Ernie over at The Importance of... continues his stellar INDUCE Act round up this morning, pulling out a wonderfully revealing quote from Fritz Attaway, executive vice president for government relations for the MPAA:
"If we can't ban bad behavior and we can't ban bad technology, what is it we're supposed to do, stand back and let people steal our product?'' Attaway said.
First, I'd hardly call suing over 4,000 individual file-sharers "stand[ing] back and let[ting] people steal our product." At $2,000 to $11,000 a pop, these suits have have a very real impact on the lives of the unlucky defendants.
Second, the quote reveals the MPAA approach to every problem: either pass laws to ban behavior or pass laws to ban technology. Innovation, ingenuity, competition -- those are for suckers. More laws and more lawsuits, that's the Hollywood way. Cut past the consumer and go straight to Congress. Oh well, at least they're finally being honest.
Should you EVER trust a fellow named Fritz? I mean, who goes around being called Fritz? Senators Mondale and Hollings and Archetypal Officers of Kaiser Wilhelm.
Posted by: Andrew | September 09, 2004 at 03:57 PM