Take back the right to share
Here’s an interesting idea in the battle to free ourselves from the digital tyranny of the RIAA and its ilk: Get recording artists to release their music under a special license, one that stipulates that the music can only be distributed over P2P file-sharing networks like Napster, Kazaa, and the like. (Better still, as a special bonus to users, might not this license also prohibit the music it covers from being included in a DRM system?)
Then, if the music industry sues the file-sharing networks (with the aim of forcing them to shut down operations), the artists involved can counter-sue, claiming that the industry is restricting access to their market--and violating their right to free speech. It would very likely be a costly battle, but I bet the courts would have to come down in favor of the rights of the artists.
I wonder if anyone has shared this idea with the folks at The Creative Commons?
(Source: The inspiration for this post came from a comment by “Nandeyanen” in response to RIAA vs. MP3 vs. Adam Smith, an article posted at Kuro5hin.org.)
