[...] And here’s a fun twist. Warner Music Group CEO, Edgar Bronfman, admitted his one or more of his seven children had downloaded music illegally. Interesting to note that even though he had first hand knowledge of the offenses, he did not subpoena their ISPs or issue a lawsuit against any of them. Instead, he told them that it was wrong to download music illegally, and he reassured us that they will no longer be doing that again. [...]

There should be a warning issued together with every downloadable song.
Subsequently when there is a voilation, stern warning coud be issued before any litigation proceedings.
Otherwise we will make all lawyers fat!!

# Finite says:
December 4th, 2006 at 1:00 am GMT

You devalue the _actual_ concept of physical property when you apply its terminology to infinitely replicateable things like computer data files.

That’s where DRM comes in. So it’s no longer replicateable…

[...] We’re going to assume you’re well versed with the RIAA, just about the most god-forsaken industry group that ever did roam the earth (much like its unofficial partner in crime, the MPAA); and more importantly for the purposes of this post, Warner Music, one of the four major labels, which all, incidentally, back the RIAA. So what did Edgar Bronfman, CEO of Warner Music, have to say when questioned as to whether any of his seven kids pirate music? “I’m fairly certain that they have, and I’m fairly certain that they’ve suffered the consequences.” Funny, we haven’t heard about any inter-familial lawsuits involving Bronfman sr. v. Bronfman jr. concerning definitions in fair use and music piracy. In fact, given that he knows what pirates live in his house using his internet connection, it should only follow that he sue his children into eternal debt (not before having Warner Music shut off their household internet connection at the ISP level). After all, what’s good for the goose is good — ah forget it. Every time we try to apply logic and reason to the executives behind the RIAA our brains do a zero divide. [...]

Do you think we can sue this guy out of existance on BEHALF of the RIAA

Downloading is not stealing. It is only a violation of the copyrightlaws.

To RGSmith, I say: When it has been revealed that you, as a record executive, have a child who has done exactly the same thing your company has sued much financially worse-off people for doing, you need to do something a little stronger than simply say “I’d rather keep her punishment in the family”. if we are to believe his argument against illegal downloading, then what his child has done is absolutely no different to stealing something out of the store. Now, would a parent give their child up to the authorities for shoplifting out of Macy’s? I think a lot more of them would. And I think Bronfman thinks it’s OK to imply to the world that he wouldn’t pursue legal action against his children for downloading illegally because - duhhh - it’s really not in the same league. At all.

And to everyone (RG included), I say: But none of this is even the point. 99% of the arguing on this board right now is completely pointless. What’s right, what’s wrong. FREE DOWNLOADING IS HERE TO STAY. period. If they could have figured out how to stop it, they would have. But they can’t. So with that in mind, what can record companies do to protect themselves? I think an excellent safeguard is to require their artists to start making good, soulful, honest, intelligent, wholesome, progressive MUSIC again instead of the lifesucking trash that they are pumping into the world culture, diluting every genre across the board. I think that would be an excellent way to kick things off, if not solve the problem entirely. I download music illegally all the time, but when an album has great artwork, sounds great and professional, and is chock full of excellent songs, I go get it immediately. Problem is, no MAJOR label has released a record in I don’t know how long that has made me do that. Now whose fault is that? The consumer? Music is just not worth as much to the average joe as it used to be. So that’s a detail you corporate guys may want to work on…

. what else can they do to protect themself?

best thing they can do is stop making crap music and stop spending so much money on making albums. that’s all over now. it’s back to quality music, which costs nothing.

I don’t even know what to say to this. Way over my little head.

Right is right, and wrong is wrong. So if downloading music illegally means I can get sued, then you should sue your children.
so
Can anyone tell me why I would buy music from extortionists like this? Why do you? All their money comes from US, so why give it to them?

[...] On the last day of the recent Reuters Media and Marketing Summit in New York, Warner Music Group CEO admitted that he was “fairly certain” that one or more of his seven children had downloaded music without the permission of the copyright owner, which Reuters referred to as stealing. [...]