Google makes more revenue in a quarter than the entire recording industry makes in a year.
Why then, does the RIAA have so much sway in Washington? Because they know money buys influence, and they are willing to put up the cash.
It may be a damning indictment of our democratic process that this is true, but that doesn't change the fact that it is true. SOPA's going to be as hurtful to Google as anyone else, but talking about it on wonky tech blogs won't solve shit. Put up the cash, Google. Play the game.
The recording industry has been doing this for much longer, so their lobbyists' Rolodexes are much thicker than Rolodexes of Google's lobbyists. And the RIAA's have been sending Christmas cards to all the various Senators and Congresspeople for decades, while Google's only started last year.
They would need to do both! I appreciate that Brin et. al. are not hiding behind some shill movements and lobbyists but are speaking out personally. But without money it becomes just a farce that allows them to save face by saying afterwards "we warned you guys".
Google makes more revenue in a quarter than the entire recording industry makes in a year.
Why then, does the RIAA have so much sway in Washington? Because they know money buys influence, and they are willing to put up the cash.
It may be a damning indictment of our democratic process that this is true, but that doesn't change the fact that it is true. SOPA's going to be as hurtful to Google as anyone else, but talking about it on wonky tech blogs won't solve shit. Put up the cash, Google. Play the game.