>And they have some nerve, after decades of price
>fixing, payola and
>strongarming through market share, to run like little
>children to the
>courts and Congress to protect them from what they
>fantasize must be 
>the
>cause of their dilemma -- us.


With all the money they spent promoting their product
(even if you don't agree with their promotion
tactics), they have to protect their investment or go
broke (which some of them are in the process of doing,
thanks to copying by music fans).  Their financial
balance sheets and the hordes of people being let go
(whether bands that were briefly signed and dropped or
good ol fashioned employees) will attest to the fact
that this is no fantasy!
If you object so strongly to what they are doing,
there is a very simple solution: JUST DON'T BUY CDS
WITH COPY PROTECTION! If you don't agree with the
tactics of the majors, then shift your support to the
minors, indies, and artists out there who are going it
alone with no support at all, other than the loyal fan
base who BUYS their CDs.  there are lots of
independent artists putting out great music that
doesn't have write protection (not that they couldn't
benefit from it).  Lucky for us, a lot of them are
also fans who understand the idea of making a copy of
a favorite CD for the car, the office, etc. and not
necessarily to give to someone who didn't buy it! 
And, most of them don't subscribe to the price fixing
of the majors - I'd much rather buy a CD directly from
the artist right after the show for $10 than go
looking for a major release at Tower or some other
major outlet and end up spending $15.  Instead of
complaining about the system and continuing to
participate in it and perpetuate it, speak with your
wallet and support artists and labels whose music AND
ideals agree with yours.

-shosh



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