Was RIAA ‘file share’ move a BS blunder?
p2pnet news view RIAA | P2P:- Vivendi Universal, EMI, Warner Music and Sony BMG are putting it about that in America, at least, they’ll stop suing innocent men, women and children for the non-existent ‘crime’ of sharing online.
It’s pure PR bafflegab meant for mainstream media consumption, but it’s surprising how many people are falling for it.
It may, though, fly right back in the RIAA’s face and, hence, the faces of the Big 4 if the views of a student at the University of Michigan are any indication.
When Vivendi Universal, EMI, Warner Music and Sony BMG’s RIAA abandoned its attack on seven students at the University of Michigan, Recording Industry vs The People wondered if the it might have been may be linked to three investigations, with MediaSentry as the target, before Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Growth.
“This makes the third such case of which we are aware, the other two being Arista v. Does 1-22, targeting Rhode Island College students, and BMG Music v. Does 1-14, targeting students at North Carolina State and UNC-Charlotte,” said RIvTPs Ray Beckerman.
Now, in a report on the case, “LSA sophomore Erin Breisacher said she stopped downloading music illegally after hearing about the possibility of receiving a lawsuit, but now that the RIAA has stopped pursuing lawsuits she ‘might start downloading again’,” says the Michigan Daily, going on »»»
“I think it is going to be a big deal,” LSA junior Amber Clark said. “A lot of people are going to download more, especially college students.”
LSA senior Chad Nihranz, said he thinks more peer-to-peer downloading sites will come out as a result of the dropped lawsuits.
“I figure, if there aren’t as many lawsuits they will come out with more software to allow students to download more,” he said.
Definitely stay tuned. 
(Thanks, JP)
attack on seven students – RIAA drops case against Michigan students, January 20, 2009
Recording Industry vs The People - RIAA drops “John Doe” case against University of Michigan students, LaFace Records v. Does 1-7, January 18, 2009
Michigan Daily – RIAA to drop lawsuits of seven University students, January 28, 2009
Use free p2pnet newsfeeds for your site. It’s really easy!
Subscribe to p2pnet.net | | rss feed: http://p2pnet.net/p2p.rss | | Mobile – http://p2pnet.net/index-wml.php
Net access blocked by government restrictions? Use Psiphon from the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto. Go here for details.
