Say “Hurrah!” for Nettwerk Music Group

“Canada's biggest record label, publisher and management company is helping out a family sued by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)for copyright infringement. The privately-owned Nettwerk Music Group is intervening, it says, because the songs downloaded by the Gruebel family include Avril Lavigne, a Nettwerk management client. Nettwerk will fund the Gruebel's defense.
“The current actions of the RIAA are not in my artists' best interests,” said Nettwerk chief executive Terry McBride in a statement. “Litigation is not 'artist development'. Litigation is a deterrent to creativity and passion and it is hurting the business I love.”
Chicago lawyer Charles Lee Mudd will defend the Gruebels. Mudd said the RIAA has “misapplied” the law and that lawsuits should be a “shield, not a sword”. The RIAA has demanded the family pay a $9,000 penalty, reduced to $4,500 if they pay up promptly. Nettwerk has vowed to foot the legal bill if it loses the case. ®”
Above is quoted from a short article at The Register.
I like this, it shows a clear and indisputable trend developing. The RIAA historically has been mafia connected, and their activities indicate that they have not changed. I am glad to see one of the labels refusing to allow their name to be dragged into the mud by this group of viscious trash. I find it intriguing how organized crime has changed over time. Chicago accent to LA, I guess even crooks like sunshine.
You have to see the quote from Aversion.com;
““The reason I am speaking up is that most major artists have been silent,” McBride told Aversion. “We need the artists to start telling their labels that they don't agree with suing fans, this is wrong. Until that happens it will not stop. I sincerely hope that we can cause the process to start in earnest. We need a healthy positive debate to sort this out.””
There is a complete press release at http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=107623