LECTURER FACES BANKRUPTCY THREAT IN DOWNLOAD ROW

25-06-2007

A Birmingham media lecturer has been warned he faces the threat of bankruptcy and redundancies in his department by a record company boss who’s accusing him of promoting “hatred of the music industry”.

Dubber, who is the degree leader on UCE’s Music Industry course, has been challenged in a series of heated internet exchanges by Paul Birch who runs Wolverhampton based Revolver Records.

Birch is angry because the academic’s personal blog has linked to an article critical of the Recording Industry Association of America (the RIAA) - the trade body which represents the US music business.

The RIAA has been active in pursuing lawsuits against people who’ve made illegal downloads, and Birch - a member of its British equivalent the BPI -warns that by giving voice to the opposition, Dubber could find himself on the wrong end of a lawsuit.

“It might not be nice to be sued by the RIAA and potentially put in a position of being made bankrupt; neither is issuing redundancy notices to hard working staff” he says.

And although Birch recognises that Dubber’s blog is written in a personal capacity, he adds: “You might argue that your professional blog is your opinion alone, however you are interwoven into the views and policy of the University of Central England and I think that puts you in an exposed position”.

The Stirrer understands that Birch has now made an official complaint to Dubber’s employers.

Dubber, a new media specialist told us: “I look at sites around the world, and it goes out on a daily email to people who subscribe. The article being complained about just gives a point of view”.

To see the spat in full click here