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RIAA Victory Over Usenet.com In Copyright Case
ozydingo writes "The RIAA has scored a victory in a decision on a copyright case that they filed back in 2007. US District Judge Harold Baer ruled in favor of the music industry on all its main theories: that Usenet.com is guilty of direct, contributory, and vicarious infringement. In addition, and perhaps most important for future cases, Baer said that Usenet.com can't claim protection under the Sony Betamax decision stating that companies can't be held liable of contributory infringement if the device is 'capable of significant non-infringing uses.' Bear noted that Usenet.com differed from Sony in that the sale of a Betamax recorder was a one-time deal, while Usenet.com's interaction with its users was an ongoing relationship. The RIAA stated in a brief note, 'We're pleased that the court recognized not just that Usenet.com directly infringed the record companies' copyrights but also took action against the defendants for their egregious litigation misconduct.'"
Guess what? the law applies to you and even with clever lawyering you cannot get away from that fact.
Why do people like you think you SHOULD be able to download music and movies with impunity. Oh, something about information wants to be free or the unfairness of the Intellectual Property laws...yah, good luck with that
Another one of these stupid comments. OK, don't like that model? Let's try a new one. Go to some member of the RIAA, and negotiate with them to sell you the copyrights to the next song (insert your favorite artist) produces. It shouldn't cost you more than a few million dollars. Now, when the song comes out, give it away for free (if you don't want to give it away for free, just make sure you don't attempt to assert any kind of 'rights' over it). Let us know how long you can sustain that. Or are you one of the morons who thinks that everyone involved in 'art' should just do it for free (including everyone who built the studios, everyone who made the equipment, the cleaning crew, the utility company, anyone supplying materials to the above, etc)? If it is neither one of those, then exactly what is your proposal? Or are you just a crybaby who is envious of those involved in the business, and greedy enough to think you have some sort of right to whatever you want, when you want it, on the terms you want, without giving anything back?
This post is 100% bullshit. Pirates are in no way 'competing' with the RIAA, and don't try to pretend otherwise. The RIAA companies (and all the other content producers) have this pesky little thing called 'costs'. You may have heard of them, they include things like salaries, buildings (either owned or rented), taxes, utilities, etc. The pirates have none of that, so of course they can 'out-compete' on price. If you want real (legal) competition for the RIAA, etc, you must create your own content (don't steal someone elses). So go out, build (or rent) a studio, sign some artists and writers (this is competition, so you will have to make at least as good an offer as the RIAA), hire engineers, etc. Write a song. Make a recording. Then use whatever business model you want to distribute your work. Be sure to include all your wonderful ideas in your business model (no DRM, no suing to protect interests, price less that $0.99). Come back in a few years and let us know how that all worked out for you.