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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"."

5 of 483 comments (clear)

  1. So... by nebaz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Is the RIAA going to pay for the legal fees the university incurred? Or the time they could have used to educate their students rather than going on a wild goose chase? I rather doubt it.

    --
    Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds.There upon the rainbow is the answer to a neverending story
    1. Re:So... by hype7 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      more importantly, it shows why the RIAA shouldn't have instant access to ISP details (Verizon case IIRC). They make mistakes; a judge is a relevant and important step in the way of preventing innocent people from being nailed for errors like this.

      -- james

  2. A Small Victory, Perhaps... by Stephonovich · · Score: 5, Insightful
    ... But a victory nonetheless.

    I have nothing better to do while waiting for a kernel to compile, so...

    I find it to be the usual government style of action: act first, apologize later. They send out threat form letters to anyone who might be violating their stupid-*** laws, and then when they find they're wrong, they throw out a whoops, and they're done. There is something very wrong with that picture.

    (-:Stephonovich:-)

    --
    "Who needs reincarnation when we've got parallel universes?" -Me
  3. subtlety of the term "temp employee" by swifticus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "We have withdrawn, and apologize for, the DMCA notice that had been sent to Penn State University in error. In order to safeguard against errors like this one, we have individuals look at each and every notice we send out. In this particular instance, a temp employee made a mistake and did not follow RIAA's established protocol, and we regret any inconvenience this may have caused. We are currently reviewing any other notices this temp may have sent."

    I think by "temp employee," they mean to say the person responsible is now fired. Doesn't sound like the RIAA really took responsibility for the incident either, but rather placed the blame on John Doe.

    1. Re:subtlety of the term "temp employee" by adsl · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Simply amazing that the RIAA with all their highly paid Lawyers is actually run by temporary employees who have the real Power. LOL Are the RIAA for real, trying to blame some temp employee upon whom they gifted the ultimate powers of a Billion dollar organization..... Sort of sets up a defence, I am sorry I didn't actually download these illegal music files, it was done by a temp empoyee of mine who I have fired. Please accept my apologises like yours were accepted by Penn State University or is there one Rule for you and another fo me:)