No Rock And Roll Fun

SHOW TRIAL OR SHOWING FREE TRIALS?: Interesting split of opinion over the Pepsi/Apple/Superbowl adverts - The Register seems convinced that it's akin to the RIAA parading beaten kids through the street, which seems a bit extreme to us, and misses the whole point of the campaign which reflects badly on the RIAA. Yeah, they're kids. Yeah, suing kids sucks. If the ad was paid for by the RIAA, and had the kids gibbering on like Lord Ryder, reading a wholehearted 'is this what you wanted' apology, yeah, that would be questionable at best. Instead, they're having their 'fines' paid off by Pepsi and Apple, demonstrating that the "heavy file sharers" the RIAA claim are legitimate targets are, more often than not, a bunch of teenagers with about three tracks on their PC, and making stars of the kids to boot. Everyone's a winner. And, yes, there is a whole heap of potential concern about the record industry exploiting children at all - but let's start with Aaron 'fucked up by all sides' Carter, or maybe Musical Youth, shall we?

On the other hand, did you know Microsoft make eight year olds quarry the silicon for microprocessers?