How much more plain can it be stated? Now, perhaps the USE of those files after they are downloaded MAY break a shrink-wrap license somewhere, but the ACT of downloading DOES NOT break any laws. And that is the rub: the low-hanging fruit is being targetted because they are unable to afford adequate legal representation, and specific judges are being targetted for these civil claims because they are known to be ignorant of technology issues. This sets up the general public for a feeding frenzy by the RIAA/MPAA which is what has been going on for years now. It is WAY PAST time to stop this madness!

If the RIAA is (disengenuously) claiming that the downloaders are the only ones they can find or go after, they are lying. It’s the UPloaders that they need to be focusing on, and only if the uploaders are WILLFULLY ignoring a known shrink-wrap license agreement (remember, there is a safety clause for “unknowing infringement”. In America we are supposed to be innocent until PROVEN guilty, but the RIAA is bypassing that “proof” requirement by using extortion techniques, and our unknowledgeable judges are unwitting partners to this travesty.

I think the mainstream media needs to report this even more, in order to make it an issue to even more people; the RIAA/MPAA hide in the shadows of anonymity, only by exposing their underhanded tactics to the general public will anything get changed.

Was it right to punish them? after all they achieved equal rights for black people.

Love, others to follow Radiohead’s no-label lead?
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2737460020071231?feedType=RSS&feedName=internetNews&rpc=22&sp=true

Download uproar
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/28/AR2007122800693.html

Some of the well-known artists that are dumping the cartels are listed below:

PRINCE

TRENT REZNOR/NINE INCH NAILS

COURTNEY LOVE

DAFT PUNK

. . . AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD

CHUCK D/PUBLIC ENEMY

SUFJAN STEVENS

PEARL JAM

UNDERWORLD

DEPECHE MODE

The lamescream media are being forced to report events simply because if they don’t and people find out, they will go to other news sources such as those that are found online. The recording industry will die a slow death, but at least it is dying.

Yeah, tell that to the illegal aliens that are here right now. The government will not boot them out, and there are at least twice as many downloaders as there are illegals. The copyright law is stupid and silly. I have no duty to respect it, and I encourage everyone else to ignore the silly law.

Why on earth should the federal government waste resources chasing down people who are violating a copyright law? If I recall correctly, a copyright costs $25. Why should the government waste all sorts of money chasing down teenagers who are copying music and violating a $25 license? Why should the government waste resources just to protect HELLywood’s dumb ass? HELLywood hates America, why should America bother to protect HELLywood’s monopoly?

Why don’t we lower the term of the copyright to five years? What do you think of that one Sam? Solves lots of problems doesn’t it?

He doesn’t have to. He’s already in it, the poor misguided soul.

I say let the majors keep it up. They are driving themselves out of the market as fast as they can. I for one welcome the cratering of a music industry as we now know it.

Since Sam I Am is evidently tied to this model, it is my hope he follows the vortex, right into the drain.

“RIAA spin doctors are raking it in as they come up with new ways to pillory the people who ultimately pay their salaries.”

Patently untrue, this is a blatant lie and you know this. The industry, government and law enforcement are teaming up to stop people from taking without paying for a product that is for sale. You understand this distinction perfectly well. Real music fans have always put their money where their mouth is. Illegal copyright infringers are not “customers” and by not paying anything for the files they illegally take, they are paying NO ONE. Not the RIAA, not the musicians either. You know this.

“And many of the schools are, disgracefully, falling over themselves to cooperate, completely ignoring their students’ welfare and well-being.”

Would the schools better serve their students by shielding their illegal activities? And where is that line drawn? Do our schools now decide what laws should be enforced? Is that education’s job now? The schools know the laws and they are working within them as well they should. If students nationwide were taking something other than music or movie files that were properly for sale but were being taken without paying, would the colleges be right to defend that behavior too? If you disagree, where is the line where “Taking product for sale but without paying” must finally be stopped?

The law will be properly enforced until it is changed and well sorted out governments don’t fold to law breakers. Your argument is with reality. One day perhaps your rights may be infringed and we’ll see at that time if you care about your own personal losses or not. In the meantime, government has little option until the laws are changed. I’ve always said that the illegal p2p pirate community doesn’t care as long as it is someone else being harmed and not them. Your collective voice is squandering any authority it may have had through disingenuous posts like these. We have a legal system here. Learn to work within it or take your chances. When you spout BS like this it’s no wonder Congress no longer listens.

Neither us and this is going to become a huge pb for the RIAA/MPAA and their members.

YES!