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RIAA Apologizes for Incorrect Infringement Notice

Posted by timothy on from the oopsie dept.

theradixhunter writes "News.com is reporting that the RIAA has apologized to the Pennsylvania State University for sending a threatening letter making an incorrect allegations of copyright violations. It appears that the automated system that the RIAA uses picked the term "Usher" and the extenstion ".mp3" on an FTP site hosting the work of Professor Emeritus Peter Usher and falsely assumed that the files were songs by the musician Usher. The university accepted the apology saying "that this was an honest mistake by the recording industry" and Spokesman Tysen Kendig said Penn State "remains committed to working closely with the RIAA"."

9 of 483 comments (clear)

  1. Perfectly reasonable by YellowElectricRat · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd be happy if the RIAA deleted every file in the world containing the strings 'Usher' and 'mp3'. Sure, there could be innocent casualties, but think of the lives that would be saved...

  2. I hope they accuse Darth Vader of piracy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...because we know how he accepts apologies!

  3. horrible apology by asavage · · Score: 5, Funny
    By way of additional apology, the RIAA said it will send Peter Usher an Usher CD and T-shirt "in appreciation of his understanding."

    Worst apology ever.

  4. Re:Why pay attention when your extorting? by micq · · Score: 5, Funny

    interesting.... maybe a honeypot for riaa? my voice, recorded over and over again, saying "What the fuck do you think your doing?" and published to the web as actual songs... then when they send me letters over and over again, I sue for harassment and undue mental stress... then change the server ip/name and start all over again...

    It's so brilliant.

    er... and oh yeah:
    (3) profit.

    --
    Snooze and you lose your sushi.
  5. Re:"Honest mistake" ?!?!?!? by shepd · · Score: 5, Funny

    RIAA man wants to speak with you for using the terms "Honest" and "Mistake".

    Search results for Honest found "Rolling Stones", clearly a signed artist.

    Search results for Mistake found "Sheryl Crow", also a signed artist.

    Please do not encourage the use of the english language for furthering piracy anymore.

    --
    If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC
  6. Yes, we do: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ::breathes::

    ::breathes:: What ::breathes:: in ::breathes:: the ::breathes:: name ::breathes:: of ::breathes:: the ::breathes:: force ::breathes:: do ::breathes:: you ::breathes:: think ::breathes:: you're ::breathes:: doing? ::breathes::

    ::outstretches hand::

    ::breathes::

  7. a little off-topic joke by enos · · Score: 5, Funny

    This reminds me of a joke:

    Jason has a conversation with his new neighbour Pete:

    J: So what do you do?
    P: I teach deducive logic.
    J: Huh?
    P: Let me demonstrate. Do you have a dog?
    J: Yes.
    P: From this I deduce that you have a family?
    J: Yeah.
    P: And a wife?
    J: Yeah.
    P: And if you have a wife, I deduce that you are heterosexual.
    J: That's amazing!

    After this Jason visits his friend Chris:
    J: I just found out this awesome field called deducive logic.
    C: Say what?
    J: Let me demonstrate. Do you have a dog?
    C: No.
    J: Then you must be gay.

    --
    boldly going forward, 'cause we can't find reverse
  8. simple way to prove their system doesn't work by manual_overide · · Score: 5, Funny

    cat /dev/urandom > /var/www/Britney_Spears_-_Greatest_Hits_Track01.mp 3

    of course, that might actually be the same command they use to create their "music"

    --
    If bad puns were like deli meat, this would be the wurst
  9. Re:finally by outsider007 · · Score: 5, Funny

    in other news, professor bob metallica is still waiting for his apology.

    --
    If you mod me down the terrorists will have won