INDIE LABELS BEHAVE LIKE MAJORS

How charming to see proof that the larger a lable gets, the more like a major it becomes. So we're not surprised to see the Association of Independent Labels has been pulling an RIAA-like stance by lobbying for a change in the laws that will add a couple of extra bob to their member's pockets, and cause trouble for everyone else.

They want internet service providers to be held responsible for people filesharing on their networks.

Now, leaving aside the horrific concept of ISPs no longer being able to be blind to their content, there's the wider question of how, exactly, BT or Tiscali is expected to police this - will they have to employ someone to check every bit or byte to see if its copyright covered? It's impractical and absurd: even if they could spot The Spice Girls 2Becomes1 passing through their network, how can the ISP tell if it's as part of an unauthorised download, or a copyrght-cleared service, or something like a Wippit legal bittorrent share, or so on.

Really, this is just AIM being keen to sue someone, and not being arsed to go to the effort of suing the people who are actually breaking the law so want the law changed in order to have a soft target to go for. It's an unfair and impractical proposal, on a par with people who have their cars stolen suing the council for providing a road down which the vehicle has been driven.

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