RIAA charged with extortion
p2pnet.net news:- A Florida woman, Suzy Del Cid, has accused Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG’s RIAA of extortion and computer fraud.
The RIAA Settlement Support Center involved in her case is, she says, “a company organized for the sole purpose of contacting prospective defendants and demanding that they pay thousands of dollars each to avoid the prospect of a federal lawsuit against them.”
Says Recording Industry vs The People, Del Cid is charging the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) with:
- Trespass
- Computer Fraud and Abuse (18 USC 1030)
- Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices (Fla. Stat. 501.201)
- Civil Extortion.
“As part of this campaign of extortion, Plaintiffs enhance the intimidation factor by actually filing suit in a number of instances with no prior warning,” says a court document, going on:
These suits are designed to attract media attention, and often do, as stories emerge of Plaintiffs’ suits against the elderly, disabled, technologically clueless, and other vulnerable victims. Many of these victims have no idea how to operate a computer, let alone how to install and use peer-to-peer networking software to exchange music they would not likely be listening to anyway. But actual innocence is rarely a consideration to Plaintiffs.”
Through, “various concerted efforts and cartels, control or attempt to control the channels of creation, distribution, and sale of musical works
throughout the United States and the world,” he says, behold his client, adding:
“They are not artists, songwriters, or musicians. They did not write or record the songs.”
There appear to be a number of so-called ‘settlement’ centres scattered around the US, all designed to look like official departments legally entitled to demand payments from Big 4 victims in return for supposed immunity from prosecution.
People who deal with these centres. Not only end up paying extortionate amounts to them, they also provide an with personal information which could conceivably be used against them at some future date.
p2pnet reader Rudolph I. A. Amperage tracked one such to Seattle. It was registered to Robert S. Over.
Demanding a trial by jury, Del Cid is represented by Michael Alex Wasylik.
Also See:
Recording Industry vs The People – RIAA Accused of Extortion and Conspiracy in Tampa, Florida, case, UMG v. Del Cid, June 4, 2007
tracked one – Settlement Support Center, LLC, September 22, 2007
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Tired of being treated like a criminal? They depend on you, not the other way around. Don’t buy their ‘product’. Do bug your local politicians. Use emails, snail-mail, phone calls, faxes, IM, stop them in the street, blog. And if you’re into organizing, organize petitions, organize demonstrations and then turn up on your local political rep’s doorstep, making sure you’ve contacted your local tv/radio station/newspaper in advance. Don’t just complain. Do something!
June 4th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Where are the RICO statutes when you need them? Conspiracy,extortion,preying on the weak and promising that we won’t bother taking you to court if you pony up protection money.
June 5th, 2007 at 4:27 am
Well it seems the RICO law is being put into action in THIS case. Mabye with a victory here it will make the RIAA think twice before suing just anyone.
June 5th, 2007 at 9:54 am
IT’S ABOUT TIME….GO Suzy!!!! Is there any place to track and contribute to this worthy cause???
August 7th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
YAY,
As a musician I have been embarrassed by the RIAA gestapo tactics for years now. The RIAA does NOT care about musicians, composers and artists. The RIAA only cares about big business, the exploitation of the public and the control and monopolization of media.
The RIAA originated as a means to maintain standards and “cure” problems in the music industry. Well this is certainly an example of a cure that is killing the patient.