RIAA files 1,000 lawsuites against file sharers

from WinCustomize Forums

It was reported yesterday in The Register, a UK tabloid, that the RIAA has filed 1,000 lawsuites naming file-sharers in what will become an unprecedented spate of expensive litigations that could bankrupt and imprison individuals and tie up the courts as well as flood the prisons with ordinary citizens. Remember this is to counter what the record industry is claiming are decreased sales which they blame on file sharing. In Congressional hearings the RIAA refused to provide sales figures from the "Napster period" which could derail their argument, potentially showing that it was their own actions (or any number of other factors) which caused the decrease in sales. With a government that makes laws to protect corporate profits at the expense of individual rights (privacy for one) it's no wonder (though outrageously alarming) that US Senator Orin Hatch (sponsor of the demented Digital Millenium Copyright Act) was advocating physically destroying thousands of families' computers to try to supress internet file sharing. Although Hatch's evil plan has not yet been approved, the Supreme Court has given the RIAA the right to force ISP's to turn over data on users to facillitate the filing of legal action against potentially millions of US citizens.

The Register article: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/31833.html
RIAA nails 1,000 music-lovers in 'new Prohibition' jihad

"On Friday the lobby group that works on behalf of the large, mostly foreign-owned, music conglomerates that own the music copyrights and distribution channels confirmed that it was serving subpoenas at the rate of 75 a day on US citizens for the crime of sharing the music they love.

This signals a change of tactics for the RIAA: as now each individual file sharer is potentially responsible for thousands of dollars in damages. Once they were shielded by ISPs, but in the wake of the Verizon case, individuals are now exposed to direct intimidation. The RIAA is beside itself with glee: and boasted that a thousand music-lovers had already been busted.

The escalation in violence threatens to bring the US criminal justice system to an impasse: although the prison industry is already full to the brim, the RIAA's actions make new criminals out of tens of millions of ordinary US citizens."


some relevant news links:

http://www.msnbc.com/news/938385.asp "RIAA to sue users..." MSNBC July 15th

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/6335275.htm "RIAA nearing 1,000 subpoenas..." Miami Herald July 19th

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14148-2003Jul18.html "Subpoena Onslaught..." Washington Post July 19th

http://news.com.com/2100-1023-981449.html "Federal judge sides with the RIAA's effort..." the fateful Federal Court decision against Verizon - CNET.com news

Boycott-RIAA.com http://www.boycott-riaa.com/

Janis Ian - An alternative view http://www.janisian.com/article-internet_debacle.html


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9,776 views 18 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't know why none of the links worked, but you can copy and paste them if you want to read the articles.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I would like to see someone bashing them with the real reasons for decreasing sales at court.
I hope the defendants find a way to unite in some way. I am not for filesharing at all, but enough is enough...


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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
to quote a slashdot post:

The thing is, the RIAA has subsisted all along on being the middleman. They don't really DO anything. Sure they promote new albums.......oh wait, no they don't, they have ad agencies and their ilk to do it. I know, they press cds......oh wait, no they don't, they outsource it to record pressing companies.

The RIAA(meaning the record companies) only exists because the artists and the consumers haven't really questioned their existence. Artists stand to make a lot of money without the RIAA in place. Why not make all music free? If you want to brave the p2p networks for different quality mp3s and such help yourself. OR, you can pay $5 directly to the artist to download the cd from their website.

Artists can make MORE than enough money from licensing their music(think movie scores, and commercial soundtracks), and live performances. Without having to pay large portions of their income to the record companies, artists stand to make a LOT more money, once the RIAA is gone.

The artists you see fighting p2p etc, are the ones that NEED the RIAA to survive. I'm talking about the sell-out corporately manufactured groups that wouldn't last if the RIAA wasn't there to spam their name all over the radio and mtv every 10 minutes. Those are the only artists that NEED the RIAA, and if we lose them, frankly, here is one slashdot poster that could care less.

It's not that I mind paying for music, but isn't it about time for a paradigm shift? Natural selection has provided an easier and better way to get new music and the record companies are a dying breed.

I have a couple thousand mp3's on my hard drive that I didn't pay for, but I also have heard a lot of new artists that I will jump at the chance to see live, or buy merchandise from.

I'm a bit of an aspiring dj, and I buy records from artists that I've heard and liked through p2p. If it wasn't for p2p those artists wouldn't have had my purchase.

The problem doesn't lie with the consumer.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I for one have rebelled by refusing to buy anything from any artist that is a member or associates with RIAA. This situation has gotten totally ridiculous.

It will cost RIAA more to prosecute these people than they supposedly lose in 5 years. Reduce the damn prices of a CD or at put more than two good songs on a CD and MAYBE, just maybe the public will purchase more.

Orin Hatch is just angry because he's ugly.
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Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think this is a good step, but putting people in jail would be bad, it would be smarter to put a ticket on it.

However I am not sure if this is real, could also be a rummor to scare people...
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Da Webmassa...yes,ugly and no one was sharing his songs.(he's a "songwriter")
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Gee I can only wonder why nobody was sharing his music.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
*advocating physically destroying thousands of families' computers to try to supress internet file sharing.*

Thats just as bad. Yeah thats really going to solve this

Prices for music cd's have just got worse and worse till people wont buy simple as that. Now what was it i seen on TV to make music album £1 maybe dropped a tad, yet they charge customers £20 to £40 for double CD.

Thats insane, can get DVD's for £9.99

Always the same, has to be a crisis before someone fixes it.

Same reason why me or folks dont buy Music cd's no more, maybe 1 or 2 from Britannia.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Geez...I'm from Utah

How embarrassing...He probably writes about the good old Mormon days when he could have 10 wives (ages 11 and up, I might add)

For Hatch to advocate the destuction of users PC's with so many sentimental and valuable things we store on them now days...Is just shameful

If the RIAA is really dragging that many file sharers into court... >
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just like Napster days all over again, keep going round in this circle O_o

Can just see it now, * Hey bud what you in prison for, "oh just sharing and downloading mp3's" lol *
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Confucious say... 'If you cannot beat them...join them.'
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
#3 by Doomgaze......... OR, you can pay $5 directly to the artist to download the cd from their website.


What a concept!! How come someone hasn't thought of/done this before?
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
#8,

voodoo, just bought myself a jimi hendrix cd for 5 usd/euro, dont think prices are that bad
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Personally, I will stop buying CD's totally now. I have heard enough. But, I don't think it is a good idea Doomgaze to say that you have 1000 illegal copies when you could be tracked.

Of course the RIAA won't give the statistics because obviously it doesn't support their argument, otherwise they would give them. This just shows how greedy they are. They want to squeeze every penny out of poor college students so that they can get rich. Clearly, the artists don't benefit nearly as much as the RIAA. The RIAA holds all the rights to the artists music, and the artists starve.

Maybe there will be a different system now where file sharing is sent to third world countries where the RIAA has no Authority. This will be interesting, but I don't think the RIAA will win. >
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
But, I don't think it is a good idea Doomgaze to say that you have 1000 illegal copies when you could be tracked.


Don't worry, that whole thing was a quote from a /. post with the name removed to protect the origional poster.

I would NEVER download illegal music.

But, I won't support an RIAA band.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hmmmm... Protect the artists!!!

Honestly, I am not sure if allot of them would make those millions if they did not get the promotion they get. Nor would they get those movie deals and music scores.

I also don't believe they would be able to be known worldwide or heard world wide.

I rather take 2 dollars from the music indrustry then take 5 dollars directly to pay for all the equiptment... plus 2 times 100,000 is more than 5 times 5,000.

Not to mention the fact that someone will put there music online somewhere and they won't earn the 5 dollars anyway... but they will be really popular.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Anyway, the indrustry needs cleaning up, but no matter what any body says, the RIAA has a point. P2P file sharing only helps for promotion but so much.

And the only reason why some unknown bands get attention is because of all the Britney Spears and Justin Timberlakes being searched for on the network



p2p is a great tool and there needs to be a balance for it. I would agree that songs played on the air can be on it but whole albums?? No.

I also think Music Executives should release free songs to intice you to buy the record.

There is a way to make it work, but the indrustry is shady. Nevertheless, the RIAA still has a point.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
#13 by Skinner Styl skinner - 7/21/2003 6:34:09 PM #8,voodoo, just bought myself a jimi hendrix cd for 5 usd/euro, dont think prices are that bad


Yeah but thats not latest music, i could pick up ABBA Gold for 5.99

Go see prices like latest *Now* "Thats What i Call Music Album" any of latest CD's will cost you £15 and upwards, jing's i remember when my cousin bought two single cd's cost her £60 out of EMI think it was.