RIAA Sues 19-Year-Old Transplant Patient

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "Just when you think they've reached rock bottom, it seems the RIAA always finds room to sink a little lower. This time they've sued an innocent, 19-year-old transplant patient, hospitalized with pancreatitis and needing islet cell transplants. Although the young Pittsburgh lady claims that she did not infringe any copyrights, she failed to answer the complaint in time, and a default judgment was taken against her. A Pittsburgh area lawyer has stated that he will represent her pro bono and make a motion to open up the default."

Comments

Re:What is this?

[Renraku]

If the defendant is served papers and then doesn't request an extension or delay and then doesn't show up, generally victory is granted to the present party. Unless there are extenuating circumstances like these.

Re:Why doesn't somebody countersue them

[Beardo the Bearded]

For a statement to be slanderous / libelous, it must be believable.

For example, were I to say, "Nasajin is from another planet -- check his car. It runs on plutonium, not gasoline," that's obviously false.

I could also say, "Nasajin is awesome. Once he bought me a car for no reason." That's not libel since it improves your reputation.

If I were to libelously say something like, "I knew Nasajin when we were in college together. He really liked young girls. Once he had a 12-year-old in his room overnight, " then that's potentially believable, so it's libelous.

So, it has to be:
1. False
2. Believable
3. Harmful

Also, slander is spoken; libel is lines (i.e. written)