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The Pirate Party Opressing Culture?

The internet has born a group that calls themselves 'The Pirate Party", founded in Sweden and currently under the leadership of Rick Falkvinge.

So far, the key men from the Pirate movement have used arguments about how you can't stop new technology from emerging, and to some extent, I agree. Rick Falkvinge explains how new technology traditionally replaces dying industry. Here's their sketch:

"Well, not too long ago in my country of Sweden, men used to go out and cut ice and deliver it to the people and get paid to keep people's food cold. Suddenly, the refrigerator came along. People didn't need their ice to be delivered anymore. The Ice deliverers went out of business and were replaced by fridges."he claims.

Well, that's a fine analogy, except, it doesn't really apply to P2p does it? You see, the refrigerator may have replaced ice deliveryman, however, the refrigerator didn't share other people's work in order to freeze the ice or cool the food. Yes, the refrigerator caused a shift in the economy and put the ice men out of business. The 'fridge' was the 'new' technology. But, people used the same food on the ice as they did with the fridge and they still paid for both the food and the fridge and even the ice deliveryman.

Music, Film, TV, media is like the food in the fridge. It's not as if the food disappeared just because there was a change in technology. I mean, people still buy food and refrigerators in Sweden, right? Music, which has fueled the use of new technology, has been created through hard work. People are still paying for food. But, with p2p, they aren't paying for music.

Now, you might say that music has always been the 'software' that helped sell the 'hardware'. In the past, records meant people had to buy record players, cassettes sold tape players and on through the years this applied to cd players (made by companies who owned the software (music), dvd players, ipods, computers and now it ultimately applies to internet access. At the end of the day, you have Creators who help sell the 'hardware', it's mainly access to creative content that has assisted in selling you broadband. Why do you think broadband has expanded so rapidly?

Falkvinge thinks that we need to 'sacrifice' a sector of our culture and industry in order to safeguard civil liberties. However, that kind of attitude is exactly what will fuel the fire underneath Big Business and Government 'bonding' that has taken place over the past year.

It's this whole 'share' word that the p2p community keeps using that isn't ringing true. The last time I checked my dictionary the word 'Share' meant giving part of something you own to someone and as a result, you no longer have that part or 'share'.

P2p users are not 'sharing' culture. Sharing is when you give someone a portion of something and once you give it, you no longer have that portion. End of. P2p users don't share. P2p users 'duplicate'. They 'copy'. (Isn't that why they are so hung up about copyright control?) They believe they have the right to copy whatever they want from whomever they want worldwide. Likewise, P2p users do not do anything 'cultural' during this duplication process. It's their PC's that are doing the 'copying'and they don't need to know anything about the people that they are supposedly sharing the contents of their PC's with.

Copying whereby everyone EXCEPT the creators are getting value and compensation is wrong. So far, nobody on the planet can truly come up with a justifiable argument for why ISPs, websites, users, or anyone else should all receive a benefit from using someone else's work while the creators who have made those works are being oppressed.

P2p is an amazing form of distribution. But, still, the results and benefits of the technology remain imbalanced. The creators are being exploited to the benefit of the consumer, the ISPs, and the website owners.

The Pirate Party and a good portion of the P2p community somehow believe that artists and musicians shouldn't be compensated or make a living from their work. (I'm aware that not all file-sharers feel this way; however, there is a great movement from this sector proclaiming that artists shouldn't make a living from their music outside of gigging and perhaps t-shirt sales.) In fact, many will deliberately misinterpret Lawrence Lessig's book 'Free Culture' to promote this viewpoint even though Lessig clearly states "A free culture is not a culture without property; it is not a culture in which artists don't get paid. A culture without property, or in which creators can't get paid, is anarchy, not freedom."

So, how do you claim 'free culture', anti-censorship, pro- civil rights, anarchy and the oppression of an entire sector of the culture and economy all under one Pirate flag?

The head of the Pirate Party stating that artists don't have a right to earn a living from their music. Musician's study and hone their craft for years. Just because technology can duplicate their works doesn't mean that a solution shouldn't be found that compensates for this injustice. The technology is P2p, the technology is Internet. Music is music. It hasn't changed. It's still of huge importance in our culture. Here's the equations: Mp3 + P2p(distribution)+Broadband= Your computer (or digital music/film playing device) It's a new distribution system and has replaced the old 'hardware'. Music is like the software that sells the hardware. Music hasn't changed, only the format. We were keeping food cold whether it was on ice or in a fridge. Still food.

An ISP provider today generally can supply your phone, TV and Internet. A Provider like Virgin Media or Sky has to pay the creators of the television programs money to give you access to watch them down the same digital pipe that supplies your Internet. Yet, they don't pay any of the creators of the Internet content a single penny. In a highly competitive TV world, if they were only to show programs they acquired for nothing rather than the premium content programs they have to buy to attract subscribers, then the subscribers would all signed up to their competition, wouldn't they? Although music is premium content on the Internet, they are allowed to circumvent the free distribution of music whilst making huge profits from the traffic it produces. Come on, look at the margins that telecom companies are making and with the projected expansion of broadband, it wouldn't be hard to generate money to be distributed to artists.

At the moment, the Pirate Party indirectly stands for the oppression of the artistic community.

How could p2p, the Internet, social media and the apathetic masses really help out here? Thanks to the Pirate movement and their radical stance about oppressing the artistic community rather than suggesting a solution and the RIAA taking a radical stance against new forms of distribution rather than embracing it from the onset, we are left with an apathetic majority of people who will be effected by the new laws which are being formed through a joint-venture between the Government, The Telecom corporations, and The Big Industry that everyone claims ripped them off all these years. These new laws will ultimately invade your privacy unless the apathetic majority wakes up and begins to look at potential solutions.

Solutions:

If we don't try to come to a compromise that suits everyone, government is going to march in and that'll be the end of it.

1) The Internet needs a Compulsory global license for Music to enable websites to calculate their margins and contributions for the use of music and other media would become more standardized, which essentially reduces costs, and create a fair playing field.

2) A levy on the ISPs needs to be introduced. The Internet needs to be levied at its access points. Telecom companies are your Internet passport. They are the gateway between you and the media on the Internet. Telecoms are expanding rapidly even during a global recession. The telecoms generate huge revenues and turn over massive profits. They are selling connections and bandwidth based on the premise that people want to access culture. A weighted percentage of their profits should be allocated to the compensation of the creators of the media that people are accessing (copying). This would allow a passage of 'free culture' on the Internet whereby piracy could become obsolete. This levy could be introduced without raising the cost of Broadband to the end user.

3) Government subsidies: The government wants to see jobs being created. As the impact that a levy on the ISPs combined with a compulsory license for music on the Internet would essentially help create a cultural expansion on-line, so would the impact on job creation and artistic development. This would help free up government resources into the regeneration of music at the grass roots level rather than the mass seizure of resources that has been wasted on fighting piracy.

About the Author

(An unabridged version of this article can be found at: http://indianagregg.blogspot.com/2009/09/pirate-party-versus-musicians.html
Indiana Gregg is co-founder and director of Kerchoonz.com http://www.kerchoonz.com a music streaming and social networking site where musician's are paid when their music is played. Indiana lives in Glasgow, Scotland with her family and also works as a touring musician and songwriter.

The Queue: November 30, 2006

PERIPHERAL SHARER 6 TO 2 $493.99 PERIPHERAL SHARER 6 TO 2

V.35 LINE SHARER 4-CHANNEL $630 V.35 LINE SHARER 4-CHANNEL

PERIPHERAL SHARER 2 TO 1 230V $286.99 PERIPHERAL SHARER 2 TO 1 230V

RS-232 Data Sharer concentrator $584.99 Black Box RS-232 Data Sharer - Concentrator - 4 ports - external

V.35 Data Sharer multiplexor $669.99 Black Box V.35 Data Sharer - Multiplexor - 2 ports - external

Media Dock Drawer f/iDock/iPod $25.94 Media Dock Drawer f/iDock/iPod Sliding multimedia storage designed to hold various portable media players including iPod.

NYRIUS NIC709 IPOD(R)/IPHONE(R) MEDIA F $99.99 NYRIUS NIC709 IPOD(R)/IPHONE(R) MEDIA F

Milennia Media Dock Drawer for Idock / Ipod $39.04 Sliding multimedia storage designed to hold various portable media players including iPod. Product : MILENNIA IDOCK MEDIA DOCK DRAWER. Manufacturer : MILENNIA. Manufacturer Part No : MILIDOCK. UPC : 648701509936

The Secret Sharer by Conrad, Joseph [Paperback] $19.44 The Secret Sharer, actual accident at sea, is an exciting adventure tale that reveals truths about human nature on several levels. Albert J. Guerard of Stanford University wrote that these two stories are among the finest of Conrads short novels, and among the halfdozen greatest short novels in the English language. And Virginia Woolf wrote of Conrad, His books are full of moments of vision. They light up a whole character in a flash. . . .He could not write badly, one feels, to save his life. Newly designed and typeset for modern readers by Waking Lion Press. Author: Conrad, Joseph Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 68 Publication Date: 2008/07/01 Language: English Dimensions: 8.50 x 5.50 x 0.16 inches

iPort FS22 Digital Media System for iPod with Volume and IR Control White $401.9 Allows the iPods volume control to control the iPort system volume. Compatible with most dockable iPod models including the iPod touch. Delivers unbalanced audio up to 30 feet from the iPort. Integrated RS232 control enables twoway communication (including iPod program metadata) and control of the iPod/iPod touch via compatible control systems. Allows iPort firmware upgrades (requires optional cable). Delivers unbalanced component video composite video or SVideo up to 30 feet (9m) from the iPort. Allows the iPod to be lineofsight IRcontrolled and remotely IRcontrolled (remote IR control requires a compatible 3rdparty controller). Charges the iPod/iPod touch (via the regulated power supply) while it is docked. Connects to a computer allowing the iPod to be updated via iTunes while it is docked (requires USB 2.0 cable not included).

Boss Digital Media Receiver with Builtin iPod Docking Station $135.2 ISO DIN mounting. Builtin iPod Docking Station with iPod connector (compatible with various iPod models). Control iPod through the front panel and remote control. Active black mask display. Illuminated control buttons. PLL synthesized tuner. 30 Station presets. Switchable USA/Europe radio frequencies. USB and SD Memory card ports. Front panel auxiliary input. Compatible with audio output of iPod and other MP3 players. Output power: 80W x 4 channels. Includes wireless remote control

Discovering Our Past By Ashmore, Wendy/ Sharer, Robert J. $127.82 Author: Ashmore, Wendy/ Sharer, Robert J. Subtitle: A Brief Introduction to Archaeology Publication Date: 2009/04/24 Number of Pages: 300 Binding Type: Paperback Language: English Depth: 0.50 Width: 6.50 Height: 9.25

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Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness the Secret Sharer $16.21 A lively, indepth discussion of HEART OF DARKNESS AND THE SECRET SHARER. Students are taken on an exciting journey of discovery through every scene or chapter. Also included are unique text notes, ideas for term papers, notes on the authors life as well as a glossary. Author: Jericho, Jeremy/ Spring, Michael Series Title: Barrons Book Notes Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 138 Publication Date: 1984/12/01 Language: English Dimensions: 8.62 x 5.86 x 0.41 inches

The Secret Sharer (Echo Library) $15.87 Author: Conrad, Joseph Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 48 Publication Date: 2007/12/01 Language: English Dimensions: 8.00 x 5.00 x 0.11 inches

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iPort FS21 Digital Media System for iPod with Volume and IR Control Black $201.83 System Capabilities:. Delivers unbalanced component video composite video or SVideo up to 30 feet (9m) from the iPort (Note: Video content only not program metadata. Type of video output is iPoddependent). Delivers unbalanced audio up to 30 feet from the iPort. Allows the iPods volume control to control the iPort system volume. Compatible with most dockable iPod models including iPod touch. Charges the iPod/iPod touch (via the regulated power supply) while it is docked. Allows the iPod to be lineofsight IRcontrolled and remotely IRcontrolled (remote IR control requires a compatible 3rdparty controller). Connects to a computer allowing the iPod to be updated via iTunes while it is docked (requires USB 2.0 cable not included). System Components:. IPort dock (with Black color plate). Audio cable (3.5mm stereo to 2RCA 2 meters). Component video cable (3.5mm 4pin to 3RCA 2 meters). Regulated global power supply with USA plug and international adapters.

The Secret Sharer (Websters Spanish Thesaurus Edition) $30.03 If you are either learning Spanish, or learning English as a second language (ESL) as a Spanish speaker, this book is for you. There are many editions of The Secret Sharer. This one is worth the price if you would like to enrich your SpanishEnglish vocabulary, whether for selfimprovement or for preparation in advanced of college examinations. Each page is annotated with a minithesaurus of uncommon words highlighted in the text. Not only will you experience a great classic, but learn the richness of the English language with Spanish synonyms at the bottom of each page. You will not see a full translation of the English text, but rather a running bilingual thesaurus to maximize the readers exposure to the subtleties of both languages. Author: Icon Reference Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 72 Publication Date: 2006/02/01 Language: English Dimensions: 9.00 x 6.00 x 0.17 inches

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Cables Unlimited BatteryBoost Media Player Battery $48.99 1 Year Apple iPod Touch Media Player Brilliant... in the thickness of the hard case, the BatteryBoost has a rechargeable battery doubling the autonomy of your iPod Touch. Simply slide your iPod Touch into the BatteryBoost and gain a couple of hours of battery life. Plug your original charger cable into the BatteryBoost to charge your device and the extra battery at the same time. BAT-9100 BatteryBoost BatteryBoost Media Player Battery Cables Unlimited Media Player Battery Proprietary Yes www.cablesunlimited.com

Belkin F8Z274ttP iPod Multi Headphone Rockstar $35.3 RockStar Connect up to five headphones and your iPod to start sharing. Or add another iPod to mix songs and listen together. Works with all MP3 and DVD players as well as other portable media devices.

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Banshee (Media Player) $86.03 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Banshee is an opensource media player, originally called Sonance until 2005. Built upon Mono and Gtk#, it uses the Helix and GStreamer multimedia platform for encoding and decoding various media formats, including Ogg Vorbis, MP3 and FLAC. Banshee can play and import audio CDs and supports many portable media players, including Apples iPod, Android devices and Creatives ZEN players. Other features include Last.fm integration, album artwork fetching, smart playlists and podcast support. Banshee is released under the terms of the MIT License and is available for Linux as well as Mac OS X operating systems. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 104 Publication Date: 2010/10/19 Language: English Dimensions: 9.02 x 5.98 x 0.25 inches

Griffin Simplifi iPod Cradle - USB $49.99 1 x DC Power In 1 x 4-pin Type A USB 10019-SIMPLIFI 2 x 8-pin Powered USB A simple, versatile way to de-clutter your desktop Reads and writes digital media cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SD, SDHC, xD and CF (CompactFlash) Simplifi iPod Cradle USB mini Cable AC Adapter Apple: iPhone iPhone 3G iPod nano 2G iPod nano 4G iPod Touch iPod Touch 2G iPod Classic 120GB iPod Classic iPod with Video iPod Shuffle iPod Shuffle 2G Simplifi charges USB-rechargeable iPod models as they sync with your computer through the USB mini cable. Use Simplifi's USB ports to plug in keyboards, printers, cameras, flash drives, scanners, external hard drives, anything USB 2.0-compatible. Simplifi ships with an AC adapter for those USB devices that need a powered port. Digital Player Digital Player Cradle Griffin Griffin Technology Not Applicable Simplifi iPod Cradle USB Wired Yes www.griffintechnology.com

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