Lily Allen takes a stand against illegal file sharing
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“It’s not fair and I think you’re really mean… for downloading my songs without paying for them.” These would be more appropriate lyrics to Lily Allen’s recent single as she wages war on music piracy.
Allen has expressed her full support for Lord Peter Mandelson’s proposed legislation that pushes to suspend the internet connections of persistent file sharers. Lord Mandelson said:
“I am of the view that the unchecked proliferation of illegal downloading (even on a ‘non-commercial’ basis) will have a seriously detrimental effect on musicians, and particularly young musicians and those composers who are not performing artists.”
The suspension is said to be used only as a last resort against repeat offenders who have been sent warnings against their illegal activity.
Allen recently posted a blog on her MySpace page entitled “It’s Not Alright” stating that “file sharing is a disaster” for new talent, a view that has since been backed by Elton John, James Blunt and Matt Bettany of Muse.
Stars such as Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason, Annie Lennox and Ed O’Brien of Radiohead, all members of the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) have suggested, however, that it would be unfair to punish fans who download only a small amount of music and say that it is an “important form of promotion”.
The reluctance of the FAC to back the proposed legislation has been viewed by some as an indication of their support for file sharing.
The FAC, a not-for-profit lobbying group that aims to educate and protect the rights of artists, released a statement on their website clarifying that they were not pro-illegal downloading and believe that the “work of artists should be paid for by those who enjoy it”.
The Coalition believe that punishing innocent fans is not the way forward and have stated: “In respect of this particular issue, we have agreed to disagree.”
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Image Credit: Benoît Derrier