Mike McCurry

Does Astroturf Ever Die?

Stevie Converse — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:05:27 -0400

Full article: Huffington Post
Timothy Karr
How do we rid Washington of astroturf? It's a blight that's spread over the Capitol like kudzu, smothering genuine public debate under a tangle of misinformation.

IPSs Should Own Your Eyes and Ears, Say AT&T, Cisco, McCurry

Stevie Converse — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:48:24 -0400

Full article: DPR Blog
David P. Reed
The hottest new faux-digerati lobby firm in the communications field is Mike McCurry's new firm Arts+Labs. Funded by Cisco and AT&T, the firm is defending an ISP's right to do "deep packet inspection" -- except they're calling it the "intelligent network."

Hollywood Wants Internet Providers to Block Copyrighted Files

Stevie Converse — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:24:46 -0400

Full article: New York Times
Saul Hansell
As the entertainment industry attempts to protect their business models, they are turning to ISPs to institute Deep Packet Inspection practices to control what consumers can do online. But their ploy in creating a new front group is "nothing more a concentrated attack on a free and open Internet."

AT&T, NBC Lump Piracy in with Spam, Malware as Net Pollution

Stevie Converse — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 07:21:15 -0400

Full article: ars technica
Nate Anderson
The industry front group Arts & Labs is trying to equate piracy with spam and malware, calling it all "net pollution" that clogs the Web. But their solution -- to use "legal" alternatives that belong to the groups' members -- merely trades one avenue of streaming and downloading for another.

Media, Political Names Step into Piracy Thicket

Stevie Converse — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:33:32 -0400

Full article: Internet News
Christopher Saunders
Media, technology and networking giants are teaming up to tackle what they call key problems with digital content distribution with a new front group called Arts & Labs.

Music, Tech Groups Join to Promote Legal Content

Stevie Converse — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:27:22 -0400

Full article: PC Magazine
Chloe Albanesius
In the wake of a royalty payment deal regarding interactive music streaming, the Songwriters Guild of America partnered with several leading technology and entertainment companies for a coalition that intends to "educate" consumers about how to best access legal content on the Web.

The Hot Soup Coalition Launches to Spy on You and Take Your Internet

Stevie Converse — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:43:19 -0400

Full article: OpenLeft
Matt Stoller
In non-financial crisis news, the long predicted alliance of telecoms and entertainment titans have joined up to fight for infinite copyright, unlimited spying powers on your computer by private companies AND against Net Neutrality.

AT&T, Microsoft, NBC Form Anti-Piracy Supergroup

Stevie Converse — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:39:56 -0400

Full article: Broadband Reports
Karl Bode
AT&T, Microsoft, Cisco, Viacom, and NBC Universal have joined forces to create a new lobbying coalition named "Arts & Labs," tasked with taking aim at piracy. The group is made up of former media advisors to President Bush and Sen. John McCain and lobbyists for the telecom industry.

New Internet Coalition to Launch with Telcom Shills at Opening Event

Stevie Converse — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:43:35 -0400

Full article: National Journal
The launch of an advocacy coalition intended to draw attention to "the opportunities and challenges that the Internet presents for consumers, artists and the technology community alike" will be introduced by industry heavy hitters, like telecom lobbyist Mike McCurry.

Big Media "Hall of Shame": Worst Shill or Astroturf

mthompson — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:21:52 -0400

These organizations and individuals will say or do ANYTHING — as long as you pay!