RIAA Files 531 More Lawsuits

nuclear305 writes "CNN is reporting that the RIAA has filed 531 'John Doe' lawsuits against defendants in Atlanta; Philadelphia; Orlando, Florida; and Trenton, New Jersey. Of course, once these thugs find out who you are, you can pay them off for the small fee averaging $3,000."

Comments

MS going after innocent P2P users as well

[Mr. Darl McBride]

I submitted this story and it got rejected, but it affects some of you, who may have been targeted by Microsoft for using a P2P service when you weren't even downloading Microsoft material.

The rejected story:

Last week, Slashdot published the story that Microsoft source code had been leaked for Windows 2000 and Windows NT4. Immediately, curious geeks began to look for sources for this code. Never one to miss a chance at a bit of good fun, I replied to the story, posting a link my Linux 2.6.2 kernel torrent, proclaiming "Kernel source here!" Microsoft's response? They went on the offensive, promptly trying to plug this "leak."

This morning, my ISP account was suspended, and I received a notification declaring that I had allegedly violated Microsoft's copyright. Violated Microsoft's copyright with a Linux kernel? Their complaint was filed two days after posting the torrent. In this time, they had apparently downloaded the torrent, but failed to verify that the contents were actually infringing. (I understand. .bz2 files confused me the first time I saw them, too.)

I checked the torrent tracker logs, and it seems that MS is still sitting on the torrent, presumably collecting IPs from would-be Linux downloaders. Of course, I removed the .torrent file so nobody else is inconvenienced by Microsoft legal's lack of dilligence. A good joke is one thing, but enabling Microsoft to continue harassing users is another.

For the curious and the irate alike, I've included Microsoft's complaint below:

J.K. Weston
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
jkweston@microsoft.com
Tel: (425) 703-5529

14 Feb 2004

URGENT/IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUIRED
VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

(My ISP)

Re: NOTICE OF POTENTIAL UNLAWFUL DISTRIBUTION OF MICROSOFT SOURCE CODE AT: (My IP) Date of Infringement: Detail below.

Dear (ISP):

We have received information that one of your users as identified above by the SITE/URL (My IP) may have engaged in the unlawful distribution of Microsoft's source code for Windows 2000, and/or Windows NT4, by distributing and offering for download these source code files via a peer-to-peer network.

Since you own this IP address, we request that you take appropriate action against the account holder under your Abuse Policy/Terms of Service Agreement.

We also kindly request that you forward this notice promptly to the user of the IP address listed above at the time and date stated.

To the user at (My IP):

The unauthorized copying and distribution of Microsoft's protected source code is a violation of both civil and criminal copyright and trade secret laws. If you have downloaded and are making the source code available for downloading by others, you are violating Microsoft's rights, and could be subject to severe civil and criminal penalties.

Microsoft demands that you immediately (1) cease making Microsoft's source code available or otherwise distributing it, (2) destroy any and all copies you may have in your possession, and (3) provide us any and all information about how you came into possession of this code.

Microsoft takes these issues very seriously, and will pursue legal action against individuals who take part in the proliferation of it source code. We look forward to your prompt cooperation. Should you need to contact me, I can be reached at the address above or at jkweston@microsoft.com.

Very truly yours,

By
J.K. Weston

How did I come across this source? Microsoft, I went to kernel.org.

Looks the RIAA's found a little competition in the puppy-kicking department.

That's the story that didn't get posted, but if any of you got a nastygram from your ISP, you deserve to know about this. Point your ISP to the Slashdot posting with the torrent and demand that they reinstate your account, and more to it: demand an apology from Microsoft. There are plenty of comments from others about this being the Linux 2.6.2 kerenl. MS is having ISPs shut off accounts for downloading Linux!

Thugs or not, they have the right to do so

[ObviousGuy]

Yes, the RIAA is out of control and really should stop to think about what they are doing to their reputation by suing all these people. That is a given.

However, they are well within their rights to be doing what they are doing. It is the music traders who decided that copyright did not apply to them who took the first step in breaking the law, and it is they who ultimately hold responsibility for their actions.

I remember back when the RIAA started out shutting down P2P sites like Napster that people were screaming about how Napster wasn't at fault, it was the individual members of the file sharing community who were responsible for violating copyrights. The thought went, "if the RIAA wants to sue anyone it should be those users individually, and it would be unfeasible for the RIAA to do such a thing because how much could they really gain by suing kids in their basements? Happy days!" Well, now the RIAA is doing exactly that. It's kind of ironic how those users who thought they could hide in anonymity behind the crowds of file sharers are now finding that there is no hiding because the RIAA is just going to catch everyone with a wide net.

I don't think the RIAA is going about this the right way, but I can't see how they are overstepping their legal bounds.

Lawsuits are our friends!

[BillyBlaze]

I do not pirate music, and though I feel copyright law needs serious reform, I respect it. But I still hate the RIAA because of the underhanded things they do. They've lobbied for the DMCA and even stricter laws, they are trying to close open computing architectures against us, and they are trying to centralize and destroy the very fabric of the Internet. Oh, and they sue people. They do these things simply to protect themselves. Suing people is the lesser of these evils.

Most people infringe copyright because:

1. People want music.
2. Copyright infringement is currently easier than buying the works.
3. People don't fear getting caught.

Obviously, the industry wants people to want music, so they can't mess with 1.

There are two ways to eliminate problem 2. The most damaging way is to make copyright infringement harder, because that involves destroying the Internet. The non-destructive way to eliminate problem 2 is to offer cheap, non-DRM music downloads to as many people as possible (minors included), but this is only easy when the problem 3 is dealt with.

The only real way to eliminate problem 3 is suing people. It doesn't take many people getting in trouble to scare the general public away from copyright infringement, especially if there are easier alternatives (see above). I think it's great that they're doing this, because it allows them to offer cheap unencumbered music downloads, which is much better than their current policy of corrupting our government and destroying the Internet.