EFF group launches 'Let the Music Play' campaign, targets RIAA

spacegrass used our news submit to tell us that watchdog group the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has launched a "Let the Music Play" campaign. The campaign urges U.S. citizens who use file-sharing software to demand changes in copyright law to get artists paid and make file-sharing legal:

"Today, more U.S. citizens use file-sharing software than voted for President Bush," said EFF senior staff attorney Fred von Lohmann. "Congress needs to spend less time listening to record industry lobbyists and more time listening to the more than 60 million Americans who use file-sharing software today." The EFF is placing advertisements explaining its position in publications including Spin, Blender, Computer Gaming World, and PC Gamer. The ad copy alludes to the RIAA's recent lawsuits against university students, referring to the labels as "bullies," and proposes that consumers are tired of being treated like criminals. EFF executive director Shari Steele said it would be more productive for the music industry and the government to consider completely different courses of action. "Copyright law is out of step with the views of the American public and the reality of music distribution online," Steele said. "Rather than trying to sue people into submission, we need to find a better alternative that gets artists paid while making file sharing legal."

The EFF website offers background information, technical details, and assistance to consumers who wish to write members of Congress on the topic. Besides that, the website also explains how you can avoid being sued by the RIAA for file-sharing.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter