Of all the bright Public Relations ideas to come along in a while, EMI is questioning the value of music industry trade groups like IPFI and RIAA. This is good news for everyone who has been a victim either justly or unjustly of the two major enforcement arms of music and video media folks. Somewhere in the back ground there is a crowd of cheers filtering from the bottom of the food chain. For every honest person out there, who has had to deal with various forms of just wanting to use their media their way, this is some of the most welcome news around.

Now if EMI would only do it. Since they are merely considering it, it still remains to be seen.

One idea that has been floated by the majors is a consolidation of the IFPI, which represents 1,400 record companies in 75 countries, and the RIAA into a single unit. Both groups focus on piracy issues and lobbying. EMI’s move appears designed to force the hands of IFPI and RIAA, asking for a proposal on how the IFPI intends to reorganize by the end of March. EMI’s letter says it intends to stop funding the organization on March 31, although there is some doubt that EMI would leave the org that quickly. Source: Variety

With commentary from the usual suspects, Ars Technica, techspot and its own conversation on Techmeme.

While no one is going to condone piracy, the lawsuits against customers has proven to be a disaster, both from a financial and public relations level. Sure sites have been shut down, people have been busted, but the sad fact is that P2P use continues to increase, and for every site taken down, others are willing to pull up the slack and launch new sites. The end sum game of this has not been worth the paper that the money has been printed on.

While a super RIAA or IFPI is an interesting concept, that should also worry folks if there is a universal group that is going after copyright violations, P2P sites, Bittorrent sites, and the average consumer. How the new copyright enforcement arm of the major media companies go about their business is just as important as how they are funded.

We would hope that the new enforcement arm or consolidated RIAA/IFPI group or what ever survives if EMI really pulls out, will make a difference. If it is “business as usual” then there is no win here, if they go after “hearts and minds” they might just stand a chance, and some serious chances to rehabilitate the music and movie industries declining popularity.