carnivaloftherandom:

wilwheaton:

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has looked at tomorrow’s “Internet blackout” in opposition to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)—and it sees only a “gimmick,” a “stunt,” “hyperbole,” “a dangerous and troubling development,” an “irresponsible response,” and an “abuse of power.”

“Wikipedia, reddit, and others are going dark to protest the legislation, while sites like Scribd and Google will also protest. In response, MPAA chief Chris Dodd wheeled out the big guns and started firing the rhetoric machine-gun style. 

“Only days after the White House and chief sponsors of the legislation responded to the major concern expressed by opponents and then called for all parties to work cooperatively together, some technology business interests are resorting to stunts that punish their users or turn them into their corporate pawns, rather than coming to the table to find solutions to a problem that all now seem to agree is very real and damaging.”

Can I interrupt for a moment? Thanks. When you complain that opponents didn’t “come to the table to find solutions”, do you mean that we didn’t give NINETY-FOUR MILLION DOLLARS to congress like the MPAA? Or do you mean that we didn’t come to the one hearing that Lamar Smith held, where opponents of SOPA were refused an opportunity to comment? Help me out, here, Chris Dodd, because I’m really trying hard to understand you.

“It is an irresponsible response and a disservice to people who rely on them for information and use their services. It is also an abuse of power given the freedoms these companies enjoy in the marketplace today. It’s a dangerous and troubling development when the platforms that serve as gateways to information intentionally skew the facts to incite their users in order to further their corporate interests.”

Oh ha ha. Ho. Ho. The MPAA talking about “skewing the facts to incite” anyone is just too much. 

“A so-called “blackout” is yet another gimmick, albeit a dangerous one, designed to punish elected and administration officials who are working diligently to protect American jobs from foreign criminals.”

Except for the part where this is completely false, it’s a valid point.

“It is our hope that the White House and the Congress will call on those who intend to stage this “blackout” to stop the hyperbole and PR stunts and engage in meaningful efforts to combat piracy.”

Riiiiiiight. Protesting to raise awareness of terrible legislation that will destroy the free and open Internet  is an abuse of power, but buying NINETY-FOUR MILLION DOLLARS worth of congressional votes is just fine.

I’m so disappointed in Chris Dodd. He was a pretty good senator, wrote some bills (like Dodd/Frank) that are genuinely helping people, and is going to be on the wrong side of every argument as head of the MPAA. What a wasted legacy.

Here’s something very simple: I get that the MPAA and studios/producers of content want some protection for their properties. The problem is, this won’t do it. They want to stop hemorrhaging money. This won’t do it. What producers of content need to do, is face the fact that demand has changed. The way consumers want product delivered has changed. They need to change their models, and listen to the consumer. Entertainment mediums are supposed to be both artistic and consumer-driven forms. Which means: however and wherever the consumer wants the product, that’s how you deliver it. First it was books, then audiobooks, and now e-books. None of the formats are killing the others, it just gives consumers more options. Comics are going digital. Music evolved from LPs and 45s to cassettes, the precious forms of DAT and mini-disc, CDs, and now mp3s. Yes, music is more vulnerable to format change. This is largely due to devices used for delivery. Radio still exists, Satellite radio exists, HD radio is… meh. Network, basic cable, and cable coexist. That won’t change if we can access those services online. Films exist, and delivery of smaller films via on-demand, amazon, iTunes or other service which allows a user to purchase/rent will increase revenue streams. Cinemas have survived for a century, but until the film/tv/music industry start delivering universal access of product, in multiple delivery forms, so that users can get what they want, at a fair price, in the manner that works for them, they will continue to lose money. 

It’s the 21st century, if you can’t ensure accessibility of your product, you’re failing to serve your customer. SOPA won’t change that. PIPA won’t change that. 

All it does is make your customers angry. 

You won’t like us when we’re angry.