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P2P fans unite, the RIAA fight is on

Grassroots action

The thunderous grunt let out two weeks ago by the RIAA has served as a call to arms. P2P advocates are ready to prove the technology has merits that outweigh the music labels' self-serving concerns.

As the pigopolists' lobby group, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), prepares to sue thousands of individuals, organizations such as Boycott-RIAA.com, the EFF and P2P company Grokster have mapped out a course of action to try and convince the U.S. government that P2P is here to stay. Starting August 1, music lovers and technology fans alike are to begin bombarding Congress by phone and fax, expressing their P2P love. The following day consumers are encouraged to hold CD burning parties, hand out flyers and generally educate Joe public about P2P technology.

This kind of grass roots action is being backed up by Grokster and Sharman Networks - the Kazaa distributor - which are creating trade groups to lobby Congress.

The overwhelming number of e-mails received by The Register in the last two weeks in support of a music label boycott confirms that consumers and technology fans are at wits end with the RIAA's behavior.

"I emailed the RIAA through the contact form on their Web site, telling them how frustrated I was with their 'lets sue technology out of existence' strategies and how I would never again buy any music which I even thought MIGHT have the RIAA behind it," wrote one reader.

"It boggles my mind that people can read, among other things, your articles regarding the RIAA's behavior and cluck and wave their fingers on one hand whilst feeding the pigopolists with the other," wrote another reader. "I was one of these people, but no more. This has gone on for too long, and I am drawing my line in the sand. I am buying no more music or DVDs until the RIAA sees sense."

Don't hold your breath. ®

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