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RIAA Brief Attacks Free Software Foundation

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "The RIAA has requested permission to file a response to the amicus curiae brief filed by the Free Software Foundation in SONY BMG Music Entertainment v. Tenenbaum, the Boston case against a Boston University grad student accused of having downloaded some song files when in his teens. In their proposed response, the RIAA lawyers personally attacked The Free Software Foundation, Ray Beckerman (NewYorkCountryLawyer), and NYCL's blog, 'Recording Industry vs. The People.' The 9-page response (PDF) — 4 pages longer than the document to which it was responding — termed the FSF an organization 'dedicated to eliminating restrictions on copying, redistribution, and modifying computer programs,' and accused the FSF of having an 'open and virulent bias against copyrights' and 'blatant bias' against the record companies. They called 'Recording Industry vs. The People' an 'anti-recording industry web site' and stated that NYCL 'is currently subject to a pending sanctions motion for his conduct in representing a defendant' (without disclosing that plaintiffs' lawyers were 'subject to a pending motion for Rule 11 sanctions for their conduct in representing plaintiffs' in that very case)."

10 of 554 comments (clear)

  1. Then we're fucked by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    GNU General Public License, version 6, 2013

    1. Pull down you pants.
    2. Bend over.

    GPLv2 or later doesn't sound like such a good idea now, does it?

  2. Re:Anti-Copyright? by NewYorkCountryLawyer · · Score: 5, Funny

    The FSF's centerpiece, the GPL, depends wholly on copyright for enforcement. So saying that the FSF has an "open and virulent bias against copyrights" clearly demonstrates either a lack of research, a lack of understanding, or a lack of honesty on the part of the RIAA's lawyers.

    I agree with the first sentence of your comment. As to the second sentence, I question your use of the word "or". The correct word should be "and". With that minor correction.... respect.

    --
    Ray Beckerman +5 Insightful
  3. Re:Maybe I haven't been paying attention... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you can't innovate, litigate.
    If you can't litigate, legislate.

    If you can't legislate, watergate?

  4. Re:Maybe I haven't been paying attention... by Red+Flayer · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you can't watergate, waterboard.

    x283.

    --
    "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
  5. Re:Anti-Copyright? by NewYorkCountryLawyer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Darn it, Ray... now I'm beginning to suspect that YOU have some sort of bias against the RIAA too! ;-)

    How dare you say that? I have nothing against them. I wish them the best in their lives. I hope that, after they serve their time in jail, they succeed in finding honest work, and live out their days in peace.

    --
    Ray Beckerman +5 Insightful
  6. Re:Well, is he? by NewYorkCountryLawyer · · Score: 5, Funny

    You must be new here

    You must be new here if you're saying that to NYCL.

    You must be new here if you're not used to people saying 'you must be new here' to NYCL.

    Question: how long do I have to be here before I can be said to no longer be new here? In Soviet Russia I would probably be considered old here.

    --
    Ray Beckerman +5 Insightful
  7. Re:Maybe I haven't been paying attention... by Ohrion · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's an XKCD reference, boy. You know what we do to XKCD referencers around here?

    Cheer them on and be reminded to go check out the recent comics at XKCD? /cheer

  8. Re:Maybe I haven't been paying attention... by Tubal-Cain · · Score: 5, Funny

    Mod them up?

  9. Yeah, the dweebs by symbolset · · Score: 5, Funny

    They act like they think they're running the US Justice Department. Oh, wait...

    --
    Help stamp out iliturcy.
  10. Re:Maybe I haven't been paying attention... by Grail · · Score: 5, Funny

    My girlfriend picked that one up and ran with it X(

    So nowadays, when she's heading to bed, "are we having sex, or is someone wrong on the Internet?"

    Sheesh... impossible decisions...