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RIAA Settles Suits Against Students

Posted by michael on from the pay-up-and-no-one-gets-hurt dept.

wo1verin3 writes "Cnet's News.Com has reported that the RIAA has settled the suits with four students accused of sharing songs. The settlements will see each student making payments to the RIAA totaling between $12,000 and $17,000, split into annual installments between 2003 and 2006."

5 of 652 comments (clear)

  1. $12000 buys how many songs? by scovetta · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Unfortunately, this is the way it had to end-- the RIAA would lose face to the public if they went for criminal charges, and the $12-17k is a realistic warning to other file traders. If they suit had been for a hundred million trillion dollars (or however must Hilary--err, the RIAA-- estimated as damages), it would have also been a defeat in the public's eyes. $3000 a year, hmmm $300 a month for "unlimited" MP3 downloads? Sounds like a marketing campaign!

    Actually, that does sound pretty good, would you pay, say $59 a month or something for unlimited mp3s? I might...

    --
    Wer mit Ungeheuern kämpft, mag zusehn, dass er nicht dabei zum Ungeheuer wird. --Nietzsche
  2. A Good Defense? by kolors · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Was Daniel Peng the same student who was threatened with the $98 billion lawsuit? Because after reading Joseph Barillari's analysis of the lawsuit it seemed like Dan would have had a pretty good defense to either have the case dismissed or to be acquitted.

    Was paying the $17,000 really in the end the wiser decision? It just seems like he had a solid argument, especially given the recent development with Morpheus and Grokster.

  3. My music sharing idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Please comment on this idea.

    It is legal for me to listen to a CD and then sell it to a friend, buy it back, etc, over and over.

    Let's say that we form a Co-op with 100 members. Each member kicks in $100, giving us a budget of $10,000 with which to purchase CDs. $10 from each member is reserved. The CDs are ripped and encoded.

    Let's say I want to listen to a CD. My $10 on reserve buys that CD from the Co-op. While I own the CD, I get to listen to the encoded music (I do not take physical possession). During that time, no other Co-op member may listen to the CD (unless there are additional copies available for purchase due to popularity).

    Essentially, a locking protocol would maintain a 1:1 relationship between the listener and physical media.

    Once I am done listening, I sell the CD back to the Co-op and my $10 is freed for the next selection.

    Is this legal? Has it been tried? Thanks!

  4. Let's set up a fund for them by azav · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Seriously - let's set up a fund to help them pay off their debts to RIAA. I'll put in a buck for that.

    Anyone?

    --
    - Zav - Imagine a Beowulf cluster of insensitive clods...
  5. Re:and how much by JonnyElvis42 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If the RIAA keeps talking about how "we" are hurting the artists, what measures are they taking to give the artists restitution?

    Ahh, a fresh mind unspoiled by the cynicism that comes with watching the RIAA's and MPAA's actions :-) The answer to your question is: None! I mean come on, if the RIAA gave some of that money to artists, that would mean less money for the record companies, and that just wouldn't be fair, since it's the record companies perpetrating the extortion, not the artists.