CANADAIN ARTISTS SLAP THE RIAA

As ever, the northern side of the US-Canada border is the place where the most interesting ideas develop: now, a bunch of artists there are trying to create a creative response to the RIAA-IPFI attempts to influence global copyright issues, in effect yelling "not in my name":

The CMCC is united under three key principles:
Suing Our Fans is Destructive and Hypocritical
Artists do not want to sue music fans. The labels have been suing our fans against artists’ will, and laws enabling these suits cannot be justified in artists’ names
Digital Locks are Risky and Counterproductive
Artists do not support using digital locks to increase the labels’ control over the distribution, use and enjoyment of music or laws that prohibit circumvention of such technological measures. Consumers should be able to transfer the music they buy to other formats under a right of fair use, without having to pay twice.
Cultural Policy Should Support Actual Canadian Artists
The vast majority of new Canadian music is not promoted by major labels, which focus mostly on foreign artists. The government should use other policy tools to support actual Canadian artists and a thriving musical and cultural scene.

And this isn't a bunch of schmindies, either - the CMCC is quite a powered grouping:

The CMCC includes some of the most recognizable names in Canadian music, such as Barenaked Ladies, Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan, Chantal Kreviazuk, Sum 41, Stars, Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace), Dave Bidini (Rheostatics), Billy Talent, John K. Samson (Weakerthans), Broken Social Scene, Sloan, Andrew Cash and Bob Wiseman (Co-founder Blue Rodeo).

The RIAA and its worldwide client bodies often insist that they do what they do because they're thinking of the artists. Clearly, that claim is starting to be seriously weakened now.

[Thanks to Donald S for the link]

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