There was a point in my life that I stood up for the labels. I defended the fact that charging for music/video is the right thing to do and is essentially needed for both parties to continue paying all the people they employ. I crticized on a near daily basis people who believed that they should get there music for free simply because they could and I bashed the people who thought it was their right to do so. Starting today, I officially cannot do so anymore.
Warner Bros. Studios and Universal Studios are pressuring Redbox, a $1 dollar rental service kiosk, to delay availability of new release titles by thirty days and the labels have thrown Netflix in the mix as well. Let me say this as nicely as I can to the labels, you single handidly are killing your own business and I hope that you die a slow… and painful death.
No longer will I defend your reasoning for suing sites into oblivion. No longer will I go to the store and respectfully buy your DVD’s at full price because I believe that your investement in such things as a business is to make profit. No, what I will do is encourage.
I will encourage the people who take your precious music/movies to share it with the world. I will encourage people to rip every DVD and make it available to the masses for free. I will encourage every torrent site that takes a stand against your stupidity and continues to let their users download anything they wish, “illegal” or not. I will encourage that your current business model that consists of over-charging people and suing your partners into oblivion fails and you realize it when it is too late.
I hope you pitiful labels realize how utterly disgusting your business practices are and how severely you are limiting innovation in a space that desperatly needs it because of your self-centered actions. I was once your biggest supporter labels. I bought every tune I have ever listened to and I put up with DRM. That has all changed and now I hope, no.., I will, be at the center of your downfall. And you can be sure of the fact I will sit there and watch with glee in my eyes.
