Music Industry suing file sharers
Wednesday, June 25, 2003 by The DJ | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
WASHINGTON -- The embattled music industry disclosed plans today for an unprecedented escalation in its fight against Internet piracy, threatening to sue hundreds of individual computer users who illegally share music files online.
The Recording Industry Association of America, citing significant sales declines, said it will begin today to search Internet file-sharing networks to identify music fans who offer "substantial" collections of mp3 song files for downloading.
It expects to file at least several hundred lawsuits seeking financial damages within eight to 10 weeks.
Executives for the RIAA, the Washington-based lobbying group that represents major labels, would not say how many songs on a user's computer might qualify for a lawsuit. The new campaign comes just weeks after U.S. appeals court rulings requiring Internet providers to identify subscribers suspected of illegally sharing music and movie files.
The RIAA's president, Carey Sherman, said tens of millions of Internet users of popular file-sharing software after Thursday will expose themselves to "the real risk of having to face the music."
Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., who has proposed giving the entertainment industry new powers to disrupt downloads of pirated music and movies, said the RIAA's actions were overdue. "It's about time," Berman said in a statement. "For too long ... file-traffickers have robbed copyright creators with impunity."
The RIAA said its lawyers will file lawsuits initially against people with the largest collections of music files they can find online. U.S. copyright laws allow for damages of $750 to $150,000 for each song offered illegally on a person's computer, but Sherman said the RIAA will be open to settlement proposals from defendants.
"We have no hard and fast rule on how many files you have to be distributing ... to come within our radar screen," Sherman said. "We will go after the worst offenders first."
The RIAA said it expected to file "at least several hundred lawsuits" within eight to 10 weeks but will continue to file lawsuits afterward on a regular basis.
For the whole story:
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Entertainment/ap20030625_1212.html
[Message Edited]
The Recording Industry Association of America, citing significant sales declines, said it will begin today to search Internet file-sharing networks to identify music fans who offer "substantial" collections of mp3 song files for downloading.
It expects to file at least several hundred lawsuits seeking financial damages within eight to 10 weeks.
Executives for the RIAA, the Washington-based lobbying group that represents major labels, would not say how many songs on a user's computer might qualify for a lawsuit. The new campaign comes just weeks after U.S. appeals court rulings requiring Internet providers to identify subscribers suspected of illegally sharing music and movie files.
The RIAA's president, Carey Sherman, said tens of millions of Internet users of popular file-sharing software after Thursday will expose themselves to "the real risk of having to face the music."
Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., who has proposed giving the entertainment industry new powers to disrupt downloads of pirated music and movies, said the RIAA's actions were overdue. "It's about time," Berman said in a statement. "For too long ... file-traffickers have robbed copyright creators with impunity."
The RIAA said its lawyers will file lawsuits initially against people with the largest collections of music files they can find online. U.S. copyright laws allow for damages of $750 to $150,000 for each song offered illegally on a person's computer, but Sherman said the RIAA will be open to settlement proposals from defendants.
"We have no hard and fast rule on how many files you have to be distributing ... to come within our radar screen," Sherman said. "We will go after the worst offenders first."
The RIAA said it expected to file "at least several hundred lawsuits" within eight to 10 weeks but will continue to file lawsuits afterward on a regular basis.
For the whole story:
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Entertainment/ap20030625_1212.html
[Message Edited]
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Larry Kuperman
Reply #22 Thursday, June 26, 2003 3:59 PM
Reply #22 Thursday, June 26, 2003 3:59 PM
Apple has a pay per download music service that is successful. In discussing this here and elsewhere, people have said that this same model would not be successful in the PC realm, because people can download from Kazaa and Morpheus and other P2P for free. Why would they switch to a paid service?
Well, this is RIAA's answer. If it becomes too difficult to download illegal copies, then people will be more willing to pay. The initial targets of these suits are people who are offering hundreds of songs. If "free" illegal music is hard to find and you risk being busted, then $1 per song seems reasonable.
Will it work? Maybe not initially and not without resistance. But the major offenders (those offering large numbers of songs) today are college students, using their school's high speed connections. If they face expulsion, they will stop.
Well, this is RIAA's answer. If it becomes too difficult to download illegal copies, then people will be more willing to pay. The initial targets of these suits are people who are offering hundreds of songs. If "free" illegal music is hard to find and you risk being busted, then $1 per song seems reasonable.
Will it work? Maybe not initially and not without resistance. But the major offenders (those offering large numbers of songs) today are college students, using their school's high speed connections. If they face expulsion, they will stop.
SuperheroCanadian
Reply #23 Thursday, June 26, 2003 4:02 PM
Reply #23 Thursday, June 26, 2003 4:02 PM
can someone really tell me why it is illegal to listen to copyrighted music, i know its illegal to sell and why but why is it illegal to download free for personal use?
Koasati
Reply #24 Thursday, June 26, 2003 6:43 PM
Reply #24 Thursday, June 26, 2003 6:43 PM
| #23 by Sir SuperheroCanadian - 6/26/2003 4:02:29 PM can someone really tell me why it is illegal to listen to copyrighted music, i know its illegal to sell and why but why is it illegal to download free for personal use? |
Because, once you download the song, you own an illegal copy, one you haven't paid for!
CerebroJD
Reply #25 Thursday, June 26, 2003 6:58 PM
Reply #25 Thursday, June 26, 2003 6:58 PM
But someone else has, so it has been paid for right?
eieio
Reply #26 Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:04 PM
Reply #26 Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:04 PM
This is just a guess, but I'll bet a lot of things that are 'stolen' were paid for by someone (probably the original owner )
Koasati
Reply #27 Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:11 PM
Reply #27 Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:11 PM
| #25 by Çërêb®øJÐ - 6/26/2003 6:58:31 PM But someone else has, so it has been paid for right? |
Oh yeah, I see your point........ they've already sold 1 copy of the CD, so what does it hurt, if 3,000 people download it, without paying for it? 
Are you for real, or just yanking my chain? 
kona0197
Reply #28 Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:21 PM
Reply #28 Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:21 PM
because the artist deserves to be paid for those 3000 songs... DUH!!!!
CerebroJD
Reply #29 Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:33 PM
Reply #29 Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:33 PM
Well yes, but I'm not gonna pay $25 for a cd that I only want one song off of.
kona0197
Reply #30 Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:42 PM
Reply #30 Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:42 PM
I used to think the same way but I found out that if I sit down and listen to the whole CD there turns out to be other tracks I like as well.
I will stick to buying the CDs.
Decides, where i live new releases are only 13 bucks... not a big price to pay for keeping it legal.
I will stick to buying the CDs.
Decides, where i live new releases are only 13 bucks... not a big price to pay for keeping it legal.
SuperheroCanadian
Reply #31 Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:53 PM
Reply #31 Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:53 PM
well this burst my bubble... i really do hate the record companies...
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/chapter11.pdf
[Message Edited]
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/chapter11.pdf
[Message Edited]
CerebroJD
Reply #32 Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:53 PM
Reply #32 Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:53 PM
Yeah I suppose. Therefore, as of today, I am removing the 1000+ mp3 files from my computer. I'll be buying cd's now.
The DJ
Reply #34 Thursday, June 26, 2003 10:42 PM
Reply #34 Thursday, June 26, 2003 10:42 PM
Well this is interesting:
With Kazaa recently, you had a user level which shows the level of your sharing. The RIAA could easily use that info as a real easy way to find out who is sharing the most. What does this mean? Well Kazaa is goin legit. Set you up for a downfall and get cozy with the RIAA and whatnot.
http://www.detnews.com/2003/technology/0306/20/technology-197745.htm
With Kazaa recently, you had a user level which shows the level of your sharing. The RIAA could easily use that info as a real easy way to find out who is sharing the most. What does this mean? Well Kazaa is goin legit. Set you up for a downfall and get cozy with the RIAA and whatnot.
http://www.detnews.com/2003/technology/0306/20/technology-197745.htm
Doomgaze
Reply #35 Friday, June 27, 2003 12:38 AM
Reply #35 Friday, June 27, 2003 12:38 AM
Oh no, not kazaa...
So people move fully to the OpenNAP network and the new secure p2p clients.
*yawn*
Next attempt by the RIAA?
So people move fully to the OpenNAP network and the new secure p2p clients.
*yawn*
Next attempt by the RIAA?
c242
Reply #36 Friday, June 27, 2003 1:23 AM
Reply #36 Friday, June 27, 2003 1:23 AM
Shooting mp3-owners, I guess, no matter if all the files are from their own bought cd's or not... 
For the record : I don't share any of them them over p2p programs... (I would be a heavy criminal with ~5200 tracks on my HD...
)
For the record : I don't share any of them them over p2p programs... (I would be a heavy criminal with ~5200 tracks on my HD...
)
Cavanaugh
Reply #39 Friday, June 27, 2003 9:55 AM
Reply #39 Friday, June 27, 2003 9:55 AM
So if i record a radio station im breaking the law too ?
paxx
Reply #40 Friday, June 27, 2003 10:08 AM
Reply #40 Friday, June 27, 2003 10:08 AM
In theory yes. But as long as you keep it to yourself it's ok. But if you start distributing it, then it's blatant.
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Reply #21 Thursday, June 26, 2003 2:28 PM
While we are at it. Is it illegal to tape a shoe on TV and pass it around to your friends. Copy rights are used to protect companys from other companys using there material for monitary gain, where is it illegal fora person who has no interest in selling there acquired media to listen and/or watch such things.
I can see if people are running larges counterfit cd ioperations SELLING the merchandise, but a people who download music just to be listened to... it has just gone to far