Sean Reiser

Been watching all of the discussion over the Last.FM / RIAA kerfufal and I have a question. I simply need to know ... what geniuses are scrobbing that they are listening to unreleased music? If I were publicly broadcasting a list of songs as I listened to them I'd expect the RIAA and other related groups to be watching. People aren't concerned that they'll lose their street cred because they listen to Neil Diamond's "Forever in Blue Jeans", they are concerned that the RIAA is going to show up at their door with a subpoena.

If a thief stood on the street corner and announced on a bullhorn "I'm the guy who robbed the 3rd National Bank", we'd expect the police to pick this person up and at least look at him as a suspect. This would be considered probable cause by any sane person. The crime would be covered on every news broadcast in the "wacky news" segment. How is scrobbling that you're listening to music that isn't released yet any different?

I'm not a fan of the RIAA, just the opposite. But I have problems defending brazen, stupid criminals.