Hi Chris! I think that if possible, maybe collaboration is better than lawsuits! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christopher Chaltain" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org> Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2008 9:44 AM Subject: Re: Unfortunate News From America Online (AOL)
> Well, I fully believe that law suits should be a last resort, and we > shouldn't "panic". In this case though, I'd like to point out a few > things. > > "we will take some significant steps backward as we transition to the use > of a third party player. We apologize for the inconvenience" > > I believe Curtis Chong when he says "Mr. Wlodkowski ... is a man of > integrity and a person who is deeply committed to ensuring access to AOL's > services by all people with disabilities.", but it sounds to me like our > inability to access AOL or CBS Radio is considered a mere inconvenience to > AOL. Since we have other streaming options, I suppose technically it is > just an inconvenience, but if everyone providing on line streams and media > players felt this way then it wouldn't be long before this vital source of > information and entertainment would be inaccessible to the blind. I agree > that as blind persons and Americans, we have bigger issues facing us, but > you can always say that about any given issue. Furthermore, more and more > people are getting their information on these weighty issues over the > internet, and the blind should be able to do the same. > > "The necessity of this new business model was driven by the dramatic > increase in the music royalty rates paid for Internet Radio. This action > by the record labels left AOL no choice but to look for an alternative way > to stay in the internet radio business. Given the business demands and > accelerated transition, there wasn't ample time for us to effective > address the major usability issues with the CBS Player. The AOL Radio team > is aware of the accessibility barriers presented by this transition, and > is committed to addressing the issue with CBS Radio once the new player > interface launches on June 9." > > > When did AOL and others know about this dramatic increase in royalty > rates paid to internet radio? Is it really the case that they didn't > have ample time to deal with accessibility issues? Why are they waiting > until June 9th to address this issue with CBS radio? > > Like I said, we shouldn't "panic", although I'm not sure I've seen > anyone panic yet, and we shouldn't jump to the conclusion that anyone > needs to file a law suit. On the other hand, although AOL and Mr. > > Wlodkowski are coming clean with this issue, I don't think they should be > given a free pass either. For my part, I'm not convinced they couldn't > have addressed this issue before June 9. Furthermore, I don't think > business needs are a justification to break the law. > > Well, that's just my $0.02, and I know people who are a lot smarter than > me and who are a lot familiar with all of these issues are looking into > this. I'm just tossing out my opinion, so feel free to hit the delete key > and ignore it! > > > -- > Christopher > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... > http://www.pc-audio.org > > To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... http://www.pc-audio.org To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
