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RIAA Offers Amnesty to File Sharers
Mister Dre writes "Apparently, the RIAA is planning to offer amnesty to file sharers who promise to delete copyrighted material from their computers. To take advantage, of course, you 'have to send a completed, notarized amnesty form to the RIAA, with a copy of a photo ID.'" Hey RIAA, how about I just stop sharing files, and we call it even? I know I own most of the CDs for the files I listen to, but I stopped buying those too so you'll know where I stand.
Jack Valenti is actually the head of the MPAA. They are in charge of suing you when you download movies or distribute open source software to play DVDs.
The RIAA, the subject of this story, is in charge of suing you when you download music or copy CDs. The head of the RIAA is Cary Sherman, after Hillary Rosen retired recently.
Oh yeah, since this is interstate communications we're talking here, I'll cite Title 18 USC Chapter 41 - EXTORTION AND THREATS. I'm sure it's on the web.
Just because you legally own the CD's does not make sharing them legal.
Yo mama so fake, she failed the Turing Test.
The recording industry must reform itself, or perish like the horse-and buggy industry did after the automobile was invented. If you don't like that comparison, try this one. If your head is in the basket, you were on the wrong side of the revolution. The RIAA are trying to avoid sharing the fate of Louis XVI.
How ya like dat?
In an episode of Comedy Central's South Park animated series, "Fuck you; that is all" was a TV network executive's response to the mob of angry parents who wanted a show pulled from the air.
Will I retire or break 10K?
The RIAA is trying to undue all that pre-school programming we got where they taught us it is good to share ;)
perl -e 'print $i=pack(c5, (41*2), sqrt(7056), (unpack(c,H)-2), oct(115), 10)'
How 'bout we give you amnesty if you, collectively and individually, admit to illegal price fixing, and actually give us our money back?
Did anyone sign up for that? And actually get any money?
This is no better than a mugging.
"Gimme all your stuff, and I won't kill you (financially). Oh, and we'll be watching you. Forever."
Get caught stealing 1/2 billion dollars, and no one went to jail? And the fine is 1/3 of the take? And they want to screw us?
WTF is that about?
Its like admiting your guilt. And who knows if they get a new CEO or new lawyers or profits are down or its a blue moon they might come after you. They will simply tear up their "amnesty" deal.
Its happened before!
Doh!
"You're on my side and the dark side, like Lando Calrissian?" --Gimpy, Undergrads
First, the RIAA doesn't own the copyrights. The record companies and/or the artists own the copyrights. You might just as well have the ASPCA give you amnesty for copyright violations.
Second, (in the US, anyway) copyright violations are violations of a federal law. They can be prosecuted by the federal government - in theory even without the consent of the copyright holder.
One group sued by DirectTV, counter-sued alleging extortion. The judge dismissed their case (Blanchard vs. DirectTV). The judge's reasoning was, in part:
In addition, the group was ordered to pay DirectTV $97,220 to cover DirectTV's legal expenses.And even worse....if you don't accept this may form some sort of future legal argument.
While I understand that ignorance is not an excuse, the argument that "I didn't know it was illegal" if believable, sure helps take the wilful out of the argument, and may aid in a defense. Now, not only does the average citizen know, but they chose not to atone and are now wilfully "stealing" (according to the RIAA) music. This may bias more politicians and judges to their side.
Because that's the monetary fine for copyright violation. They won't get thrown out of courts because it's in the lawbooks. If you don't like it, write your congressperson.
...I don't think the RIAA would turn around and sue people who abided by their terms (it would be PR suicide)...
i'm nos so sure the RIAA is all too concerned with bad PR... remember when they caught those pirates with the 5,000,000 cd burners?
WTPOUAWYHTTOTWPA
What's the point of using acronyms when you have to type out the whole phrase anyways?
5 bucks is too thin. Contrary to popular belief, CDs do cast more then a nickle to get from production to the store shelves. however 8 bucks would be reasonable.
You're method would cost even more, because you can't mass produce individule selections. You have to burn them, which is a HELL of a lot more expensive then stamping them.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on