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CD Price-Fixing Suit Ruling
Jay Langhurst writes "As the AP reported Friday, if you filed a claim before March 3, 2003 online or otherwise you'll be getting a gift in the mail from those monopolistic music companies in the form of a check for about $13!"
It clearly says it's a settlement.
Now, you would have had to read a whole 6 words to figgure that out, so posting a question was so much easier.
Just to clear things up a bit more, since you won't read the article, here is a quote:
" The defendants â" Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Music Distribution, Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Corp., Universal Music Group and Bertelsmann Music Group, and retailers Tower Records, Musicland Stores and Transworld Entertainment â" deny any wrongdoing. Attorneys representing the companies declined to testify in court. "
I'm going to donate my $13 to the EFF.
:)
Let me make the job easiler for everyone.
EFF
FSF
--
the strongest word is still the word "free"
Or better yet ... Buy a CD from an indie band covered under an Indie label - Actually, for how much indie bands charge for their CD's, you could probably get 2 of 'em for $13. If you need a head start on where to look, I suggest All Or Nothing Records. You can buy one of their band's CD's for $8 off the online store.
Indie bands need the support, plus, they appreciate their fans' support. Win-Win situation.
Might also consider sending your $13 (and/or other money you want to give to a good cause) to the Future of Music coalition, which describes itself as "a not-for-profit think tank based in Washington, DC that strives for the creation of a musicians' middle class. The FMC's primary goal is to educate musicians and the public at large about some of the critical issues that are shaping the policy debate in the music/technology space." They're decidedly anit-RIAA and pro-musician and favor alternatives to RIAA-controlled distribution.
Ever heard of deepdiscountcd.com?
De sig boss de sig
It's not illegal for a single company to set their price at whatever they want. It is illegal for an entire industry to get together and decide what everyone will charge to maximizing screwing the customer.
-- Will program for bandwidth
If you don't like Metallica, obviously, you're not a target for the new album. But let's you do like a band somewhat, but are reluctant to buy CDs. Wouldn't you be more likely to buy an audio CD if it came with an 80 minute DVD for free? Sure, you could download it, but an uncompressed copy will be multiple Gigs and a compressed copy would not be of good quality.
Well, ideally, I agree. However... Oh, hell with it. If you want to troll, fine. If you really do wonder about the rationale for these or other anti-trust measures, you can look it up somewhere else, since frankly I'm not well enough versed to tell you. But in regards to your first question, since the collusion in this case was vertical as well as horizontal, if you (record label) decide not to participate, you lose out on preferential treatment for major distributors and retailers who are involved.
As was mentioned on Chewplastic's site, we might want to consider also doanting to Daniel Peng, another student who was hit by the RIAA at the same time. He seems to be having a harder time getting donations since he hasn't had as much media attention as Jesse Jordan did. Plus Jesse seems like he's not that far from getting his money back and I know the RIAA is sending out a WHOLE LOTTA CHECKS.
On a brief sidenote, this makes me very proud in the redeming qualities of the Internet and the overwhelming spirit of helping the Davids of the world fight thier Goliaths.
It's not stupid. It's advanced.