Obscure rock band urges dirty deeds against Napster

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From: Jay_Thomas@putnaminv.com
Date: Thu Jun 22 2000 - 11:06:12 PDT


Wasn't it just yesterday, someone on FoRK asked about people mislabeling
songs on Napster to screw with people? Apparently it's an organized effort.
Someone hurry up with that filter...

Obscure rock band urges dirty deeds against Napster
By Erich Luening
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
June 22, 2000, 8:35 a.m. PT
URL: http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-2128478.html

A San Francisco Bay Area rock band is waging an unconventional war against
Napster.

The band, The Tabloids, has launched a Web site, Stopnapster.com, that
urges people to sabotage the controversial music-sharing service by
mislabeling songs posted to
Napster's site. It also calls for releasing songs to Napster that have
anti-piracy speeches inserted randomly in the music.

The Oakland band, which describes its music as "Lou Reed meets The Clash,"
insists the Web site is not affiliated with the major recording companies
and instead
represents lesser-known artists and small labels.

"Just think of the reaction you'll get from users who think they're
downloading the new Beastie Boys track but instead get four minutes of dogs
barking, sirens going off,
etc.," the band said on its Web site. "You may be one minute into Eminem's
new release when suddenly Charlton Heston begins reading a public-interest
message
opposing song theft."

The site also calls for government regulation of Napster.

"Musicians and songwriters need the help of Congress to keep Napster and
its adherents from robbing them blind. A national surcharge on CDs may be
required," the band
said.

The war against Napster largely has been waged by the major record labels,
which are suing the San Mateo, Calif., company in federal court in an
effort to shut down the
site. The Recording Industry Association of America and record labels
contend that Napster contributes to copyright infringement because its
members trade songs
through the service.

Last week, Napster said it plans to forge a series of relationships with
unsigned artists and independent labels to make their music available
through its software.

From a philosophical perspective, The Tabloids said, "it's important for
artists and others involved in creative pursuits to speak out on this issue
because of the
overwhelming threat posed by Napster to intellectual freedom in the U.S."


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