Music Industry Demon
The RIAA is Evil: Most Outrageous Lawsuits of the Record Industry
Point / Counterpoint Part I: The RIAA is Evil
It has been known for some time that the recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a "monster" in some of the literal definitions of the word is a huge organization, powerful and full of hatred that feed on the powerless, with unshakable malice. Since 2003, there have been over 35,000 claims against any and all kinds of people, while supported by a force of thousands of lawyers formidable. And while some of these cases could have had legal basis to stand on, others end up being completely worthless. Whether to sue the deceased children, the RIAA has shown no depths too low for them to sink.
So to give you an idea of how evil they really are, we've compiled a list of most outrageous and offensive claims of the RIAA.
Pirate Laser Printer
If you thought you had to be a human being to fall below the radar of the RIAA, think again. Although technically not a complaint, the following case is known as one of the funniest examples of the stupidity of the RIAA. In August 2007, 13 takedown notices were sent to the University of Washington demands to stop pirating music. However, what makes this story so ridiculous is that several of the accused of pirating music machines were actually connected laser printers to the school network. Now, I'm not sure how a laser printer would be able to download music, but I'm assuming it is print the letters or something equally absurd, or just a great example of the incompetence of the RIAA.
But despite the humorous nature of history, University of Washington wanted to demonstrate that this is no laughing matter and published a report on the takedown notices to emphasize the seriousness of the situation.
"Our results show that potentially anyone on the Internet is at risk for [takedown notices] today. Whether a false positive sent to a user who has never used BitTorrent or a truly user offenders based on incomplete IP blacklists, there is currently no way for anyone to completely avoid the risk of complaints. "
No team no problem for the RIAA
To illustrate the point made in the paper at the University of Washington on that nobody is safe from the RIAA – including those who never have used Bittorrent – the next case involved a woman who has never used a computer. Marie Lindor in Brooklyn, New York opened her mailbox one day, probably waiting for their normal flood of coupons and letters from their grandchildren, but instead found a greeting card invitation RIAA it or join them in the courtroom or pay a $ 4500 "No, thank you" fee, also known as an "agreement."
So you might want to think that the RIAA dismissed If, after patiently explained that she has never used a computer, you have no idea what a BitTorrent is, and has not heard of piracy off childhood stories about Blackbeard. But that's not what happened – the RIAA has "principles." Instead, ignore the facts and noted that it had a modem unsecured wireless set in his apartment a few years ago when his son was briefly set up a computer not for personal use. However, the expected timing of the RIAA, when piracy was carried out even during that short time, so even this does not explain anything.
In is very likely that someone on another floor connected without the permission of your wireless modem and pirated music – because the modem was not password protected – and now she has to pay for it. Only one lesson he learned more about the dangers of unencrypted wireless networks and evil soulless organizations like the RIAA.
Copyright on Human Rights
Imagine that you are the father of a young patient suffering from pancreatitis who regularly hospitalized and need a stem cell transplant or she faces death. Then one day, which is reviewing the medical expenses that come through another bill – except that this is not the hospital, the RIAA lawsuit thousands of dollars in fines because they say their daughter illegally downloaded Justin Timberlake "Bringing sexy back."
That is the heartbreaking story was developed with 19 years of age, Ciara Sauro of Pittsburgh who has been confined to a hospital bed for much of his life. At the time he received the demand, its Lisa mother was only $ 8.25 an hour on the job and spent the rest of their time in bed with his daughter helping her fight the disease. But now that they have to fight other illness – The depravity of the RIAA.
The lawsuit seeks a solution of about $ 8,000 for downloading about 10 songs, but insists that the RIAA has no Ciara idea of what they are talking about.
"See where [downloads] came, and look and see that I am not. It is not fair to me," Ciara said. "I already have severe depression. I mean, it is very difficult to sit there and think I have to get in trouble for something I did not. It is not fair. "
Of course it is not fair, Ciara – But then again the RIAA is not interested in what is right. They are only interested in money.
Better Off Dead
If they had the impression that you had to be living to receive an application, think again. It seems that even the dead can not rest in peace when the RIAA and desired. This is what happened to 83-year-old grandmother Gertrude Walton of Virginia who died months before the lawsuit was filed in 2005 accusing it of illegally sharing up to 700 songs over the Internet. However, Gertrude's daughter Robin said that her mother hated computers and refused even to have one at home.
Knowing demand should be based on false grounds – and because the defendant has already died – Robin replied to the RIAA warning with a letter that includes the death certificate of her mother and explanation must be wrong. But then a week later, Robin and her mother who died received the formal application in the mail.
Although ultimately a spokesman the RIAA said they would try to dismiss the case, is there any compensation that are being forced to pay to stop the grieving process with a demand crazy? Maybe when hell freezes over, destroying all the RIAA lawyers demonic.
Like stealing candy from a baby
They never too young for the RIAA. In what has become one of the most notorious claims that I have pursued the young man 12 years old Brianna Lahara was in the spotlight the RIAA in 2003 after he was accused of downloading more than 1,000 copyrighted songs through file-sharing service Kazaa. Although it had dropped songs, which had made only because his parents paid $ 30 a month to Kazaa to gain access to its music service – that deceptively really does not entitle them to download music.
And while Brianna's parents were poor working class family living in a tenement in New York, the RIAA originally tried to sue them Astronomical $ 150,000 per song. Sounds a little extreme? Not with the RIAA.
"Nobody likes playing the heavy and having to resort to litigation," said RIAA president Cary Sherman's. "But when the product is being regularly stolen there comes a time when you have to take appropriate action."
So apparently suing a low family income for millions of dollars is what Cary Sherman considers "appropriate." But if that is so, the next Once the guy steps on my shoe, I'll just throw in traffic. Is what I personally consider "appropriate action."
Although ultimately instance, the lawsuit was settled for $ 2,000, which only serves to demonstrate the strong role of intimidation in the image of the RIAA.
Do not worry … For Now
While the RIAA is no less evil, beginning in 2009 decided not to pursue legal action against persons and have now focused on attacking the ISP. So you can rest assured that at least the plague of individual claims during the dark ages of the RIAA are over, but do not think it is in the clear yet. Piracy has changed the face of the music industry for over a decade and is only increasing over time. And although it has been amply demonstrated that piracy often can be good for artists, particularly struggling independent musicians, the RIAA will certainly cook another evil regime in a dark cellar at one of its headquarters to screw the consumer and prevent progress. But if there is one lesson we learned from Rome, is that all empires must fall one day. Hopefully that day is because sometime soon I hear U2's new album coming out soon and I have a torrent with your name on it.
About the Author
Ben Goldman is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a lawyer or more trademark and copyright articles at Yodle Consumer Guide.
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