Music Downloads And Role OF RIAA
Posted on 18. Jun, 2009 by Susan Reynolds in Music
RIAA is a contraction of Recording Industry Association of America. This association is a syndicate of multiple large companies that handle the recording and music distribution throughout United States of America. RIAA claims to have More than 90% of the music recording companies and distributors as members of it. In 1950?s was more attentive to maintaining the quality of music. Today the main aim of association is prevention of copyright violations.
RIAA says that piracy of any kind and in any form is intolerable. There were many instances of people making commercial use of copyright protected music. There is the habit of people illegally making multiple copies of music, after having them downloaded from the net. This translates into huge losses of revenue to the music industry. Anybody and everybody are prohibited from downloading any music without obtaining prior permission and serious actions would be taken against those found violating this.
Under the circumstances the only option left with RIAA was to place a ban on online music sharing services like Napster. To prevent such practices as music download the matter was put upon a firm legal footing. Restriction of activities like illegal download or even purchasing pirated CD?s was sought to be curbed through stringent laws. The main thrust of attention of RIAA was the youth in preventing them from downloading music which violated copyrights.
RIAA is doing all it can to help prevention of misuse of music which is under copyright protection. However the activities of RIAA are not positively viewed by everybody. There are critics who point out that when online services such as Napster existed the sale of CDS was far more. Concerns have also been voiced about the goal of RIAA to help the artists and recording studios. There is also the matter of artists being not being correctly compensated and made to suffer loss while they make huge profit margins.
People have been shocked by the legal actions taken by the RIAA. A legal action against a woman in her 60?s who is unable to use a computer, lawsuit against an old woman nearly 83 years old, and one against a kid of about 12 has actually sought to tarnish the image of RIAA. With protests against such actions the integrity of RIAA has eroded to a large extent.
RIAA formulated a law in the year 2003 that no action will be taken against people who had in the past downloaded music illegally provided they undertake to not to do so in future. This was hailed by many as a positive approach but the law was deflated in a year?s time.
In general people have undecided feelings for RIAA. There are many who are unhappy about it, yet there are others who support its earnest efforts. Though there is a lack of uniform opinion about RIAA, it can be said with certainty that it has made impressive progress in the recent past.
Although RIAA has many justifications, there are many who find the tactics of RIAA disagreeable. It has been claimed by many that the policies pursued by RIAA would ultimately result in demise of music.
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