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RIAA’s Happy Holidays eCard

Most people will never hear anything from the RIAA, unless the anti-piracy outfit demands money from them for allegedly downloading copyrighted music, of course. But even the RIAA has a warm and fuzzy side, but unfortunately it’s limited to music industry insiders.

Christmas is a time for sharing, something the RIAA is not too fond of. Nevertheless, they sent out seasons greetings to a select group of people. Rather than the traditional paper greeting, to save a few bucks they used an eCard instead of the real thing. Apparently they don’t shy from technology when it saves them money.

One of those insiders, working at Sony, was kind enough to ‘share’ the eCard with us, writing:

“I’m one of those ‘lucky’ people that the RIAA send something other than cease & desist or lawsuit emails to. This year, they sent me a lovely eCard.”

What a beauty it is, how kind of them.

“May the joyful sound of music always be a part of your holidays.” Indeed. Too bad we are still required to pay copyright fees if we want to sing Christmas carols.

RIAA’s eCard, more here

riaa Christmas

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  • Anonymous

    Is anyone else wondering if they own the rights to "Skating" from Charlie Brown or if they just committed the most ironic form of copyright infringement ever??

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Yeow Yeow

      Either way, when the number of words in your copyright list is greater than your message, something is wrong.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/TorrentFreak TorrentFreak

      I hope they licensed it as a public performance, if not, it will probably be taken offline soon ;)

    • Kevin

      it says right at the bottom "used by permission of concord music group inc."

    • Crandom

      The song was created in 1955 and so is 3 years outside the 50 year deadline when music becomes public domain. Ironically they (or maybe IFPI) want to raise this to something like 75 or 95 years, which would mean it would be against the law.

      • john doe

        Afaik it's x years after *death*, not creation.

        • Crandom

          after creation i'll think you'll find…. or they wouldn't be able to say artists are going poor in old age as their copyright runs out, which is their main argument to increase it.

        • http://lachy.id.au/ Lachlan Hunt

          It depends on the laws of the country, whether the copyright is owned by an individual or an organisation, and when the work was created. But for an individaul, it's typically 50 or 70 years after death for contemporary works. For a company, I believe it was set to 95 years in the US by the Micky Mouse Protection Act.

          It's well known that the argument about continued income for old artists is bogus, just like all other arguments put for by the copyright lobyists. But that doesn't matter. We can't let real facts and evidence get in the way of their profits.

    • Mike

      It has all the licensing info at the bottom der…

  • Mr.Afghanistan

    Merry Christmas RIAA =)
    Thanks for the eCard :P

    Give us a mass downloading access to all copyright materials ( This is Damn Christmas ).
    Surprise us :)

  • RIAA = Satan

    Well at least they didnt kill trees sending out that garbage, i woulda been more angry if it was on paper.

    i think they should have to pay a fee for wasting my time..

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/EZEE EZEE

    A group of people should take baseball bats and bash everyone at RIAA HQ to a pulp…
    that would be a better Christmas gift than "a mass downloading access to all copyright materials".

    Starting with chief pig Cary Sherman of course… this man has done more for music than the Boston strangler for women.
    (Some of you will get that ;) )

  • http://www.intensedebate.com/people/EZEE EZEE

    A group of people should take baseball bats and bash everyone at RIAA HQ to a pulp…
    that would be a better Christmas gift than "a mass downloading access to all copyright materials".

    Starting with chief pig Cary Sherman of course… this man has done more for music than the Boston strangler for women.
    (Some of you will get that ;) )

    Cheers!
    http://www.eZee.se

  • noon

    that's not immature at all.

    you don't sound like a fifteen year old calling out for attention…not one bit.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/EZEE EZEE

      Who me?

      • http://intensedebate.com/people/Binsy Binsy

        lol ezee, that was an awesome response. It made me laugh. Merry xmas

        • http://intensedebate.com/people/EZEE EZEE

          Most welcome :p
          Merry Christmas mate!

        • http://intensedebate.com/people/NubCakes NubCakes

          ROFLMAO – thanks, nice joke :D

  • mememe

    sooo what i sdifferatn then tossing eggs at actors and musicains? ( i tel you while it a ajoke ot say that someone cou,d still seriously get hurt and its better to get one of those blow up bats and then go after them !!!!!)

    • Bob

      How's about you come back after learning some grammar? It's damned embarrassing when people who've only been learning this language for a year can spell better than you.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Crazy1 Crazy1

    The RIAA have a nice side? I think I just took a trip into a parallel universe. . .

    • Anon

      it's a trap….in some way or another

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Roze Roze

      Nope. They sure don't.

  • Kirby

    aawww….happy holidays RIAA :)

    now suck my balls

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/EZEE EZEE

      LOL!
      Thanks for that… choked while drinking and reading.. but worth it!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Roze Roze

    “May the joyful sound of music always be a part of your holidays.”
    Of course, the more appropriate message is, "the MAFIAA is watching you (to ensure that you don't do anything with our music that we don't approve of)…"

  • http://www.diggering.com Ali

    Is it just me or does that ecard just look like a reminder of all the Christmas tracks they own?

  • An eCard? AN ECARD?

    That's just… Lame.

  • UraPhake

    That eCard cover is so…beautiful!

    I will be sure and include it in my next torrent upload of Metallica tunes.

  • Nobody

    Nah, look at the bottom, used with permission. Although that would have been funny as hell.

    #2 has it spot on though.. just feels.. dirty. “Merry Christmas, and we’re still watching you.”

  • Anonymous

    “May the Joyful Sound of Music Always be a Part of Your Holidays”

    … As long as our corporate executives get paid as much as they want. Otherwise, you won’t be able to afford to celebrate any holidays after our lawyers get done with you.

  • Pingback: [TF]RIAA?s Happy Holidays eCard - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net

  • http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Binsy Binsy

    im gonna screen grab a mpeg of that flash movie and torrent it to the masses…. MOOOWHOOOOHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

    Merry xmas! And i hope santa gives the Mafiaa some anal pillaging for christmas.

    ……i think ive had a few to many xmas beers. happy days!

    xxx

  • ju

    thought they’re only doing it to save money, at least they’re embracing technology O_o

  • James Dean

    Those idiots. I am truly surprised someone hasnt taken them out yet.

    Jes
    privacy.cz.tc

  • Pingback: Best X-Mas For You » Blog Archive » RIAA’s Happy Holidays eCard | TorrentFreak

  • A file-sharer

    Ahh, it’s right enough.

    Have a nice holiday, RIAA.

  • mer

    Thanks for information ;)

    __________________________
    http://tinyurl.com/4rdhmc

  • jck

    FUCK the RIAA

  • anon

    thats where the moneys going then. down with the riaa and the other ones from other countrys !!!! burn them alllll!!!!!!

  • Pingback: Regifting a RIAA Christmas Card | Vancouver Secrets

  • http://www.raidz.net raidz

    Cheapskates. eCards are so impersonal. When will these goons ever come to reality?

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/EZEE EZEE

    Would be nice if thepiratebay took that ecard and substituted some stuff and made it their ecard, bet it would be much more popular and well received.

    I know I for one would appreciate it more :)

    Cheers!

    • Drugs

      Good idea, write them about it!

  • Pingback: nerdd.net | news and opinion

  • funy

    3 Pirates together…..

    http://www.torrent-tatty.org/

  • Pingback: RIAAs Happy Holidays eCard « Internet Making Money

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  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Cory Cory
  • http://cip.nu Cip

    I bet they didn't ask for permission to use the Muppets or the background music in that card..

  • RIAA eCard Thief

    Lookie Lookie I grabbed a copy of the RIAAs swf ecard, im gonna be sued :P

    aka, the bandit thhat warez ur underwear

  • BTGuard - BitTorrent Anonymously

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