RIAA to sue downloaders

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/internet/06/25/download.suits.ap/index.html

Think it is going to be interesting to see the overall public response to this after everything happens.

I think downloading music is wrong. I know I sure as hell wouldn't want anyone stealing something I made. I also think that what the RIAA is doing is also wrong. I just think there is another way to solve this. What? I have no idea. When I found a new artist I never heard of and liked their stuff, I went out and purchased the CD to support the artist. I'm going to laugh when they have their list of people to sue and it shows that 75% of them are under 18.

We've got a guy at work who claims to be a member of Entropy, (he does have all the movies so who's to argue!?!), and was told by his cable internet provider to shut down his server immediately or get sued for a very large sum of money.

So how did they find out about some black guy in Eastpointe, MI providing a couple of movies every week on his server? Dunno, but it certainly seems like they could find everyone else too.

The entertainment industry makes shitloads of money already... they bring the price down on movies and music and maybe I'll support them again. Until then, I guess I'll live without.

Being that I eventually want to pursue a career in the music industry, I see that this thing I enjoy so much now is the same thing that will eventually affect my chances at getting a job or even being successful in my field.

Majy wrote:

Being that I eventually want to pursue a career in the music industry, I see that this thing I enjoy so much now is the same thing that will eventually affect my chances at getting a job or even being successful in my field.

didn't you hear, boy bands are out.

I download music but I still buy the album if I like it.

RIAA Wrath Hits Teen
Student’s Software Provokes Harsh Reaction From Music Industry

By Lindsay Martell, Tech Live


June 9— On April 3, 19-year-old Jesse Jordan received a call that changed his life.



The freshman at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., learned he was being sued by one of the most powerful trade groups in the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America.

Jordan, an information technology major, created ChewPlastic.com, the second most popular search directory on the RPI campus.

"You go to the site, you type in a search term, and it finds files on the network," Jordan said. Jordan compares his site to Google, the popular Internet search engine.

But the RIAA likens Jordan's site to Napster, the now defunct song-swap service that revolutionized the distribution of music.

"The service was no different than Napster," said Amy Weiss, senior vice president of communications for the RIAA. "With one click of a mouse, you can get music, you can get anything you wanted."

"The people who run these Napster networks know full well what they are doing: Operating a sophisticated network designed to enable widespread music thievery," RIAA President Cary Sherman said in a statement issued April 3.

"The lawsuits we've filed represent an appropriate step given the seriousness of the offense," Sherman added.


‘I Never Promoted Piracy’

"I didn't tell people what to share. I never promoted piracy," Jordan said.

"Basically, Napster set out to create its own network specifically for music. What I did was ran a search engine on a campus network [where] the network already existed," Jordan said.

But Jordan did agree to pony up $12,000, his entire savings account, to the RIAA. Jordan and his father, Andy Jordan, felt the settlement was their best option.

"They agreed to allow Jesse to deny their allegations. They agreed to dismiss the case and all allegations against him," the father said. "Basically they agreed that he didn't do anything wrong, but [they're] taking his 12 grand."

Weiss says the RIAA wanted to send a deterrent message others who had similar services up on their college campuses. "Nobody is above the law," she said. "And that is the important thing to remember here."

Jordan knew students were sharing files on his network: pictures, PowerPoint presentations, physics notes, anime, and music. But he refutes the RIAA's claim he "hijacked an academic network" and "installed an emporium for music trading."

"We don't think it's ridiculous to call someone a thief who is, in fact, stealing music. And that's exactly what his system did," said Weiss.


Ruining the Music Business?

Andy Jordan believes that the RIAA's intimidating tactics will undoubtedly hurt the music industry by alienating music buyers. An avid music fan for more than 40 years, he shudders at the impact this will have on the industry's most fervent fans.

"I don't know how strongly the music companies — the people who really run the music companies — I don't know if they realize what the impact of this misguided attempt at intimidation is going to be," Andy said.

While Andy Jordan questions the motives and actions of the RIAA, he basks in pride at his son's steadfast resolve.

"He has stood up to the schoolyard bullies that are pulling this and he's said, 'You are not going to make me say something that's not true,' " the father said.

ChewPlastic.com is asking for donations to help recover the $12,000 settlement. As of June 6, the site has collected more than $1,700.

Semi-related article..

Quote:

RIAA Wrath Hits Teen Student’s Software Provokes Harsh Reaction From Music Industry By Lindsay Martell, Tech Live June 9— On April 3, 19-year-old Jesse Jordan received a call that changed his life. The freshman at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., learned he was being sued by one of the most powerful trade groups in the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America. Jordan, an information technology major, created ChewPlastic.com, the second most popular search directory on the RPI campus. "You go to the site, you type in a search term, and it finds files on the network," Jordan said. Jordan compares his site to Google, the popular Internet search engine. But the RIAA likens Jordan's site to Napster, the now defunct song-swap service that revolutionized the distribution of music. "The service was no different than Napster," said Amy Weiss, senior vice president of communications for the RIAA. "With one click of a mouse, you can get music, you can get anything you wanted." "The people who run these Napster networks know full well what they are doing: Operating a sophisticated network designed to enable widespread music thievery," RIAA President Cary Sherman said in a statement issued April 3. "The lawsuits we've filed represent an appropriate step given the seriousness of the offense," Sherman added. ‘I Never Promoted Piracy’ "I didn't tell people what to share. I never promoted piracy," Jordan said. "Basically, Napster set out to create its own network specifically for music. What I did was ran a search engine on a campus network [where] the network already existed," Jordan said. But Jordan did agree to pony up $12,000, his entire savings account, to the RIAA. Jordan and his father, Andy Jordan, felt the settlement was their best option. "They agreed to allow Jesse to deny their allegations. They agreed to dismiss the case and all allegations against him," the father said. "Basically they agreed that he didn't do anything wrong, but [they're] taking his 12 grand." Weiss says the RIAA wanted to send a deterrent message others who had similar services up on their college campuses. "Nobody is above the law," she said. "And that is the important thing to remember here." Jordan knew students were sharing files on his network: pictures, PowerPoint presentations, physics notes, anime, and music. But he refutes the RIAA's claim he "hijacked an academic network" and "installed an emporium for music trading." "We don't think it's ridiculous to call someone a thief who is, in fact, stealing music. And that's exactly what his system did," said Weiss. Ruining the Music Business? Andy Jordan believes that the RIAA's intimidating tactics will undoubtedly hurt the music industry by alienating music buyers. An avid music fan for more than 40 years, he shudders at the impact this will have on the industry's most fervent fans. "I don't know how strongly the music companies — the people who really run the music companies — I don't know if they realize what the impact of this misguided attempt at intimidation is going to be," Andy said. While Andy Jordan questions the motives and actions of the RIAA, he basks in pride at his son's steadfast resolve. "He has stood up to the schoolyard bullies that are pulling this and he's said, 'You are not going to make me say something that's not true,' " the father said. ChewPlastic.com is asking for donations to help recover the $12,000 settlement. As of June 6, the site has collected more than $1,700.

The RIAA really needs to wake up and realize what theyre doing. p*****g off your customer base by doing this kind of stuff won't help CD sales any...

I'm boycotting buying music if they actually follow through with these lawsuits.