At least Mike knows whats going on...


Now that Congress is joining the record industry in cracking down on Internet music piracy, file-swappers have a new ally: Michael Jackson. The King of Pop issued a statement Monday condemning a bill introduced last week that would make illicit file-swapping of even one song a federal felony punishable by a $250,000 fine and five years behind bars. ''I am speechless about the idea of putting music fans in jail for downloading music,'' Jackson said. ''It is wrong to illegally download, but the answer cannot be jail.''

Last week, Congressmen John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Howard Berman (D-Calif.) proposed the Author, Consumer, and Computer Owner Protection and Security Act of 2003 (ACCOPS Act), which, besides lowering the bar for what constitutes a file-swapping felony, would also make it a federal offense to record a movie in a theater with a camcorder. The move comes at a time when the Record Industry Association of America has issued nearly 900 subpoenas against individuals and Internet service providers for file-swapping lawsuits.

In his statement, Jackson urged the industry to find a private, rather than government-imposed, solution to stopping piracy. ''Here in America we create new opportunities out of adversity, not punitive laws and we should look to new technologies, like Apple's new Music Store for solutions. This way innovation continues to be the hallmark of America. It is the fans that drive the success of the music business; I wish this would not be forgotten.''

Amazing! Ok... +1 point for MJ.

exactly.

Wow, an article involving Michael Jackson that is actually making him look good.

June7 said:

I couldn't believe it either.

Took his sweet time addressing the issue.

jthad1129 said:

Whoa, looks like he has some new big words in his vocab too...

Natsume said:

and, we, I..

he he!

You swapping pictures of young boys? lol

JDINTERACTIVE said:

KING OF POP!

just felt like typing that!

prince is dead long live michael jackson!

go on michael! so, is he the first mainstream pop artist to disagree with the riaa?

Can anyone make a list of artists and where they stand on this issue? I think all recording artists should come out and take a stand on this.Let their fans know whose side they're REALLY on.

imnotsayinthisjust2bnasty said:

I'm sure he's not the first.But yeah,I'd like to know how other artists feel on this issue.I do know that,unfortunately,Madonna agrees with the RIAA

DavidEye said:

yeah well, bad american sales can have that effect on you! although, madonna isat the piont where if she wants things to change...well...get up off your ass and start changing them. she has the potential to break off from warner and really do her own thing. and i don't mean maverick, cuz that still has ties to warner.