Battleangel

Boing Boing says it best.

RPGFilms was a website that hosted tons of machinima videos made with video-game engines. One popular machinima genre is the music video, in which a machinima artist synchs action recorded from a game to a piece of popular music.

Now the Recording Industry Association of America has had RPGFlims shut down because they argue that these “songs files” (not MP3s you understand, but humorous videos made by fans who in no way substitute for purchasing the songs) infringe their members’ copyrights.

The use of music in fan-films can only be beneficial to the rightsholder’s interests, and permitting that use can only be beneficial to society. Watching the RIAA commit slow, spectacular suicide by taking down the fan art that celebrates, advertises and raises awareness of its members’ products, well, it’s flabbergasting.

Asinine! But of course this is only granted that the purpose of the RIAA et al is to protect copyright holders and their income. But that is a pretty big if. I am starting to doubt here. Much like with the so called war on terror. In both cases, either we are dealing with total morons or the real goal is something else entirely the infringement / war story is just a cover.

Update: The RIAA claims that the takedown notice was forged.