RIAA - damn lies and statistics

[Brian Turner]

Well, I'm sure we all remember the RIAA claiming that music sales were down 7% because of music piracy. It was news around the world. And it apparently justified the RIAA taking punitive actions against under-aged teenagers and old-age pensioners, for using PCs involved with file-sharing.

Excepting there was no loss of sales. In fact, sales were UP.

As with all things to do with statistics, it's all about how you present them.

Effectively, the RIAA was only counting how many units they'd shipped out to record stores - and classed this as "sales", rather than actual purchases. Because actual purchases was up, even if the RIAA companies were apparently sending out less.

So if the RIAA send out 7% less stock, but sell 10% more stock - the RIAA allegedly class this as a loss.

Read the article here:

Nielsen Rating System At Odds With RIAA's Claim Of "Lost Sales"


Oh - and the RIAA are suing more people:

US sues 477 more 'song-swappers'

The US recording industry has sued a further 477 people for online copyright infringement as part of its effort to stop music piracy. The Recording Industry Association of America said the alleged song-swappers included 69 people at 14 universities.

They were identified by web addresses only, as internet service providers are not obliged to reveal their names.

The body has sued 2,454 people since last September, settling 437 cases for around $3,000 (£1,700) each.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertain...ic/3668989.stm

[JamesSmith]

This is why their web site is repeatedly hacked. They are lying scumbags.