If a person leaves there car unlocked, they are not breaking a law if someone steals the stuff inside. Just because you provided access for someone to commit a crime does not make you a criminal yourself.
The fact that you have mp3s or divx movies or anything of the sort on your computer in a folder that is accessible does not make you a criminal.
The NY Times just sued (Read Article) Adrian Lamo for entering a basically insecure network. He did nothing but look to see what was there. Hmm, sound like RIAA?
I don't know about anybody else, but what the RIAA is doing seems very similar. I own many cds, many of which I convert to various formats on my computer to create playlists. Apparently, I can be sued if that file is accessible to people who might want to take them from me.
The question is, if I have a broadband connection without a firewall, am I liable to the RIAA because some hacker might want a couple of songs? They are in fact accessible to some people.
Music should be free, or at least a heck of a lot cheaper than $17 for a cd.
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If a person leaves there car unlocked, they are not breaking a law if someone steals the stuff inside. Just because you provided access for someone to commit a crime does not make you a criminal yourself.
The fact that you have mp3s or divx movies or anything of the sort on your computer in a folder that is accessible does not make you a criminal.
The NY Times just sued (Read Article) Adrian Lamo for entering a basically insecure network. He did nothing but look to see what was there. Hmm, sound like RIAA?
I don't know about anybody else, but what the RIAA is doing seems very similar. I own many cds, many of which I convert to various formats on my computer to create playlists. Apparently, I can be sued if that file is accessible to people who might want to take them from me.
The question is, if I have a broadband connection without a firewall, am I liable to the RIAA because some hacker might want a couple of songs? They are in fact accessible to some people.
Music should be free, or at least a heck of a lot cheaper than $17 for a cd.