[FC-discuss] Project EquillbRIAA

[Oliver Day]

For the last few years I've talked quietly of a project to connect
artists with the victims of lawsuits in the name of their bands.  After
the verdict handed down by the latest case of Sony vs. Tenenbaum I think
it is time to put this plan to action.  I've emailed Joel and received a
list of the bands he was sued for and what I'd like to do is draw
national attention to the public interfaces these bands have set up for
themselves.

I've created a public document which contains a list of the bands and
any Twitter, Myspace, Facebook, or other public forums the bands have
set up for themselves.  I could use help tracking down some of the
missing links in this list.  In some cases the bands no longer exist but
members of the original band still live on in other bands or on their own.

To be clear the purpose of this project is not to harass these
musicians.  It is to remove the wedge of the RIAA from artists and their
fans and ask them to communicate.  The one question I'd like to see the
artists answer is "Do you support the actions the RIAA has taken on
behalf of your band in destroying the life of Joel Tenenbaum?"

Joel is being fined $22,500 for each of the 30 songs that he downloaded
from KaZaa.  His total fine is $675,000 for an activity that a majority
of the Internet users in this country have and still participate in.
This isn't to say that we should advocate copyright infringement but
that we shouldn't agree with the penalties associated with infringement.

This project is still being assembled and I would appreciate any
feedback and help the FC community can muster.  I'd like to coordinate a
massive feedback storm requesting comment via Twitter, Myspace, etc so
these artists can't escape without saying something.  Anything.  What we
need is dialog from musicians about what is happening to their fans.

The working spreadsheet of bands and their online identities is here:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AmI5i5jD2tuTdDllNXZHb3kweS1qRkt6SlUzeXQzZmc

If you would like access to edit the spreadsheet please email me and I
will add you to the access list.

Oliver