is anyone else concerned about the RIAA's recent activity?

[khyron]

I was just scanning my usual morning blogs today and came across this story reported in a number of places:

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/07/26/ri ... _mach.html

Essentially, the RIAA forced a machinima site to shut down - the largest one I know of. There was no warning, just all of a sudden fans woke up and their site wasn't there. While I hope this is temporary and the RPGFilms folks get themselves a lawyer who understands the word parody (as it relates to fair use doctrine) this concerns me a great deal...

...what would we all do if AMV was gone from the 'net one morning? What if we could never congregate here and swap videos again?

I don't mean to be an alarmist, but given the precedent of a machinima (not all that different than what we do) crackdown, which as far as I know is a first for the RIAA, should we begin to be concerned about what may come next?

What steps can this community take to be prepared, in advance, to deal with such a risk?

[bum]

Move the server to russia, china, canada, germany, denmark, anywhere but australia and the usa.

[x_rex30]

...what would we all do if AMV was gone from the 'net one morning?

Someone will die... from my own hands.

[khyron]

...what would we all do if AMV was gone from the 'net one morning?

Someone will die... from my own hands.

Dude, I echo the sentiment. However unfortunately the RIAA does not seem to be restrcited by any sort of justice in the U.S. right now as they're been unchallenged in court by individuals (filesharing suits, etc.) and corporations (many ISP's in fact) have tended towards "rolling over" for them like trained dogs whether there was any legal merit to their demands or not.

This situation really bothers me, but what I want to know is what can, and will, the maintainers of this community do about it? What can be done to prepare?

Should someone from "the org" perhaps contact a copyfight group like the EFF for some preliminary advice?

[DeinReich]

I dont think that the RIAA is going to shut down a site that the anime industry for the most part likes. And if they do, you'll be seeing me on the news, because I have attacked the RIAA HQ.

[x_rex30]

I dont think that the RIAA is going to shut down a site that the anime industry for the most part likes. And if they do, you'll be seeing me on the news, because I have attacked the RIAA HQ.

ditto

[Keeper of Hellfire]

Move the server to russia, china, canada, germany, denmark, anywhere but australia and the usa.

Not that good idea. In Germany we have an organization comparable to the RIAA, the GEMA. But they are more smart than the RIAA. The don't shut your site down, they make you shut your site down by requesting money. For example, if you use a copyrighted songs at your private homepage as background music, you have to pay 25 Euros per year and song. That is valid for up to 10 songs and to 1000 DL's/month and song. If you exceed one of the limits, your side is considered commercial and you have to pay at least 50 Cent/DL.

[Jnzk]

I dont think that the RIAA is going to shut down a site that the anime industry for the most part likes.

It's about the music, not anime.

[x_rex30]

I dont think that the RIAA is going to shut down a site that the anime industry for the most part likes.

It's about the music, not anime.

heh, yeah. I bet they don't give a rats ass about anime companies.

[bum]

That wouldnt be bad. A service like allofmp3.com where you pay a smapp price (5-10c) per track would suite this place fine, long as it means it could stay up. It would also keep keep most lbz creators (12-14 year olds) away.