My friend is getting sued by the RIAA!

[station82o]

the only safe option i'd take in this case is either presenting the case to the ACLU or settlement - because a court case will draw out expenses up to their ceilings... the RIAA has money to burn in situations like these, they can push anyone around and go for as long as they need to.

Arggh... on a sidenote I generally don't buy albums from major labels, but i picked up two copies of Iron Maiden's new album yesterday (they're on columbia records), one for me one for tracer... eh, I did feel kinda unfortunate about that but what could I do, wanted to support the band. As a general rule though, if there is a major label cd I want that I'm not too big a fan of the band I just get it used.

[Frogacuda]

I can explain it simple, the ACLU is a law written in for bypassing our laws of privacy for any obligations reguarding either criminal or terrorist activity. Sadly, it comes with a few "additions" that also jump on the rights of normal people as well.

You thinking of the patriot act?

*ACLU member and donor*

The ACLU are the ones fighting FOR people's privacy rights and against things like the partiot act. They're a great organization.

[Gonzo]

I think the whole issue is stupid in the first place. Sure people are getting music for free. But as long as they aren't charging someone to copy theirs I don't understand where the copyright infringment is coming from. It's just like letting someone borrow your cd and they tape it or burn it, for you younger people who don't know what tapes are.
I really don't see this going very far in the courts. I also heard there is a small bar here in Indy that is being sued for the same issue because they have karoke nights. When will the madness stop?

[JM]

I bet the ACLU is getting flooded with calls about this right now.

JM

[ssbomberman]

Well downloading or copying music we don't own IS illegal...we know that...but come on, target the big guns who are doing it and not 12 year old girls who live in housing projects...I mean there are people making money off of it...target those guys...jeez...the RIAA needs to pick it's targets better...

[Clash!]

Well I feel that people should now know that the RIAA is cracking down, so if you continue to download like mad, you are a MORON. RIAA is now making is very clear that they are not fooling around, so no matter how you feel about the subject why even try and test them?

[JM]

Why don't they fucking crack down on the people who leak the albums in the first place? There can only be so many people who have access to the unreleased Eminem album before it comes out.

Prosecuting 12 year old girls isn't going to make them look like hardasses, it makes them look desperate & frivilous. Not only is it stupid sounding, but it is totally hardening the public against them. They will be viewed as the enemy by the public at large, & people will make sure to find ways of making their lives miserable.

I hope the ACLU or someone can get these cases thrown out. I'm sure there were illegal activites used to get the info on the folks who DL music. If so, all evidence gathered using these methods should be thown out, & they wouldn't be able to use said methods to get any more incriminating info. That would set them back quite a bit, not to mention the millions in court costs they will incur with the (hopefully) failed lawsuits.

JM

[mollipen]

The ACLU are the ones fighting FOR people's privacy rights and against things like the partiot act. They're a great organization.

Half of the time, yes.

The other half of the time, they are supporting idiocy and are actually far worse than the "evil" they are fighting against.

[frostwolf ex]

Half of the time, yes.

The other half of the time, they are supporting idiocy and are actually far worse than the "evil" they are fighting against.

my thoughts exactly, Their purpose is noble, but defending someone, just because they are the underdog,serves only to weaken any notinon of moral basis for the practice of law, its just knee jerk reaction. that said, this case i feel that the riaa is beign given powers that even the police and military are prohibited from using, and they have far less oversight to prevent them from abusing this power, that is a catalyismicaly bad idea. Im hoping that the aclu takes a break from protecting klansmen and pedophiles, and works for the good of society on this one.

[Josh]

Well I feel that people should now know that the RIAA is cracking down, so if you continue to download like mad, you are a MORON.

I haven't changed my downloading habits one bit.