Fanlib and RIAA

[anarchicq.livejournal.com]

Ok, so it's been discovered that Fanlib has connections with the RIAA.

I ask the questions on behalf of all the little Fanlib users to delusioned by the validation of TPTB to actually research and think.

Who exactly is the RIAA?

Why does Fanlib's connection with them matter?

Comments

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

Can you give us some sources? Please know that I'm not trying to cast doubts... I have no plans on ever, EVER posting anything on FanLib... I just want to be fully informed.

What do you think the RIAA is planning? How would fanfic have anything to do with them? Or do you think they're trying to track down vidders for unauthorized use of songs?

Man, I'm really regretting that I even made the decision to namesquat over there... although it's not as if TPTB couldn't track me down, anyway.

[anarchicq.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, there are SO many posts and wank about Fanlib that I can't remember where I read it. If anyone can link to whatever it is I remember reading, I'd love that.

What do you think the RIAA is planning?
I'm not sure, which is really what I am asking, just poorly phrased.

How would fanfic have anything to do with them?
Again, that's what I would like to know, which is why I asked why the connection would matter.

Or do you think they're trying to track down vidders for unauthorized use of songs?
Interesting theory. I don't think that, and even if I did, again, what would Fanfic/Fanlib have to do with it? Unless the RIAA suddenly hates songfic now. Heh.

[rez-lo.livejournal.com]

I think my post over here (http://rez-lo.livejournal.com/87495.html#cutid1) is probably the source. The connection is between Hilary Rosen, who built the RIAA and who now heads the Showtime/CBS-sponsored fansite OurChart.org, and FanLib, whose "test case" for their business model was a project for them (the site is for the television show The L Word).

That connection basically suggests that the big media companies are hoping to duplicate the RIAA's strategy to clamp down on any copyright use that doesn't make them money. I've added a longer reply below. Henry Jenkins (link below) also sums up the fears really well in his current article on the whole thing.

[anarchicq.livejournal.com]

YES! That's where I read it. Thank you.

[rez-lo.livejournal.com]

I've posted a reply (http://community.livejournal.com/life_wo_fanlib/4381.html?thread=40221#t40221) that includes additional sources below, in case it's useful.

Also, you may want to read Henry Jenkins's post (http://www.henryjenkins.org/2007/05/transforming_fan_culture_into.html#comments) on the whole issue, if you haven't seen it already. He's a media studies scholar (MIT) and his article includes useful descriptions of what fans are afraid might happen if the FanLib business model did (as seems likely) provoke a lawsuit by some irate copyright-holder.

Apologies if any of this is redundant!

[rez-lo.livejournal.com]

And if I had to sum up (::wince::), what I'd say is: I'm afraid that Hilary Rosen and her buds, who pioneered the RIAA's entire strategy to criminalize Fair Use, are helping the big media companies like CBS to apply that strategy to media fans by (a) setting us up for individual prosecution, for whenever they feel like coming after us and (b) building corporate-controlled fan sites so that they can eventually both legislate and prosecute the fan-controlled sites as illegal. (Henry Jenkins's article explains this better.)

They don't own us yet. They're trying to.