24 mystery file-sharers
p2pnet.net News:- There have been no further details from the RIAA on the 24 people who “declined offers to settle out of court,” as the Big Music enforcement agency puts it.
They’re in addition to the 493 newest victims in its continuing efforts to persuade consumers to buy only music industry ‘product’ acquired through one or other of the online music ’stores’ supported and supplied by the Big Five record labels.
Lawsuits were filed in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Texas.
The 24 are “individuals who were identified through ‘John Doe’ litigations and then declined or ignored a RIAA overture to settle the case before it proceed [sic] any further,” says the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), going on that it’s “eager and willing” to settle the lawsuits launched against file sharers “expeditiously”.
“Expeditiously” means Organized Music wants victims to settle out of court as quickly as possible.
None of the 2,947 men, women and children lined up by the RIAA since last September has so far been found guilty of anything because not one has ever appeared before a judge.
The closest anyone has come was in May when a federal judge ordered a Bristol, Connecticut, man to pay more than $4,000 – for downloading five songs.
William Martinez was told to to pay $750 per song for copyright infringement, plus $289 in costs, says an Associated Press story here. Martinez failed to answer the RIAA’s civil complaint, or to appear in court for the hearing.
Earlier in the month, another Connecticut resident, Jennifer Brothers of Andover, was fined $6,000 by the same judge, Janet Hall, for sharing music online.
Brothers claims she was never officially notified of the suit by the RIAA, says a 1010 WINS story here, going on that court documents say she never accepted a copy of the suit and never filed a response with the court.
The fine came when she failed to appear for a hearing.
And back when the RIAA began its sue ‘em all campaign, Lorraine Sullivan learned she was expected to turn up in court from a reporter and it took the RIAA a further seven days before she heard from them officially, she told p2pnet.
One wonders how many of the 24 are in similar positions?
In the meanwhile, as a Reuters story states here, “The trade group [the RIAA], which represents the five largest recording companies, has settled more than 400 of those cases for around $3,000 each.”
However, $3,000 settlements are at the low end. Some ‘payments’ have been for considerably more than $10,000 and ’settle’ means the RIAA in effect makes victims an offer they can’t refuse – Pay us. Or else.
Rather than go up against Organized Music with its limitless resources, victims always pay.
“I’d like to resist the RIAA and the recording industry,” Sullivan told us last year. “I wish I could. I wish I didn’t have to worry about my future.
“But I’m terrified of bankruptcy. How could I, an already in debt college student, possibly go up against a multi-billion-dollar international industry and survive?”
Her words are no doubt echoed by all the other people who ’settle’.
March 5th, 2005 at 2:59 pm
I was notified by lawyers of the RIAA. I’m now going to have to settle for $3,000. My computer had crashed months before notification and I had lost all the songs anyway. In short, do not share songs you have on file. I need help, any contribution will be greatly appreciated. Paypal to fpgjr@sbcglobal.net and/or email me for details and advice. Thanks!