RIAA's Request For Appeal Denied In Thomas Case

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "The RIAA's request for permission to appeal from the decision setting aside its $222,000 jury verdict has been denied by District Court Judge Michael J. Davis. In a brief, 6-page decision (PDF) the Judge dismissed the RIAA's arguments that there is a 'substantial ground for a difference of opinion' on the question of law presented, whether the Judge had erred in accepting the RIAA's proposed jury instruction that merely 'making files available' could constitute an infringement of the plaintiffs' distribution rights. He likewise dismissed their argument that granting permission for the appeal would 'materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation,' since (a) depending on the outcome of the trial, plaintiffs might not wish to appeal from the judgment, and (b) no matter how the appeals court rules on the 'making available' issue, the case will still have to continue in the lower court, since even if the RIAA wins on the 'making available' issue, the Court will still have to address the constitutionality of the large jury verdict, which may result in a new trial."

Comments

Too many ads

[Animats]

The "Recording Industry vs. the People" site has become incredibly ad-heavy. It now has layer ads that won't dismiss, a link farm, and regular Google ads. This thing has advertising from services I've never even heard of, like "shareasale.com". Amusingly, it has ads for RIAA-controlled music, and even for the iTunes store.

Block "st.blogads.com" to make it at least tolerable.

Re:Too many ads

[hostguy2004]

The "Recording Industry vs. the People" site has become incredibly ad-heavy. It now has layer ads that won't dismiss, a link farm, and regular Google ads. This thing has advertising from services I've never even heard of, like "shareasale.com". Amusingly, it has ads for RIAA-controlled music, and even for the iTunes store.

Block "st.blogads.com" to make it at least tolerable.

Before you get modded OT and NYCL will miss your post, I suggest that you politely email him.

I enjoy his many submissions to Slashdot, so perhaps people should consider donating to his website, instead of criticizing his advertising.

Re:Re-read it a few times

[sexybomber]

Disclaimer: IANYetAL, but I'm a law student.

Usually you're right, the Eighth Circuit doesn't have to follow the Ninth Circuit's decisions (for example) and vice versa, but in this case, The Honorable Judge Davis does have to abide by that decision, since Minnesota's in the Eighth Circuit.

What "actual dissemination" actually is, though... that's an open question, and I think that's what they're trying to figure out.

I have no idea if I got that right, it's late and I'm on break. (And hence trying not to think about all things legal :-D )

Re:Judge's kids

[aztektum]

Drunken karma whoring!

Re:I've heard enough about the RIAA

[NewYorkCountryLawyer]

I'm personally rather sad we have had the first "too much of NYCL on /. posting" but I suppose fame and popularity always result a few detractors. It's people like him that have help restore a little of my faith in the (US) justice system. When I see large rich corporations throwing cash at cases just to make it harder for their much poorer opponents to defend themselves it's good to know there are people out there who will help the underdog. These cases are particularly redolent for myself and many slashdoters as they invoke a certain "there but for the grace of God go I" feeling. I would sincerely doubt Ray is becoming a rich (or much richer) man because of them. I would expect that most of his potential clients with any amount of money would rather pay the RIAA's pound of flesh and settle without going to court than risk several years disruption to their lives. Most of people he will be defending will be those who cannot afford to pay and so his only hope of ever getting adequate recompense will be if courts award fees in his favor, which I believe is a bit of a lottery at the best of times - at least he believes enough in his own skills and his take on the law to take that risk.

1. Represent poor and middle class people defending cases that could be settled for $4000 or $5000, in lengthy complex cases against defendants whose primary goal is to make the cases as complex and as expensive as possible...for which you receive little compensation.
2. Oppose giant multinational corporations, joined in a cartel, who have an army of lawyers and are willing to spend tens of million dollars per year pursuing the poor and middle class people.... for which you receive little compensation.
3. Spend hours each day doing research, obtaining and reading legal documents, and writing a blog for which you receive no compensation.
4. Communicate each day with lawyers and RIAA lawsuit victims from all over the world, for which you receive no compensation.
5. Communicate each day with media from all over the world, for which you receive no compensation.
6.???
Profit!