p2pnet - rss feed: RIAA sues Ray ‘RIvTP’ Beckerman
p2pnet news view | RIAA News:- RIAA nemesis Ray Beckerman says he wants to thank the Vivendi Universal, EMI, Warner Music and Sony BMG enforcer for suing him.
Beckerman, the New York lawyer who’s defending several several RIAA victims and who runs the now-famous Recording Industry vs The People blog, has for years been an outspoken critic of the corporate music industry’s sue ‘em all campaign
Now, in its most ridiculous lawsuit yet, the Big 4 hit outfit is accusing Beckerman of being “vexatious,” among numerous other charges.
“I want to thank them for making this outrageous claim,” Beckerman told p2pnet.
“I’ve already had 7,500 visitors to my blog and people are offering to send me financial contributions.
“This motion is completely frivolous and based on lies and nonsense.”
Interestingly, named at the top of the 31-page court document is ‘judge’ Richard Gabriel, the Holme Roberts & Owen lawyer used by the RIAA to attack its victims, including Marie Lindor, the New York health worker who doesn’t know one end of a computer from the other.
For three years Beckerman defended her against the labels, who ultimately gave up.
According to the RIAA, Beckerman stood in the way of corporate recording industry “good faith efforts” on to uncover what it calls “crucial evidence,” in the Lindor farce.
“Congrats, Ray!” - says Cory Doctorow on BoingBoing.
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. Victory is around the corner.”
Or as Mahatma Ghandi once put it, “First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.”
They’re both correct. 
Good on ya, Ray.
(Maybe you should get Gabriel to defend you. But on second thoughts ……. 
)
Jon Newton - p2pnet
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September 18th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
*gets out the web browser dictionary*
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law
Main Entry: vex·a·tious
Pronunciation: vek-’sA-sh&s
Function: adjective
: lacking a sufficient ground and serving only to annoy or harass when viewed objectively
OOOooooh
and AHAHAHAHAHAH!
Hopefully the various US university law schools fighting the RIAA know of this law, the filing needs to be turned back around at them 10 fold.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I would not laugh too hard, Jon. You could be next.
September 18th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Even so, it wouldn’t change a damn thing. The feeble minded folks of the RIAA live in a pretend world. P2P is here to stay, as are it’s supporters. Nothing they try to do will ever change that fact.
September 18th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Used to be long ago it was taping was killing music. The drum was rolled long and hard over the issue and they attempted to get laws passed to rule home taping from the radio illegal. The administration of the time was not in favor nor was the legislative bodies in agreement; it went no where.
This president’s term is ending, he’s already a lame duck and soon to be out of the picture. His two terms have done the American public that government is supposed to serve no favors. Instead it’s been basically “laws for sale” during this time. All the infringement forces have made hay while the sun shined on them with favor. My only concern in this matter is if McSame makes it to office, which would most likely mean yet another term of the same old same old. It’s time for some common sense to hit the land with view to copyrights. 95 years for a corporate holding is too long. It defeats the original purpose of copyright in that is was supposed to encourage the creation of more works, not less. As it is nothing at present in your lifetime will ever see public domain. Copyright now serves no purpose but the holder for monetary gain.
The RIAA is one of the main contributors to this outlandish setup for copyrights, along with Disney corporation, who instituted it because they were afraid they were going to lose their precious, which they should have.
The only way to combat such is just like what is going on with Ray. Fight them at every turn and corner. Annoy and harass is a page right out of their own operating manual. It’s been shown time and again that this is the way it is with them. In turn, the RIAA is nothing but a reflection of the attitudes coming from their owners, the major labels. The labels themselves give the marching orders of the day.
I agree with Ray, it is “…completely frivolous and based on lies and nonsense…”. However Ray has proven to be a successful thorn in their sides and the only way they know to deal with it is the law suit and court. It’s a sign they know they can’t win and their solution is to remove the barrier to their plan. Only thing is at some point, someone else would come to be in Ray’s position should they be successful. I doubt they would be as good at the task as Ray, since Ray has put a lot of sweat into the problem ever since it started. He’s also gained a lot of name recognition with the public in the process. I sincerely hope at some point in the future it brings him fortune, I feel he deserves it.
September 18th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
JON!!
I used the word “spam” in my post (albeit more than once
), and it gets deleted, but the original spam that I was referring to stays on??
(Stop talking on the cellphone, and delete the RIGHT one!)
Cheers!
September 18th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Never mind, Jon!…
The spam in question also appeared on another page.
I’m gittin’ so old ‘n’ senile, I’m fergittin’ which page I’m on!
September 19th, 2008 at 2:32 am
pretty soon Ray Beckerman’ blog will be more popular than all Big4 music, or what leftover after musicians sue labels for scaring customers and total PR disaster!!
September 19th, 2008 at 2:59 am
“Reader’s Write Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I would not laugh too hard, Jon. You could be next.”
Isn’t Jon from Canada? And RIAA from the US? I don’t think Canada will extradite him on the basis of reporting news, but I could be wrong.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:21 am
you are the man who sticks it to the man and doesn’t end up dead man
September 19th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I wonder if this isn’t the RIAA’s way of trying to discourage any other lawyers from defending the RIAA’s chosen victims. Just more of the same old harassment and intimidation from the RIAA.
September 19th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
^^ You even have to ask?
Cheers!
September 19th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
What everyone should actually be scared of is ACTA. The AA* of the world are trying make outlaws of everyone.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Counterfeiting_Trade_Agreement
September 19th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
This lawsuit is obviously an attempt to get Ray Beckerman off the RIAA’s back. I wonder if the RIAA fails to shut him up with this lawsuit, would they would turn to assassination? My advice to Ray would be to buy a shotgun and take martial arts classes. I’m sure the RIAA will do anything to keep you quiet.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
If the RIAA had it their way we would all be androids who did everything they wished. Its so funny I never would have stopped buying music and never would have boycotted all RIAA associated media if not for them. They make me sick and before I support any artist who backs them I will give up music forever. Beckerman is such a nice man, honest and hard working. He truly cares about people. They are trying to punish him for being brave enough to fight back. The day he beats them I will be a happy person!!