Coalition of musicians against criminalizing downloaders
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Deutsch: [Koalition von Musikern gegen die Kriminalisierung von Downloadern | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1350]
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Macedonian: [Коалиција на музичари против лицата… | http://www.metamorphosis.org.mk/content/view/1414/4/lang,mk/]
On 11 March 2009, during its inaugural meeting, the Featured Artists
Coalition (FAC) including 140 of UK biggest rock and pop stars, expressed
concern about actions taken against fans involved in file-sharing.
FAC expressed the intention to fight for a fairer deal for musicians “at a
time when they can use the internet to forge direct links with their fans.”
The members of the coalition want to campaign for effective laws and
regulations and for transparent and equitable business practices. They
believe that companies such as MySpace and YouTube should be required to
remunerate the artists when using their music for advertising. At the same
time, they want to dissociate themselves from the industry in its move to
criminalize individuals for illegally downloaded music.
The artists discussed on a response to the interim version of the Digital
Britain report which proposes a Rights Agency to enforce anti-piracy
measures. Although the interim report does not propose a three-strikes
system like in France, it proposes measures requiring ISPs to give up
information about customers sharing music on P2P networks to rights-holders.
This would make it easier to take actions against the most significant
infringers.
“What I said at the meeting was that the record industry in Britain is still
going down the road of criminalising our audience for downloading illegal
MP3s,” said musician Billy Bragg who added that “Artists should own their
own rights and they should decide when their music should be used for free,
or when they should have payment.”
Ed O’Brien, member of Radiohand band, considered that during a “defining
time for the industry (…) a lot of the rights and revenue streams are
being carved up, and we need a voice… I think all the major players want
to hear what we have to say.”
It’s not a crime to download, say musicians (12.03.2009)
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/its-not-a-crime-to-download-say-musicians-1643217.html
Featured Artists Opposed To Cutting Off File-Sharers (12.03.2009)
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3iffcfe0c0b0255a5af3401db90f5dd412