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RIAA Gets Nervous, Brings In Big Gun

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "I guess the RIAA is getting nervous about the ability of its 'national law firm' (in charge of bringing 'ex parte' motions, securing default judgments, and beating up grandmothers and children) to handle the oral argument scheduled to be heard on Monday, August 4th in Duluth, in Capitol v. Thomas. So, at the eleventh hour, it has brought in one of its 'Big Guns' from Washington, D.C., a lawyer who argues United States Supreme Court cases like MGM v. Grokster to handle the argument. This is the case where a $222,000 verdict was awarded for downloading 24 songs, but the judge ultimately realized that he had been misled by the RIAA in issuing his jury instructions, and indicated he's probably going to order a new trial. But, not to worry. A group of 10 copyright law professors from 10 different law schools and several other amici curiae (friends of the court) have filed briefs now, so it is highly unlikely the judge will allow himself to be misled again, no matter who the RIAA brings in as cannon fodder on Monday."

2 of 423 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Friend of the court? by Atlantis-Rising · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Court can decide what briefs it accepts or not.

    Arguably, I think the briefs are misfiled and that the process of the amicus curiae is being abused; A good amicus brief should, in my opinion, not be filed in support of any particular side, but in defense if a particular argument of law or explanation of fact.

    --
    "It is possible to commit no errors and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." -Peak Performance
  2. Re:Honestly... by falconwolf · · Score: 4, Informative

    This is the case where a $222,000 verdict was awarded for downloading 24 songs

    RTFA. RIAA downloaded 24 songs from her.

    And they were authorized by the copyright holders to download them.

    Falcon