Slashdot Mirror
RIAA Grabs Student's Life's Savings
An anonymous reader writes "ABCNews is reporting on a 19-year-old college student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. He created a site named ChewPlastic.com where students could search for files on the university network. Mind you, this is not a music file sharing software, this is just a search engine. Presumably, the search engine was being used to search for music files as well. The folks over at the RIAA did not take too kindly to the idea, and sued the student. He settled but denies any wrongdoing. What was settlement, you ask? His life's savings."
Wow, has noone noticed this is OLD NEWS? Slashdot covered it over a month ago when the kid was interviewed about the $12k settlement here. *sigh*
None. They only care(d) about imposing their will.
Ask the Germans how long the Nazis lasted and how well The country fared under them.
The fact is that the record buying public is only a small source of money for the RIAA. They actually earn more money from elevators and building lobbies. Their second largest source of revenue is commercial jingles.
Anywhere where they don't have to pay the artist a dime (check the books, they don't have to and they damn well don't...)
Wanna KILL the RIAA?
Go to a show. Support the artist directly by showing up, buying a ticket right there and give the money to the band directly by putting it in a bucket on the stage.
If you're a band, refuse to sign a contract where YOU don't receive 75% of the GROSS.
The RIAA is screwing YOU the listener and the artists.
MSBPodcast.com The opinions expressed here are my own. If you don't like 'em... Think up your own stuff.
s/your/you're/. Learn it, Love it. Acquire a basic grasp of grammar, then consider critiquing our legal system.