat frat-boy rockers!

Me, I’ve downloaded songs. But I’m the statistic the record industry likes to ignore - I’ve bought more music because of it. I hear a single I like on the radio, so I sample a few more cuts from the album. I like the cuts, I buy it.

Fortunately, some of those inside the Beltway aren’t so clueless. One Congressman wants to rein in the RIAA.