MIDEM: Much more than one-meeellion dollars at stake here

Though things were, without a doubt, wildly exciting at TCA, they almost don't hold a candle to what's going on over in Cannes at MIDEM, where about 10,000 music industry honchos (and other related folks) are gathering until the 25th to discuss the industry and its future -- that is, assuming it still has one.

What I was frankly not aware of is that while the RIAA and the MPAA are BFF in terms of the whole DRM issue, the CEA -- that's the one acronym you might not be familiar with: They're the Consumer Electronics Association -- are not playing ball in the same court. While the MPAA and the RIAA take the position that they have the content content-users want, and therefore will dole it out as they see fit, how they see fit, and with what protections they see fit, the CEA folks seem to be taking a more, well, traditionally capitalistic approach: Consumers want technology that doesn't permit DRM. Therefore, new consumer electronics should not accept DRM. As CEA president Gary Shaprio noted in a down-and-dirty opening session discussion:

"Consumers have certain rights to move content around their home. DRM is clearly desired by components of the motion picture and music industries, but consumers have started to revolt against it and you’re beginning to hear it. It’s confusing and resented by consumers. Business models are emerging and major record labels are starting to pick up on this. [If you drop DRM], you’re taking a risk that unethical consumers will spread the content around the world—but that’s a risk you’re going to have to take. ... When the law penalizes so much, something is wrong and has to be changed. When consumers are afraid to do something for a school project because they’ve listened to the RIAA disinformation campaign, something is wrong. Consumers are rejecting DRM [because it’s confusing]. Independents and some major labels soon are going to be saying ‘no DRM on our products.'"

Things got more heated when RIAA chairman Mitch Bainwol spoke the "e" word:

"... [Gary] wants to morph fair use into a concept that justifies any consumer behavior to the point where you eliminate the value of property. Kids grow up not understanding that music and movies are intellectual property. You teach disrespect for intellectual property. Gary takes a concept, morphs it, makes us look like we’re evil."

To which Shaprio noted:

"I don’t make you look evil -- your lawsuits against old people around the country make you look evil. You’re very good at paraphrasing things I never said."

There's more excellent debate notated here at PaidContent.org, where these quotes have already come from. I'm hoping for mud-wrestling by the end of the conference. And suddenly I'm considering buying some new consumer electronics....

--Randee Dawn

(original link found at Boing Boing)