Boo-Freaking-Hoo: RIAA Complains That 'The Deck Is Stacked' Against Them On CES Panels

Politics

from the like-the-kkk-complaining-about-discrimination-against-it dept

Okay, this is just ridiculous. A few folks have sent over the latest edition of Politico’s Morningtech report, in which RIAA representatives at CES bitch and moan that the “deck is stacked” against them in the conversation here:

There are far more SOPA/PIPA opponents than supporters on hand here, as one might expect. The RIAA, however, is also on scene this week at the show — and a spokeswoman expressed concern about the conversation so far. “It sure seems like the deck is stacked to ensure no meaningful or balanced debate occurs on an issue that is very important to American jobs and our economy,” the spox said.

Are these guys serious? First of all, the attendees at the show are overwhelmingly against the bills from everything we’ve seen. Seeing Ron Wyden and Darrell Issa get standing ovations for opposing the bills should say something. And it’s not that “the decks are stacked” against them through some nefarious means, but that the majority of people are against them because they don’t like these bills. More SOPA supporters — including RIAA/MPAA/US Chamber of Commerce folks (all of whom are here) — could have come, but it appears not many did. And that’s because not too many seem to support these bills.

But, more to the point, who the hell does the RIAA think it’s kidding? “The deck is stacked”? At a trade show? How about back in Washington DC where this bill was written? In that case, the MPAA/RIAA folks were very, very active in the very creation of the bills in question. The tech sector? NOT ALLOWED at the table. The Judiciary Committee hearings? Stacked five-to-one in favor of the bill, and the “one” against the bill was Google — who is Congress’ punching bag, and was put there so that Congressional reps could grandstand against the company and pretend that only “evil Google” is against the bill. Plenty of us involved in the actual innovation economy — the startup entrepreneurs and venture capitalists who create all this innovation offered to step up and meet about these bills — and we were denied.

The deck is stacked? Hell yes, it’s stacked. It’s stacked almost 100% in favor of rushing through a bad bill that fundamentally alters both the legal and technical underpinnings of the internet, making the innovations we all want and need — including the innovations that are already helping musicians and filmmakers and other artists — much, much more difficult to get off the ground.

The deck is stacked? When Hollywood outspends all of those opposed on this issue with their lobbying dollars 10-to-1, and Congress simply ignores the widespread outrage and legitimate concerns of those opposed to the bill, you’d better freaking believe that the “deck is stacked.” It’s stacked in the other direction entirely.

So, boo-freaking-hoo to the ridiculous folks at the RIAA. So damn sorry that once you leave your DC bubble and come out to the real world where innovation actually takes place you find reality is against you. But if you want to talk about how “the deck is stacked,” let’s take a look back into the DC echo chamber where these bills have been crafted and are being pushed through. Yes, the deck is stacked — and it’s stacked completely against innovation and openness. So forgive us for not shedding a tear at the fact that your poor, overly-sensitive lobbyists have to hear some of the real world concerns about this bill.

Filed Under: ces, pipa, politics, protect ip, sopa, stacked deck
Companies: riaa