Bloggers get arrested by the FBI for posting mp3s

We will take down the Internet
Two bloggers were arrested by the FBI for posting unreleased tracks from Ryan Adams’ upcoming album. Apparently there’s no organized crime or terrorism being planned anywhere:

The FBI busted two RYAN ADAMS fans for posting portions of Adams’ September release Jacksonville City Nights without the consent the guitarist’s label, Lost Highway Records, on a fan Web site a month before the album hit stores. According to a provision of the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act (FECA), publishing music or movies before their public release is a federal crime. Milwaukee resident Robert Thomas and Jared Browser of Jacksonville, Florida, face up to eleven years in prison if convicted.

This is what I was talking about in the last post. Since when did filesharing become a federal crime?

RIAA head, Mitch Bainwol, admits that all the time on his knees has paid off:

“Prerelease piracy is a particularly damaging and onerous form of theft,” he said. “It robs artists of the chance to sell their music before it even hits the streets or becomes legally available online, and the ripple effects are felt far and wide throughout the entire music community…

“We commend Congress for giving prosecutors the tools they need to achieve swift and successful enforcement of this devastating form of piracy. The message here is clear: Significant crimes bring significant consequences.”

Giving an artist free pre-release buzz is a significant crime that hurts your massive industry? Have a clue – filesharing gives the film and music industry more exposure than you could ever manage on your own. It’s called The Internet, and it’s the next big thing. Take advantage of it, or otherwise you’re going down. [via]

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