To Some "US Americans"*, P2P Hurts Corn Farmers

The few times that I feel good about what's happening in the Philippines is when I see much much more absurdities happening in other countries.

Take for example the recent scuffle between iTunes and NBC: NBC asked Apple to raise the per-episode price of its tv contents in the iTunes Store. Apple stood firm against it, and NBC went home with the ball, announcing that they're not renewing their contract with Apple.

Discussions on this happenings promted John Gruber to point to a document from NBC in its filing to the US Federal Communications Commission back in June, calling for more regulation of the internet:

Because of our nation’s interlocking economy, two-thirds of the lost earnings and lost jobs are in industries other than motion picture production. For example, in the absence of movie piracy, video retailers would sell and rent more titles. Movie theaters would sell more tickets and popcorn. Corn growers would earn greater profits and buy more farm equipment...

As funny as the argument is, Mr Art Brodsky still dilligently refuted this claim in his post in public knowledge.

On a the same note, Michael Gartenberg of Jupiter research came up with probably the best description of some old-school movie and television executives:

Sometimes I think God put video content guys on the planet to make the music guys look progressive and visionary.

That really made my morning. :)

*Words borrowed from Miss South Carolina.