Mininova Figures Mock RIAA and MPAA Piracy Clampdown

Leading file sharing website Mininova has released figures that prove the piracy clampdown by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is failing, and in a big way.

Despite heavily publicized details of successful cases against illegal downloaders, it’s clear to anyone without blinkered vision that the MPAA, RIAA and other worldwide regulatory bodies are fighting a losing battle against file sharing websites.

This is compounded with the news that the most popular of these file sharing sites, Mininova, has enjoyed 6 billion downloads since its inception 4 years ago. Hardly the work of an industry in decline, despite what authorities would have consumers believe.

With these figures from Mininova, it’s clear that file downloading is the way forward for new media. It’s also indicative of the amount of consumers pissed off at over-priced movie tickets, CD prices and DVD costs.

Independent music artists learnt a while back that offering their music via digital download offers the best way to expand their audience. Yet still the greedy movie studios and major record labels decry the amount of money lost to illegal download sites.

Perhaps if they got off their well-cushioned high horse and actually spoke to file sharing sites like Mininova they’d be able to offer consumers a direct method of buying their product (Mininova now offers premium deals for publishers, and has enjoyed high success with it). Until they do, sites like Mininova will grow and the studios and labels will continue to be left behind.