Ok folks, feel free to get on your limewire, emule, and other peer to peer sharing sites and download your music again.  If you have not heard yet the RIAA has dropped their lawsuit intimidation strategy against downloaders of music.  According to a recent article:

 In a surprise about-face, the Recording Industry Association of America said today that it will no longer pursue its controversial legal strategy of filing large numbers of lawsuits against individuals for alleged music piracy.

This is the same organization that was suing parents of little kids, grandmothers, and also according to some of the articles DEAD PEOPLE (anyone hear the Sixth Sense in the background).  From the beginning they knew that going after a few individuals they “busted” downloading music was not going to deter the masses.  Or maybe they were so dumb that they didn’t.  Regardless, they finally dropped the asinine strategy although they reserve the right to still do it of course. Instead they:

 …plan(s) to work more closely with ISPs to identify alleged copyright infringers and try to persuade them to stop. Under the so-called graduated response program, the RIAA would notify participating ISPs when it discovers their customers engaging in what it claims are illegal downloading activities.

I am not sure how this will work either.  First of all why would an ISP want to take on the investigative role for the RIAA? Secondly, how much will the RIAA have to pay the ISP provider to perform such a role? Do they really think that it will stem the tide?

Here is the real deal folks. The problem is and always was with the record industry and it’s inability to keep up with internet technological innovation. Like many industries that face the destruction caused by capitalism and innovation, the industry was just to stuck in its ways to be ahead of the curve.  Instead the RIAA was behind the curve and instead of creating new and innovative product delivery strategies they turned into bullies. 

The worst part about it is not the record companies getting screwed, but the artist who will be less likely to get a contract because of the industry’s ineptitude.  But hey, I am past thirty now and I only listen to music where people still had high top fades when they sang it.