RIAA Wins Again

A U.S. district court judge just ruled that Verizon must cough up the names of file swapping customers to the Recording Industry Association of America. The court sided with the RIAA's reading of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which allows copyright holders to issue subpoenas without the bother of providing any evidence that a crime has taken place.

When the 101st Airborne is done in Iraq, how 'bout they saunter back and reclaim some freedoms for the home folk? All it'll take is menacing glares and a few atomic wedgies and RIAA lawyers will fold like so many Republican Guard divisions.

Comments

[Jozef]

This is one of the main reasons why I chose not to tahe an Internet access at home. Considering the confusing legislation that gets passed these days, I don't even know anymore whether I have something illegal on my computer or not, and the last thing I want is to have my name and address sent to RIAA, MPAA or somebody else. And even if I didn't have anything illegal, this case proves that the RIAA can still get personal information in ISP customers, so everybody's a fair game.

[Tim Stich]

Zone Alarm needs to come out with a net agent that searches out and destroys lifted personal data. They could advertise the product enhancement during the previews before the Matrix Reloaded plays.

[Tim Stich]

While I do consider it somewhat lame to swap music that you would ordinarily buy, I also look forward to a more vigorous hacker attack on the RIAA if such a thing is in the works. I'm a hater of computers myself, but do own several. As you can guess, I have 0% hacker skills and usually detest these irritating people who create viruses and such. But the RIAA is an annoying roach-like entity worthy of squashing.

Oh, and thank you again Sonny Bono for your grand legislation you got passed before your fatal tree collision.

[geophile]

Bastards.

And you all though the Patriot Act was the worst they could do.

[Jim]

I hasten to point out that much of the 'public domain' music is considered by many to be among mankind's chief intellectual achievements (Bach and Mozart and Beethoven for example)and was created without RIAA style copyright protection. Of course in those days it was much more difficult to copy music, and those guys did make some money off of selling sheet copy, but mostly they lived on patronage. Bring back patronage! I'm sure the big name guys can get their hard core fans to donate money (any amount is OK, it will add up to millions with that kind of fan base) in exchange for being on the 'A' list for new releases. Oh, record companies don't make any money from this type of arrangement, do they? Now I understand where all of this is coming from (read preceeding with sarcastic tone)!

[Russ]

It's interesting that Jim mentions sheet music. Publishing companies were all over the record companies and broadcasters for cutting into sales back when the technologies of radio and 78s were new.

The book Pennies From Heaven details so much of this, it's amazing how today's downloading squabbles are so similar.

[Cat]

Its ALL about money.I don't see anyone going after manufacturers that make all these devices to copy cds,vhs,dvd and so on.Why its progress,they want consumers to buy it,but if you use it then thats a big no no.They say you must follow laws and buy.Ok they say all music is available to all either from stores or online its bullshit,if you want something something from outside the USA,stores with not order it,what is online that take a cd that runs 16 to 18 dollars and jack the price up to $30 to $50,thats not counting taxes and shipping,cause if you want cd in a week they want you to pay $10 more.Now if you want 20 cds,who the hell can pay that.......Will RIAA answer that question?????Cause I'm waiting.I want to buy the music and can't find a way thats not going to cost me a outrageous amount.I have over 300 bought cds,not including the all albums i have,and i have cassettes too.You can go in stores and buy f songs,sex songs,or order that shit.Last they say all music thats download is cd quality,they need to do more research because it is not.