The RIAA and friends threaten one and all with an ad in the NY Times:

NEXT TIME YOU OR YOUR KIDS 'SHARE' MUSIC ON THE INTERNET, YOU MAY ALSO WISH TO DOWNLOAD A LIST OF ATTORNEYS.

By now, most people know that distributing copyrighted music over the Internet without permission is illegal. The courts have said it, Congress has said it, the artists, musicians and songwriters you love have said it, and we have said it. What's more, there are now many legal and inexpensive ways to get music online. So why do millions of computer users who may know it's wrong continue to steel music? Because they think they can't be caught. And because they think it's free.

So now they can explain themselves to a judge.

Starting today, the record industry will begin gathering evidence and preparing lawsuits against individual computer users who illegally "share" copyrighted music over so-called peer-to-peer networks.

Some folks ask us, "How can you sue your consumers?" Well, the same question can be asked of retailers who prosecute shoplifters. And the answer is simple: retailers take action against shoplifters because they know the problem would get a whole lot worse if they didn't.

Music doesn't just happen. It's made and brought to you by tens of thousands of people - from songwriters and recording artists to warehouse workers and record store clerks - who work very hard to get it right.

Still others claim the problem isn't file sharing but that today's music just isn't any good. Hey, there's no accounting for taste, but if the music isn't good, why are millions of people illegally downloading literally billions of new songs each month?

Here are the facts: stealing music over the Internet is no different than shoplifting CDs out of a record store. It's wrong, and it's against the law. It's also a very public activity - meaning the offenders can easily be identified.

We'd much rather spend our time making music than dealing with legal issues. But we can't just accept the work of our artists, songwriters, and an entire industry being stolen. So the next time you think about "sharing" music illegally on the Internet, maybe you should also think about how it's going to play in court.

American Federation of Musicians
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
ASCAP
Association of Independent Music Publishers
BMI
Country Music Association
Gospel Music Association
Nashville Songwriters Association International
National Music Publishers Association
Recording Industry of America
SESAC
Songwriters Guild of America
Tennessee Songwriters Association International

This reminds me of the guy who stuck his unit out the window in an effort the screw the world.