Mike Jackson says downloading music shouldn't mean jail

[mrtonguetwista]

LOS ANGELES -- Michael Jackson says Congress should not make any laws that could land music fans in jail for downloading songs illegally over the Internet.

"I am speechless about the idea of putting music fans in jail for downloading music. It is wrong to download, but the answer cannot be jail," Jackson said in a statement released Monday.

The pop star's comments referred specifically to a bill before Congress that would make it a federal felony to obtain copyright works over the Internet without permission.

 
"Here in America we create new opportunities out of adversity, not punitive laws ...," he said. "It is the fans that drive the success of the music business; I wish this would not be forgotten."

The recording industry blames illegal music file-swapping and CD burning for lackluster sales. It is currently preparing to file hundreds of civil lawsuits against people it suspects of music piracy.

Jackson, who's seen his own record sales lag in recent years, suggested the music industry and music fans work together to figure it all out.

[Don Breezio]

god damn...if they really want ppl to just go and buy the shit then they need to make places like sam goody and FYE lower their fucking prices...i'm not gonna go pay $19.99 for a cd...especially when it costs 5 bucks or less to make the damn things. if they want ppl to stop downloading put all cd prices down around 10$ or less...shit i'd go buy everything then instead of downloading...but theres a lot of cds i dont feel like paying 20 bucks for...and yea theres places where u can get a cd for 15 bucks or 13...but we need more places like best buy where you can get a cd by a new artist for 5.99! if they can do that as a sale they can make a cd normally cost 10 bucks or less...fuck them ill go to jail i aint gonna go pay that much...if they go through with throwing ppl in jail i either will go to jail or i just wont buy music!

[ZILLA THA GOODFELLA]

especially when it costs 5 bucks or less to make the damn things.

5 bucks or less? try $2-3 homie.....Especially wit majors, they get MAJOR deals.....

Man fuck that shit, a muthafuca downloadin music and endin up in jail 4 it?
Wat tha fuck has tha world come to? THIS GOVERNMENT PISSES ME OFF.....And don't U dare say shit Trauma, this government is FUCKED!

[The Watcher]

word

[.:TimeLock:.]

what i wanna know is have they tracked down anyone yet for this shit and how the fuck do they do that shit....fucking hackers or what

[Jome]

R deals.....

Man fuck that shit, a muthafuca downloadin music and endin up in jail 4 it?
Wat tha fuck has tha world come to? THIS GOVERNMENT PISSES ME OFF.....And don't U dare say shit Trauma, this government is FUCKED!

lol
Kinda funny looking at U.S. from the outside regarding RIAA..

Claiming to be the freest country in the world, and then they start suing/jailing people for downloading music.. ironic.  

[·SiNiStEr·]

word

[Trauma-san]

,And don't U dare say shit Trauma, this government is FUCKED!

I agree, it's bullshit that they should try to put people in jail for the specifics mike's mentioning... he's saying this because it was HIS songs that the RIAA searched for last week when they issued supoenas.  

About your, this government is fucked comment.  First, the legislation hasn't passed.  that's what mike is fighting.

Second, the 'government' isn't fucked, the people presenting the bill are fucked.

It may surprise you (it doesn't me) that the dumbasses bitching about this, looking for prison terms for these kids are democrats.

Senator Fritz Hollings is one , Representative Howard Berman is the other.  Don't vote democrat, and you won't have to worry about bullshit like this.  Of course, you're going to vote democrat anyways.  

[Don Breezio]

especially when it costs 5 bucks or less to make the damn things.

5 bucks or less? try $2-3 homie

LMAO...that would by why i said 5 bucks OR LESS...but it proves my point...$2-3 and they sell it for a 500% profit or more...thats fucked up.

[UnstoppableForce]

especially when it costs 5 bucks or less to make the damn things.

5 bucks or less? try $2-3 homie

LMAO...that would by why i said 5 bucks OR LESS...but it proves my point...$2-3 and they sell it for a 500% profit or more...thats fucked up.

You know they do have other expenses besides the CD, the cover art, and the case.

[Hittman2001]

if file traders/downloaders are going to get jail time.  a producer who goes by the name of Dr. Dre should be getting some jail time also.  he's been using beats without permission and has been making millions off them, which is probably more than any person who downloads will make if they sell bootlegged cds.

[Don Breezio]

especially when it costs 5 bucks or less to make the damn things.

5 bucks or less? try $2-3 homie

LMAO...that would by why i said 5 bucks OR LESS...but it proves my point...$2-3 and they sell it for a 500% profit or more...thats fucked up.

You know they do have other expenses besides the CD, the cover art, and the case.

no actually those are included in that price...remember that a case costs 10-20 cents to make...the paper isnt very expensive and neither is the ink especially when you buy it in bulk which they do. the most you're lookin at for producing and distributing a cd is maybe 4-5 dollars...its reasons like that that best buy can sell a new artists cd on sale for 5.99 or wherehouse can sell the chingy album for 7.99...if they can do that with new artists they should do that with all artists...im so tired of bitches like lars ulrich of metallica complaining that money is being denied to them because of downloaders...that motherfucker has been around for 20 or 30 years. he's probably one of the richest rock stars in the music business and his bitch ass is complaining about money...you dont hear new artists complaining much about it...why...because they like the exposure...its ppl like lars ulrich who are only obsessed with money that are influencing the decisions of this and are helping to piss off the fans

[ZILLA THA GOODFELLA]

^ EXACTLY.......LMAO @ wat about tha cover.......How U gonna tell me? I think I would know how it works.......

[UnstoppableForce]

Yes, but have you taken into account that the company probably has bills to pay, employees to pay, and other expenses? Where do you think that money comes from?

[smartass]

if file traders/downloaders are going to get jail time.  a producer who goes by the name of Dr. Dre should be getting some jail time also.  he's been using beats without permission and has been making millions off them, which is probably more than any person who downloads will make if they sell bootlegged cds.

he gets sued all the time. you'd think someone would learn after  10 occassions. last time i checked downloaders didn't make tlc go bankrupt when they sold 15 million copies of that one album.
the riaa claims to be looking out for artists but in the end they take the majority of their money. thats why you go independent.