Who thinks the RIAA are going too far with their planned action against tab sites?

[SirGary]

Virtually all of my favourite TAB sites have shut down over the past 6 months or so, and I think that the RIAA are going too far with their action against TAB sites.
My understanding was that most TABs out there are peoples' interpritations of an aritist's work and so not breaking copywrite laws, but the money grabbing RIAA seem to be worming their way around my understandings to try and extort more money off the average person learning guitar.
I wouldn't mind it so much if the offical TAB books they released were reasonably priced (and more accurate books would also be appreciated), but with most of the books being about £20 or so (something like $35) I can't afford to buy the TABs to all of the songs I want to learn.
Also, I don't by things like these out of principle because almost all of the money lines the pockets of the record company executives.
Anyways, I'd like to know your opinions

[elcid]

Not everything that people want to learn is available for purchase, so who cares if someone wants to put it up for others to learn. Besides F the RIAA, after the sht sony pulled with their rootkits, I never want to hear them complain about anything ever again.

[moro]

I hate the RIAA as much as the next guy, but you're barking up the wrong tree here. The Music Publishers' Association is who is responsible for shutting down the tab sites, not the RIAA.

[mi2tom]

NO! Let us guitarists practice in peace!

[SirGary]

Is it the The Music Publishers' Association who are responsible? I thought it was the RIAA. I apologise if I got my facts wrong.
Anyway, I hate the RIAA even if they aren't responsible for TAB sites being taken down, and hating one more big money making machine wont do me anymore harm now, xD.

[jemsite]

it was the MPA but they are as clandestine, anti-consumer and anti-artist in their operations as the RIAA. these organizations are two centuries late as slavery is thankfully long gone in america... glen

[andy7jem]

It sucks! TAB books are usually whole albums.I might only want to learn 1 or 2 songs off the album but i still have to buy the whole book!!

[jemplayer55]

Sorry to disagree..... but any artist/musician makes money two ways.... SALES & live performance! Before there was online tabs, you bought the record, and worked on both ear training and technique to learn something.

[jemsite]

and if someone took that time to transcipt and post a song how they interpreted it... the MPA has no business getting involved.

the MPA (like the RIAA) should be more concerned about finding new revenue streams and spreading that revenue (TO THE ARTISTS NOT LAWYERS) more appropriately instead of more pointless litigation which defies the constitution. all that $$$ wasted on bully tactics could help them establish an "itunes-like" model for selling Tablature online... glen

[jemplayer55]

Now I like the iTunes type idea...... Lawyers, managers, etc. and most wonder why they call us starving musicians. They each want a piece. Not much left on the plate when it gets back to the guy working his craft.

[southpaw_lefty]

I guess I can see where they're coming from anybody with half a brain and internet access won't be buying tab books. In my experience these books are usually incorrect anyway either showing the wrong positions or completely wrong notes, so they're probably getting what they deserve. A lot of internet tabs are wrong too, but you have so many sources to draw from that you can usually find quality stuff.

[moro]

I think iTunes has shown that people are willing to pay for stuff they can otherwise get for free. Surprisingly, a lot of people want to do The Right Thing.

I'd be perfectly willing to pay for downloadable official tabs if they:

1) were accurate
2) were reasonably priced ($0.99 per song seems reasonable)
3) could be downloaded a single song at a time. I don't want to be forced to buy the tabs for the entire album
4) have no / minimal DRM
5) were in a nicely formatted, editable format, like powertabs

[moro]

Originally Posted by jemplayer55

Sorry to disagree..... but any artist/musician makes money two ways.... SALES & live performance! Before there was online tabs, you bought the record, and worked on both ear training and technique to learn something.

No one is downloading the tabs *instead* of buying the CD. People want to play the songs that they already own.

[carlos grijalva]

I think they have the right to do that, but it's a little extreme.

[jemsite]

Originally Posted by moro

I think iTunes has shown that people are willing to pay for stuff they can otherwise get for free. Surprisingly, a lot of people want to do The Right Thing.

they do... even though they're not always allowed.

for example my sis asked me today "if i buy songs, not entire cds, from itunes can i play them with Windows Media Player". i then had to explain no and go into confusing conversation... only itunes and you then need an iPod (not any other mp3 player thanx to "fairplay") unless you want to make a cd from the purchased songs, rip and retag. that is not a workable model long term unless people just "dispose" the content.

books have a longer shelf life

tabs books will always have a place... not everyone has a PC and laser printer... nevermind the books can have color photos, extras and are good for gifts, etc. sheet music (piano, wind instruments, etc.) has been sold "song by song" for decades... glen