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Deutsch: Koalition von Musikern gegen die Kriminalisierung von Downloadern

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Macedonian: Коалиција на музичари против лицата...

On 11 March 2009, during its inaugural meeting, the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) including 140 of UK biggest rock and pop stars, expressed concern about actions taken against fans involved in file-sharing.

FAC expressed the intention to fight for a fairer deal for musicians "at a time when they can use the internet to forge direct links with their fans." The members of the coalition want to campaign for effective laws and regulations and for transparent and equitable business practices. They believe that companies such as MySpace and YouTube should be required to remunerate the artists when using their music for advertising. At the same time, they want to dissociate themselves from the industry in its move to criminalize individuals for illegally downloaded music.

The artists discussed on a response to the interim version of the Digital Britain report which proposes a Rights Agency to enforce anti-piracy measures. Although the interim report does not propose a three-strikes system like in France, it proposes measures requiring ISPs to give up information about customers sharing music on P2P networks to rights-holders. This would make it easier to take actions against the most significant infringers.

"What I said at the meeting was that the record industry in Britain is still going down the road of criminalising our audience for downloading illegal MP3s," said musician Billy Bragg who added that "Artists should own their own rights and they should decide when their music should be used for free, or when they should have payment."

Ed O'Brien, member of Radiohand band, considered that during a "defining time for the industry (...) a lot of the rights and revenue streams are being carved up, and we need a voice... I think all the major players want to hear what we have to say."

It's not a crime to download, say musicians (12.03.2009)
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/its-not-a-c...

Featured Artists Opposed To Cutting Off File-Sharers (12.03.2009)
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3iffcfe0c0b02...