Oliver Arend
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Registriert seit: Aug 2000
Wohnort: Great Falls, VA, USA
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December 10, 2003
BATF Chief to Focus on Music Anti-Piracy
Washington DC (BS) - The director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is leaving his post next month to lead the recording industry's efforts to stop music piracy. Bradley A. Buckles, who served the ATF for 30 years, will head the Anti-Piracy Unit of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the trade group announced Tuesday.
It has been rumored that the real reason Hilary Rosen, former Chief Executive of the RIAA, retired for "personal reasons" earlier this year was due to her inability to stop music terrorists from pirating works over the Internet from sites such as Napster. Word leaking out of certain government offices located in Washington DC is that pier-to-pier programming and file servers for music file swapping services most likely originated in Southwest Asia by unnamed conservative religious fanatics. Allegedly, these unnamed organizations "Are intent on economically damaging US music labels because these firms actively produce music videos with explicit sexual content and then spread them across the world via satellite downlink as part of a capitalist plot to subvert sensible culture and the morality of teens and young adults" according to one highly placed government source. "Unfortunately, as a result we are loosing the war on music terrorism, as evidenced by the fact that many top music executives and recording artists are now flying first class instead of private jet".
"Despite the heavy support of lawmakers from New York, New Jersey, and Southern California, certain unpatriotic senators and congressman from flyover states have blocked legislation mandating mandatory heavy prison sentences and hefty fines for criminal teenagers and their complacent parents. Since the promise of campaign contributions and back channel money haven't worked, we have been forced to rely on highly publicized lawsuits to ensure compliance. Despite our best efforts, quite frankly the terrorists still have the upper hand, and if we don't stop it now future generations of music executives and entertainers will be at a huge risk of reduced incomes. By the way, if the terrorists win there will be less taxes paid to the US Treasury, so preserving the current music industry distribution system is definitely in the best interest of the taxpayer and the long term security interests of our great nation and democracy throughout the world."
When pressed for comments, an anonymous RIAA official stated "After a hearing on Capital Hill regarding Internet file sharing problems, a couple of senators from New York and New Jersey quietly suggested we chat with the BATFE to brainstorm more creative solutions to this music terrorism threat."
"After chatting with Brad's people, we were most impressed with their example on how they have slowed the spread of hobby high power rocketry through the use of bureaucratic techniques, and we figure that a new Internet File Swapping Permit (IFSP) modeled after the BATFE's low explosive permit program would help us contain this economic terrorist threat. The simple association of the BATF "brand" fear factor in the minds of otherwise law abiding Americans is worth Brad's salary alone, even if he doesnt really accomplish anything meaningful in his new position."
"Rosen's inability to stop music terrorists from preying on innocent recording labels and duping teenagers into committing illegal acts has definitely required us to bring in some really big guns.....no pun intended there...... which is why we offered Brad at significantly more money than he is earning as a member of the Senior Executive Service". As it turns out, we were quite lucky to be able to hire Brad because he was set to retire from government service and was looking for a follow-on job where his government and political connections could be put to productive use. The DC revolving door system offers him that golden opportunity."
Asked how a permit process could contain Internet file swapping, it was revealed that the final details had not been completely worked out. "We are proud of the fact that Brad's IFSP proposal will enable us to take the high ground by exempting lawful permittees from the civil lawsuit process as long as they comply with certain highly reasonable conditions that balance Hollywood recording industry needs for cash flow with the public interest in music".
In a leaked document which is being circulated around recording labels for comment, the new IFSP proposal would allow all individuals to keep an unlimited amount of music files on their hard drives, as long as they didn't exceed 63.5 kilobytes per file. For .mp3 files greater than 63.5K, a IFSP would be required. When pressed about the small file size and audio quality, the RIAA official stated "Hey, we are letting people listen to all the extremely compressed low fidelity audio all they want to. If they want high fidelity audio, they are free to split the larger file sizes into 63.5K segments, as long as they can't be sequentially linked on the same computer to play a complete high fidelity song". "Of course, if they get a IFSP they can listen to all the high fidelity music they want as long as they comply with certain easy requirements".
Despite RIAA claims, the IFSP proposal is sure to be controversial with most internet music listeners. It requires a lengthy form to be filled out, a photo, fingerprints, and a $100 processing fee "so that we can be sure .mp3 owners are not on our music piracy watch list". Following a brief several month wait, a personal interview with a RIAA official where the rules are explained and a special book of terms and conditions is presented, along with a physical inspection of the premises, will take place. Following approval of the paperwork, file downloader's will be provided with paper and digital certificates allowing them to access certain RIAA certified file servers where the files are obtained in exchange for a payment for each song. In the event that RIAA denies the IFSP, the $100 will be refunded and the denied individual will be provided a list of local music stores where they can purchase audio CDs that routinely sell at a higher cost than the more difficult to manufacture DVD movies.
Because of the desirability of high quality .mp3 files by music terrorists, special file transfer protocols and computer physical security requirements will have to be met prior to issuing of the permit and digital certificates.
The primary restriction is that all transfers of high quality files can only be made to other IFSP holders as long as the "seller" erases his copy upon transfer and documents this in a paper log that is subject to inspection and physical comparison to the hard drive contents by a RIAA field agent. Individuals transferring the high fidelity file must first verify that the receiver is permitted by RIAA to possess the file.
However, there are some flexibilities in the provisions since it allows non-IFSP individuals to listen to analog music output generated by the digital file if least one IFSP individual is present while the music is being played. A digital copy can also be transferred to a non-permittee as long as the individual without the permit plays the music on their equipment in the continual presence of the IFSP, and the IFSP personally ensures the file is immediately erased after playing. Failure to comply with these provisions can lead to civil penalties.
Since permittee hard drives containing high quality files will be highly desirable by "criminal and terrorist music interests", a physical security inspection will be required prior to award of the IFSP. Briefly, IFSP computer cases will be required to be constructed out of at least 12 gauge steel, and will need to be secured by special locks and steel banding to the external structure they are located in. As an added security precaution, a two different special keys with at least 7 pins each will be required to activate the computer's power supply prior to booting up the computer to access the digital audio file. For those individuals that are unable to comply with physical computer security requirements, a removable hard drive waiver may be authorized, as long as the RIAA inspecting agent verifies that the permittee has at least a 45 minute tamper resistant safe for hard drive storage, and that the safe is secured in the dwelling garage, preferably by bolting from the inside to at least one 2x4 or larger structural member. After the proper paperwork is filled out RIAA officials in Washington DC may authorize this garage storage variance, subject to prior local government concurrence that loud Rap music doesn't pose a threat to the hearing ability of the building occupants and nearby residents.
Digital files may be transported by a .mp3 device from the storage PC, but these files must either be returned to the storage PC or erased within 24 hours.
Any theft of a IFSP computer, hard drive, or individual digital file must be promptly reported to RIAA within 24 hours, or significant civil penalties may be imposed.
In closing, the RIAA official stated "We are extremely confident the techniques and systems proposed by Mr. Buckles will clamp down on music piracy and music terrorism".
The RIAA official firmly stated "no comment" and terminated the discussion when pressed on the issue of whether these proposed measures would be effective at stopping truly determined music pirates whom are intent on committing acts of music terrorism, particularly when digital files are readily available overseas on the black market, are not vigorously controlled, and the Internet "leaks like a sieve".
Copyright 2003 (BS), all rights reserved.
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