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Judge Lowers Jammie Thomas' Damages to $54,000
An anonymous reader writes "Judge Michael Davis has slashed the amount Jammie Thomas-Rassett is said to owe Big Music from almost $2,000,000 to $54,000. 'The need for deterrence cannot justify a $2 million verdict for stealing and illegally distributing 24 songs for the sole purpose of obtaining free music. Moreover, although Plaintiffs were not required to prove their actual damages, statutory damages must still bear some relation to actual damages.' The full decision (PDF) is also available."
Treble damages? Were the shared songs THAT bad?
More Twoson than Cupertino
What if you could prove negative damages? Exposing more people to the music makes it more likely that people will buy merch and attend concerts in the future. Then the RIAA would have to pay HIM.
Just wait until they apply bass damages...
Trouble with trebles?
Do you go around telling kids there's no Santa Claus?
The judge seemed to indicate he thought $54,000 was still high, how did he settle on that number?
Hmmm, if only he wrote some sort of opinion that explained his reasoning...
They were MP3s - of course the treble was damaged
Treble damages? Were the shared songs THAT bad?
No, they rolled a natural 20 twice in a row while determining damage.
Wow. Looks like someone just found out they paid too much money for their house.