Saturday, November 9, 2002

Now to something completely different (somewhat at least): EMI Germany at last voices what they think of their customers. The translation is pretty accurate, sometimes a little genteler than the meaning in German (German text is here ). EMI argues that 250 million CD-Rs were sold last year compared to 213 million Audio CDs and for that reason every customer is a filthy pirate (they are outright stupid mom, don't bother!). What bothers me really is: they refuse to acknowledge that they sell a product that's broken by design, actually they insult their customers and blame them for not buying a new CD-Player if the broken product doesn't work. First question here: Someone is trying to sell me coasters for 15 bucks each, am I convinced? Sure! Second question: The mail is signed "Consumer Relations", since when is insult a part of PR? Maybe there is an "Flashy insults for the incompetent" course I didn't see at the local college? Actually, the (German) wording fuels all the prejudices about people in PR. The whole thing will take place in Europe first, by the way. So the European consumers (who are paying the salaries for these talented PR persons, at least at the moment) will be the testcase for loads of crippled things that resemble the Audio-CD by the looks and the US will be next? On the BMG website one can find further "information". What struck my fancy there is the last line: "Source for all figures IFPI". They represent the Music-Industry in Germany. I checked their website and found among a lot of FUD-talk the following: "Einen Anspruch von Endverbrauchern auf private Vervielfältigung darf es auch künftig nicht geben." (Loosely translated: "There is no/there should be no entitlement to a private copy for the consumer.") It's getting better: "Für den technisch nicht kontrollierbaren Bereich und die zugelassene Privatkopie soll es bei einer Pauschalvergütung bleiben. Der Kreis der zulässigen Nutzungen soll eingeschränkt werden." (Again, loosely: "For the technically uncontrollable sector and the allowed private copy (fair use) the flat-fee should stay in place. Fair use should be restricted in the future." "Fair use" is the technically uncontrollable sector that should be restricted in the future? Come on guys, stop the sweet talking! Do it like the record industry, tell us what you REALLY think. to be continued... 7:56:15 PM

Actually the court ruling last Friday made me think a whole week about writing a self-help-book "How to trample on the competition and getting away with it". I decided not to (moral standards were getting in the way). OTOH I could get sued by a reader who took the contents seriously and suffered a trauma for being threatened to get a slap on the wrist if he/she would do it again. 7:49:53 PM

Phew, hard week, almost no time so far but 23 shines!!!! 7:38:51 PM

© Copyright 2003 Erik Keller.