Misled

And, no. I’m not talking about the song by Cool and the Gang.

The various industry associations like the BSA, RIAA and MPAA really enjoy publishing bogus stats about piracy as if they’re factual, but that’s their job as industry associations/lobbying groups. What’s worse is when those bogus numbers are cited as being factual by the press.

This excerpt is from an article at Techdirt.com, touches on two big problems we’re facing today. One, the strangle-grip that industry groups like the RIAA and MPAA have on our lives, and two, the laziness of the press.

We, as people, need to speak out loudly against any organization that seeks to exert such extreme control over our lives. Let me mention that I’m not advocating throwing out copyright laws and enforcement of copyright. I fully agree with an artist or producer being protected against theft of their artistic or intelectual property. What I disagree with is the vigilante tactics of the RIAA and MPAA.

We also need to demand accountability from the press. It seems that the traditional publishers of news content are more concerned with corporate alliances and political agendas than they are in accurately reporting the news. Sure, every so often, a reporter gets caught at faking a story or otherwise tainting the truth, at which point they’re prosecuted by the very corrupted culture they’re a part of. Meanwhile, it’s business as usual in the newsroom, pulling the wool over the public eye.