RIAA Files 261 lawsuits against individual file sharers

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2003-09-08 01:32pm

On the breaking news ticker on CNN.com. They also announced an amnesty plan simultaenously.

261 music file swappers sued; amnesty program unveiled
By Jeordan Legon
CNN
Monday, September 8, 2003 Posted: 1:33 PM EDT (1733 GMT)

(CNN) -- The recording industry filed 261 lawsuits against individual Internet music file sharers Monday and announced an amnesty program for people who admit they illegally share music files across the Internet.

The federal lawsuits and amnesty program are the lastest moves by the Recording Industry Association of America in its fight against illegal trading of music files on the Internet, which record companies blame for declining sales.

Cary Sherman, president of the RIAA, said the civil lawsuits filed were against "major offenders" who made available an average of 1,000 copyrighted song files.

Sherman also announced the Clean Slate Program that grants amnesty to users who voluntarily identify themselves and promise not to share music on the Internet. The RIAA says it will not sue users who sign and have notarized a Clean Slate Program affidavit.

"We're willing to hold out our version of an olive branch," Sherman said.

The offer of amnesty will not apply to about 1,600 people targeted by copyright subpoenas from the RIAA. More information about RIAA's amnesty program is available at www.musicunited.org.

The story just went on the site.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-09-08 01:48pm

The RIAA says it will not sue users who sign and have notarized a Clean Slate Program affidavit.

yeaaaaaaah. sure they won't.

Upshot Knothole · Post by **Upshot Knothole** » 2003-09-08 02:58pm

I applaud this move. I find it absurd that people demonize the RIAA for taking steps to stop thieves when nobody else will. I suppose we should hate Wal Mart for prosecuting shoplifters.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-08 03:02pm

Exactly why are we supposed to feel sorry for a price fixing cartel like the RIAA? It might be theft but I don't feel sorry for them. Their own business practices have brought them to this.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-09-08 03:05pm

261? I quiver with fear/laughter.

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2003-09-08 03:06pm

Upshot Knothole wrote:I applaud this move. I find it absurd that people demonize the RIAA for taking steps to stop thieves when nobody else will. I suppose we should hate Wal Mart for prosecuting shoplifters.

Hey wanker, maybe you should blame the corporations' poor performance in the "free" market, which I'm sure you wank over while not obsessing about Clinton's cock.

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2003-09-08 03:07pm

Upshot Knothole wrote:I applaud this move. I find it absurd that people demonize the RIAA for taking steps to stop thieves when nobody else will. I suppose we should hate Wal Mart for prosecuting shoplifters.

Thing is, Wal Mart then no longer has the item....
This is "virtual" theft in that nothing real changes hands, just a string of 1's and 0's that represent something....
All that happens is a price fixing cartel no longer gets money.
What pray tell does the RIAA actually do?

Pablo Sanchez · Post by **Pablo Sanchez** » 2003-09-08 03:08pm

Upshot Knothole wrote:I applaud this move. I find it absurd that people demonize the RIAA for taking steps to stop thieves when nobody else will. I suppose we should hate Wal Mart for prosecuting shoplifters.

We don't hate Wal-Mart for prosecuting shoplifters because Wal-Mart doesn't have a monopoly which it exploits to fix outrageous prices. The RIAA is getting it's comeuppance for a decade of charging $20 a CD. Not only that, but 90% of the product that they've been churning out has been unworthy of even a $10 price tag.

This laughable initiative of theirs is going to do jack shit in terms of permanent damage to P2P exchange over the internet and is merely a callous and futile attempt to frighten users by ruining the lives of whatever miniscule number of offenders they can lay hands on.

Pablo Sanchez · Post by **Pablo Sanchez** » 2003-09-08 03:10pm

Keevan_Colton wrote:Thing is, Wal Mart then no longer has the item....
This is "virtual" theft in that nothing real changes hands, just a string of 1's and 0's that represent something....
All that happens is a price fixing cartel no longer gets money.
What pray tell does the RIAA actually do?

Hrm... the short list:
Illegal Price Fixing
Bribery of Public Officials
Strong-arm Enforcement of Copyright Laws
Helps to stifle innovation in the Music industry

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-09-08 03:32pm

Upshot Knothole wrote:I applaud this move. I find it absurd that people demonize the RIAA for taking steps to stop thieves when nobody else will. I suppose we should hate Wal Mart for prosecuting shoplifters.

You sir, are a moron. The RIAA is using illegal search activities to hunt down people who are legaly distributing copy righted material WITHOUT MAKING MONEY. It was the RIAA who intentionaly pushed laws to be created to maintain a monopoly over intelectual property to deny it to the public domain just so they could keep raking in the profits. The RIAA lost the morale high ground back in the early 80s.

zombie84 · Post by **zombie84** » 2003-09-08 03:52pm

no laws have been broken. Filesharing of music is perfectly legal, these people are all innocent. The RIAA is persecuting innocents in a vain attempt to grab the last bit of money before their industry stronghold collapses.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2003-09-08 03:55pm

Honestly it seems so common sense to me yet no one has spoken out against ther RIAA that has any power or influence. Surely the RIAA can't be that influential and powerful that someone can point out the glaring flaws and overall intent of these mean spirited acts.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-08 03:56pm

zombie84 wrote:no laws have been broken. Filesharing of music is perfectly legal, these people are all innocent. The RIAA is persecuting innocents in a vain attempt to grab the last bit of money before their industry stronghold collapses.

Filesharing is legal. But swapping copyrighted music isn't. I agree the RIAA's actions are unjust. That doesn't mean that pirating is legal. It's not.

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2003-09-08 04:17pm

Upshot Knothole wrote:I applaud this move. I find it absurd that people demonize the RIAA for taking steps to stop thieves when nobody else will. I suppose we should hate Wal Mart for prosecuting shoplifters.

That was the wrong thing to say here, n00b.

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2003-09-08 04:58pm

Upshot Knothole wrote:I applaud this move. I find it absurd that people demonize the RIAA for taking steps to stop thieves when nobody else will. I suppose we should hate Wal Mart for prosecuting shoplifters.

Well, see, here's the thing. Information can be multiplied almost indefinitely, with no corresponding loss of information elsewhere. A shirt can't. Please tell me where I can copy/paste a t-shirt, I'll pay you a million bucks, cuz that's what I'm gonna be saving that much in shirt costs...

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2003-09-08 05:39pm

Stormbringer wrote:
zombie84 wrote:no laws have been broken. Filesharing of music is perfectly legal, these people are all innocent. The RIAA is persecuting innocents in a vain attempt to grab the last bit of money before their industry stronghold collapses.
Filesharing is legal. But swapping copyrighted music isn't. I agree the RIAA's actions are unjust. That doesn't mean that pirating is legal. It's not.

But digital copying/sharing music is completely legal. It's called the Home Recording Act, of 1992.

zombie84 · Post by **zombie84** » 2003-09-08 07:04pm

what Nitram said. Th RIAA gets a royalty off of every blank CD i've bought. Thats their compensation. they made the law themselves back in the early 90's, and it was an unjust law we all said, and now its come back to bite them in the ass!

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2003-09-08 07:23pm

zombie84 wrote:what Nitram said. Th RIAA gets a royalty off of every blank CD i've bought. Thats their compensation. they made the law themselves back in the early 90's, and it was an unjust law we all said, and now its come back to bite them in the ass!

The RIAA gets kickback from blank CD's too?!?

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-09-08 07:45pm

Vorlon1701 wrote:
zombie84 wrote:what Nitram said. Th RIAA gets a royalty off of every blank CD i've bought. Thats their compensation. they made the law themselves back in the early 90's, and it was an unjust law we all said, and now its come back to bite them in the ass!
The RIAA gets kickback from blank CD's too?!?

Depends on where you live. 1/3 of the cost Cadanians pay for CDRs goes straight to the RIAA.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-09-08 08:01pm

Vorlon1701 wrote:
zombie84 wrote:what Nitram said. Th RIAA gets a royalty off of every blank CD i've bought. Thats their compensation. they made the law themselves back in the early 90's, and it was an unjust law we all said, and now its come back to bite them in the ass!
The RIAA gets kickback from blank CD's too?!?

I believe so.

Under Title 17, Chapter 10, I think Subchapter C.

There was a post about the Home Recording Act at slashdot that talked about it.

"Contrary to what the RIAA wants you to believe, it appears that making a copy of an audio recording may be perfectly legal in the US, even if you don't own the original recording, as long as it is for noncommercial purposes. The reason for this is the Audio Home Recording Act (AHRA).

Since 1992, the U.S. Government has collected a tax on all digital audio recorders and blank digital audio media manufactured in or imported into the US, and gives the money directly to the RIAA companies, which is distributed as royalties to recording artists, copyright owners, music publishers, and music writers:

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/ch10.html
[cornell.edu]"

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2003-09-08 08:14pm

My god, the RIAA is sueing people that swap over a 1000 songs!

Note to self: I only have 200 (and that's counting my commerically purchased CD and tape collection)

MOON THEM! MOON THEM I SAY!

(Not, not me. Rosie O'donnel and Roseanne)

Now that I've blinded everyone and scared them horribly for life...

There is a way to counter attack them ya know.

SOmeone needs to organize a MASSIVE class action suit against them on behalf of all internet users for there actions that are illegal. and I mean MASSIVE. Like Mothers Against Drunk Driving is little in comparison.

Anyone with a law degree got the guts to try it?

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2003-09-08 08:31pm

Ok, so that's what, 261 cases filed, 29,999,700 to go?

Pablo Sanchez · Post by **Pablo Sanchez** » 2003-09-08 08:40pm

Darth Utsanomiko wrote:Ok, so that's what, 261 cases filed, 29,999,700 to go?

More than that

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-09-08 08:42pm

That blank CD royalty bit disgusts me.

Oh, post 5000.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-09-08 09:09pm

I can half-imagine the head of the RIAA going into a restroom and pleading with an old, blind man to release Ill Duce.