RIAA robs student of life-savings

[Durandal]

What a deal the RIAA has. They don't even have to have a legitimate claim. They could just call some random person up, sue him and then say, "If you give us all your money, we won't litigate you into the ground." Ah, the fresh smell of the American legal system ...

June 9—  On April 3, 19-year-old Jesse Jordan received a call that changed his life.

The freshman at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., learned he was being sued by one of the most powerful trade groups in the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Jordan, an information technology major, created ChewPlastic.com, the second most popular search directory on the RPI campus.

"You go to the site, you type in a search term, and it finds files on the network," Jordan said. Jordan compares his site to Google, the popular Internet search engine.

But the RIAA likens Jordan's site to Napster, the now defunct song-swap service that revolutionized the distribution of music.

"The people who run these Napster networks know full well what they are doing: Operating a sophisticated network designed to enable widespread music thievery," Cary Sherman, the president of the RIAA, said in a statement issued April 3.

"The lawsuits we've filed represent an appropriate step given the seriousness of the offense," Sherman added.

Admits No Wrongdoing

"I didn't tell people what to share. I never promoted piracy," Jordan said.

"Basically, Napster set out to create its own network specifically for music. What I did was ran a search engine on a campus network [where] the network already existed," Jordan said.

But Jordan did agree to pony up $12,000, his entire savings account, to the RIAA. Jordan and his father, Andy Jordan, felt the settlement was their best option.

"They agreed to allow Jesse to deny their allegations. They agreed to dismiss the case and all allegations against him," Andy said. "Basically they agreed that he didn't do anything wrong, but [they're] taking his 12 grand."

Jesse knew students were sharing files on his network: pictures, PowerPoint presentations, physics notes, anime, and music. But he refutes the RIAA's claim he "hijacked an academic network" and "installed an emporium for music trading."

Ruining the Music Business?

Andy believes that the RIAA's intimidating tactics will undoubtedly hurt the music industry by alienating music buyers. An avid music fan for more than 40 years, he shudders at the impact this will have on the industry's most fervent fans.

"I don't know how strongly the music companies — the people who really run the music companies — I don't know if they realize what the impact of this misguided attempt at intimidation is going to be," Andy said.

While Andy questions the motives and actions of the RIAA, he basks in pride at his son's steadfast resolve.

"He has stood up to the schoolyard bullies that are pulling this and he's said, 'You are not going to make me say something that's not true,'" Andy said.

ChewPlastic.com is asking for donations to help recover the $12,000 settlement. As of June 6, the site has collected more than $1,700.

[JodoForce]

*()&^$%#$%^^&$%#%$^&%!

Swear words fail me.

[Col. Crackpot]

FUCK THE RIAA

BOYCOTT ALL MUSIC

[Stravo]

This is so pathetic. They are alienating the fan base that they're trying to keep and are there any studies out there conclusively linking music downloading with declining record sales? Iknow that I download quite a bit but I also buy, if I have not bought as much as I used to its because music is CRAP today. I've been sticking to movie soundtracks mostly. Why doesn't the RIAA deal with that more than the downloads.

There have been movie pirates for as long as there has been videotape and you know something, I think box office receipts keep rising, why? becuase movies are generally GOOD plus most people WANT to see it in a darkened theater at least once. The RIAA is using music downloads as a fucking scapegoat.

Part of me wants music downloads to be illegal and banned just to see the fucking tap dancing the RIAA is going to have to do top explain why sales are still slumping.

Bastards

[Durandal]

I wonder how long it'll take the RIAA to sue Microsoft and Apple. Both their flagship operating systems include search features that can search all connected drives on a LAN.

[Seele]

I wonder how long it'll take the RIAA to sue Microsoft and Apple. Both their flagship operating systems include search features that can search all connected drives on a LAN.

Actually I want them to try to sue Microsoft. It'll never happen but a war between Microsoft and the RIAA would highly entertaining. And hopefully they'll destroy each other leaving music and software free and unrepressed.

[Axis Kast]

You don't have an inalienable right to Napster or Kaaza.

People use them, but that doesn't mean it's strictly legal. You are in fact stealing the fruit of others' labor. Just because it's tied up in court and hasn't been deleted doesn't mean it's a fair tool.

This guy, I agree, was shafted, but if he was a service Admin, it was his responsibility to police the network.

[Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi]

I'm sure they'll continue doing this, since they'll go unpunished by the politicians, which the RIAA not only slept with, but made love to many times in the behind. Perhaps record sales wouldn't be slumping if people didn't have to pay $20 for a CD with one or two good songs on it.

[Darth Wong]

You don't have an inalienable right to Napster or Kaaza.

Did you even read the article? All the guy did was create a search index for the school LAN. Is it illegal to create search indexes now? Why haven't they sued Google? Take a wild guess: could it be that they don't have a case, and that they sued this poor kid because they know he's small-fry and they know they can bankrupt him through legal fees, even if they have no case at all?

They decided to use him as an example: they want people to know that the RIAA will go after small-fry and use their muscle to grind them into the dirt, and there ain't a damn thing you can do about it.

People use them, but that doesn't mean it's strictly legal. You are in fact stealing the fruit of others' labor. Just because it's tied up in court and hasn't been deleted doesn't mean it's a fair tool.

After 17 years, even the most spectacularly important invention becomes public domain. Indefinite copyrights are a gross injustice; the notion of someone living the rest of his life off a one-hit wonder is absurd. In any case, this situation was not a person creating a file-sharing network; all he did was create a FUCKING SEARCH INDEX!

This guy, I agree, was shafted, but if he was a service Admin, it was his responsibility to police the network.

Bullshit. You're supposed to snoop into the contents of every hard drive on an entire network to make sure no one is keeping questionable files on his system? Do you have ANY idea how much money would be drained out of the economy with the pointless man-hours that mandatory top-down file-searching of individual computers on all networks would entail, to say nothing of the violations of reasonable search and seizure limits?

[Joe]

The RIAA is fighting a losing battle. They can't win, and it's too bad that they have to ruin people's lives during their final attempt to salvage their business.

[Axis Kast]

He created a search index that was used to locate and distribute files that were property not his own.

So they decided to use him as an example. He fucked up.

"Indefinite copyrights?" Most of the stuff floating around NAPSTER or Google on a regular basis originated less than five years ago let alone more than seventeen. Those file-sharing facilities are illegal despite being popular. You create something and it's legally yours. None of this "seventeen years" crap. Where did you hear that?

This guy should have posted warnings and removed known offenders. It sucks, but it's what he ends up with legally.

[Darth Wong]

He created a search index that was used to locate and distribute files that were property not his own.

So the creator of an instrument which can be misused is responsible for all incidents of misuse? Please take your case to the gun companies then, because they are looking at some MONSTROUS liabilities if we employ your logic.

So they decided to use him as an example. He fucked up.

"Indefinite copyrights?" Most of the stuff floating around NAPSTER or Google on a regular basis originated less than five years ago let alone more than seventeen. Those file-sharing facilities are illegal despite being popular. You create something and it's legally yours. None of this "seventeen years" crap. Where did you hear that?

See the patent office and read more carefully. Even the most spectacularly important INVENTION has a royalty shelf life of 17 years, while copyright is indefinite. That is an injustice. The term limits on patents are intended to provide incentive for invention while simultaneously restricting the ability of the inventor to hold society hostage for his own profit. Why was the same wisdom not applied to copyright? Do you realize how many movies and songs would be public-domain if there were a 17 year expiry on copyright?

This guy should have posted warnings and removed known offenders. It sucks, but it's what he ends up with legally.

By your logic, gun companies should be required to track down people who misuse their products.

[NecronLord]

Actually I want them to try to sue Microsoft. It'll never happen but a war between Microsoft and the RIAA would highly entertaining. And hopefully they'll destroy each other leaving music and software free and unrepressed.

I'd be on the side of microsoft. At least they actually do something even if they are (£(£)*Y$%(&.....

[Sea Skimmer]

I wish these cases would become higher profile, so that the publicity seeking lawyer swarm would rush in to take them up.

[Tosho]

DEATH TO THE RIAA, VIVE LE REVOLUTION!

[Durandal]

He created a search index that was used to locate and distribute files that were property not his own.

So they decided to use him as an example. He fucked up.

You're a fucking moron. Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X provide the exact same functionality: the ability to search a LAN for files. When are the RIAA going to sue Microsoft and Apple? Oh that's right, never, because those two companies can actually afford the legal fees and not be litigated into the ground.

And, agreed. Microsoft vs. the RIAA in court would be hilarious. Not only would Microsoft beat the living shit out of the RIAA, but I'd be cheering for them, too. At least Microsoft isn't suing college students and taking away their life savings.

[Howedar]

So the creator of an instrument which can be misused is responsible for all incidents of misuse? Please take your case to the gun companies then, because they are looking at some MONSTROUS liabilities if we employ your logic.

Better yet, Ford and GM.

[Sea Skimmer]

So the creator of an instrument which can be misused is responsible for all incidents of misuse? Please take your case to the gun companies then, because they are looking at some MONSTROUS liabilities if we employ your logic.

Better yet, Ford and GM.

Small potatoes, I say sue the Federal government for building the roads on which so many die each year because of excessive speed and poor driving habits.

[MKSheppard]

What a deal the RIAA has. They don't even have to have a legitimate claim. They could just call some random person up, sue him and then say, "If you give us all your money, we won't litigate you into the ground." Ah, the fresh smell of the American legal system ...

[/quote]

I would have waited till the RIAA fucker came around and broke both of his
legs and tossed him into a lake.

[Dalton]

I would have waited till the RIAA fucker came around and broke both of his
legs and tossed him into a lake.

I doubt there were any physical visitations.

[Dalton]

He created a search index that was used to locate and distribute files that were property not his own.

So did Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Apple, Hotbot, Altavista...

The ice is cracking...along with your logic.

[MKSheppard]

I doubt there were any physical visitations.

They have to if you just ignore their notices and use them to heat
your house

[Keevan_Colton]

Jebus H. Frelling Crimbo, what a bunch of damn hatfuckers.

[Shinova]

LONG LIVE GOOD AND FREE MUSIC!! DEATH TO THE RIAA!!

[Axis Kast]

See the patent office and read more carefully. Even the most spectacularly important INVENTION has a royalty shelf life of 17 years, while copyright is indefinite. That is an injustice. The term limits on patents are intended to provide incentive for invention while simultaneously restricting the ability of the inventor to hold society hostage for his own profit. Why was the same wisdom not applied to copyright? Do you realize how many movies and songs would be public-domain if there were a 17 year expiry on copyright?

But we’re talking about violation of copyright. NAPSTER and Kazaa are illegal. There’s no legal excuse for downloading free the work of somebody else. You might like it and want to continue. That doesn’t mean it’s right or correct.

You're a fucking moron. Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X provide the exact same functionality: the ability to search a LAN for files. When are the RIAA going to sue Microsoft and Apple? Oh that's right, never, because those two companies can actually afford the legal fees and not be litigated into the ground.

Obviously, the RIAA had a case against this kid. Plenty of websites police their own networks and post terms of service. It wasn’t only his fault – obviously no single man can police a campus -, but legally, it was his to pay the price.