A perfect example of the effect of loaded terms. Of course "piracy" does not have significant benefits, but the availability of alternative channels of distribution (ie the Internet) outside the control of the RIAA is the lifeblood of many independent artists. Filtering, suppressing, and stigmatizing new channels of distribution inures to the benefit of the Big Six (er, four, and counting) record labels who control the traditional channels of distribution and a few Internet sites that operate with their blessing.

To John Gordon:

I don't think that's true at all. Defending against unauthorized uses is expensive - only the biggest of companies can afford the apparatus to do it. Allowing distributors and end users to freely override the creator's choice of licensing models means that the independent artist must accede to free distribution or have no distribution at all. But if the artist wants to pursue the rational business model of using the free internet to distribute promotional material and then licenses or subscriptions to get paid? - your approach is to make that impossible! Better to empower the artist with tools to transact as the artist sees fit - and therefore prevent "new channels of distribution" built on free-riding and overriding -- as a way to ensure the robust creation of the content that the new channels of distribution depend upon. You can't forget that the internet runs not just on technical innovation but on the constant creation of new works. And while some parasitic behavior can be tolerated- too much parasitic behavior kills not only the host but also the parasite!

Since the origin of the DMCA, corporations who have chosen to control creative content unconstitutionally have used a litany of excuses to justify their behavior. The most popular excuse seems to be that only with legal regimes such as the DMCA can corporations not suffer from lost sales. Recently, corporations have claimed that they have intrinsic rights to vilate the fair use rights of citizens.

Contrary to popular belief, DMCA has a direct impact on independent artists as well as major label artists, by giving the large labels defacto control over the licensing models used.