This ZDNet AnchorDesk article on P2P litigation is a disturbing look at what the RIAA’s attempt to shut down music piracy by making P2P illegal can lead to the erosion of more of our rights and to the eventual downfall of the Internet. On the surface it sounds like a lot of doomsaying and overreacting, but the author makes a valid point and I have heard that this could come to pass from other sources. Now the chances of the RIAA getting any more power is slim, but with Supreme Court seats becoming vacant soon, Bush may load the bench with pro-industry judges much like he loads his cabinet with same.

Now don’t let this article get you too down, there is a way for the music industry to slow down piracy with the new types of copyright that is discussed in the article, if only the RIAA would stop thinking about its pockets and start thinking about the artists and the consumers.

And there is a cool link to free music by Wired magazine in the article as well.

Reminds me of an offhand observation by an NPR reporter that Bush’s administration is chocked full of pro-business people and that consumers are being under-represented and being ignored with businesses come in conflict with consumers. A reminder to the present administration, businesses need consumers, consumers don’t need businesses.

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