The Irish Recorded Music Association IRMA, is spearheading a campaign to get ISPs in Ireland to block websites that they say are ripping them off by allowing users to illegally download music.  In response to this an online campaign to put a stop to this censorship designs gets underway tomorrow.

One thing is that we at CPB do not support illegal downloads but from experience, we know that the arbitrary blocking of sites never works.¬† It is a fact that anyone who wants to download music and know a little of how the web operates will download whatever he or she pleases another this is that such an action gives the ‘offending’ site publicity and increasing its traffic numbers and thus its users.There are options to use that are and will benefit both parties in such a situation.

Another issue is that are Music Associations or such in a position to set policy about which sites should be blocked or are these organizations that solely cater for their members wants not for the online populace.  Are we getting into a situation that any busybody is allowed to dictate on online liberties? Another issue is that will the musicians for whom IRMA purports to speak for benefit from such an action?  These are questions that need truthful answers.

The campaign dubbed ‘Blackout Ireland’ wants web users to among other thing, balck out their avatars on social networking sites, contact Ireland’s¬† Minister for Communication and their ISPs to protest IRMA’s action.¬† Check out the site for more information.

CPB supports Blackout ireland in their endeavours.