A positive interpretation of SB 3794

As many are probably aware, Tennesse Governor Phil Bredesen recently signed into law a bill requiring all universities and schools in the state to take action to ensure that there networks are not being used for illegal file sharing. While this is certainly an understandable response to lobbyist pressure from the RIAA and MPAA, the terms of the legislation are hazy and it is unclear what the Governor deems necessary action to be taken by the concerned establishments. Writer and musician Josh Belville recently posted a very interesting take on the legislation for the Artistshouse blog in which he suggests that in an effort to avoid the trend of prohibitive legislation, universities should seek manners in which to positively reinforce legal music downloads by setting up accounts with online music purveyors such as eMusic who in return for revenue from a minimal increase in tuition would provide a monthly number of free downloads to every student. I think that Josh is very much on to something with this idea and took it a step further by commenting that this may even be a call for someone to develop a service exclusively tailored to universities and large organizations in terms of content provided and subscription negotiation. Whatever the outcome, I firmly believe that this is the sort of thinking that will return stability to the music industry as opposed to the futile and banally stupid ideas held by the RIAA and MPAA that they can somehow put an end to online piracy by seeking out and punishing people on an individual basis.

Josh’s article as well as my comments are available here: Artistshouse/Josh Belville