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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)."
Speaking abstractly, it's not a bad national strategy in a way. We're fucked economically, and have no manufacturing base to speak of. There's not much we can do except enforce "intellectual property" overseas. The downside is the implicit effect that this will have on domestic freedom and true innovation. I suspect we (as knowledge workers) will be learning some hard lessons in the next few years. I would not be surprised if the FSF and EFF (among others) are forcibly nationalized and destroyed/reorganized within four years.
Give me a fucking break. W and the neo-cons are no longer in control. As such, we are less likely to see constitutional violations. In addition, we are far more likely to see our manufacturing lines come back as oil prices rise. The simple fact is that getting our cheap housewares from China is becoming expensive. Oil will rise it as well.
Such trash talk of nationalization always cracks me up.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
I just read this brief and it is pretty good. It would win.
FSF and defendants will not get anywhere arguing proportionality like that.
The better argument is to ask "What it if was $10 billion per song in statutory damages?" If so, that crosses the line into "putative" damages, well beyond any consideration of encouragement to seek redress, deterrence, and compensation. SO somewjere between $10 billion and $0.35, the line is crossed. Where is the line?
Only if the court deems the copyright act damages as "punitive" will FSF and defendants stand a chance.
Please explain what is unconstitutional about nationalization? Also please note distinct lack of change, in re: torture policy, U SAP AT RIOT Act, telecom immunity, &c.
We'll see.
"They were pure niggers." – Noam Chomsky
HAH HAH HAH! It's funny because it's like saying Open Source! HAH HAH HAH!
"Most people, I think, don't even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?"
That is so true. Especially NYCL. I'd almost consider creating a log in just to filter him.
He complains about their dishonesty while piling on his own.
It's really really not a good way to stay above the fray.
"They called 'Recording Industry vs. The People' an 'anti-recording industry web site' "
Sorry, but that's exactly what it is. Its fucking tragic that you would be upset by this.
People call me anti-piracy a lot, because that accurate. And when they do so, I don't come crying to slashdot about it.
You are massively, overwhelmingly anti-record-company. Why are you so fucking annoyed at being called what you are?
I guess your mission is accomplished, to get yet another slashdot story that generates tons of ad-impressions for your blog.
DRM-free indie games for the PC and Mac: Positech Games
How do you feel about thepiratebay guys ray? you happy for them to go to jail having been found guilty by a judge? or are the only verdicts you accept the ones where its record company execs getting jail time?
DRM-free indie games for the PC and Mac: Positech Games
wow. you admit you know nothing about copyright law. I guess it really is all about the ad-impressions your blog isn't it?
Nice of you to mobilise your fan club to mod me troll. Its amusing knowing how slashdot readers cannot bear to read opinions they disagree with...
DRM-free indie games for the PC and Mac: Positech Games