Wrong (Score 1)

I have graduated law school and have a fairly good understanding of technology and I cannot see how this could be enforced. If you post a song that you have created for anyone to listen to, the RIAA/SoundExchange has done absolutely nothing to further this transaction or add any value of any kind to the recording. What would be the basis for their royalty claim? Unlike copyright, which can attach at creation with no further effort by the creator, "protection" by RIAA/SoundExchange does not just simply attach to an artist's recording by virtue of the fact that it was posted online. Why not claim ownership of the internet while you're at it? Why stop at sound files? Contrary to its own beliefs, RIAA/SoundExchange is a trade group, not a governmental entity, so they could not enforce a royalty payment like a government would impose a tax. This would be tantamount to RIAA/SoundExchange claiming a right to payment for all .mp3 files posted on the internet. Even considering the sometimes monopolistic practices of the entertainment industry, this would really be a stretch. Mark