Blackmailed by Big Music
p2pnet.net News:- Eight people in Ireland have agreed to pay up to EUR6,000 (about $7,428 at the time of writing) after `settling` out of court in the country’s first batch of music uploading court cases, says electricnewsnet.
The eight were among 17 people victimized in the cartel`s ongoing sue `em all campaign aimed at intimidating people into buying `product`.
The labels, who mischaracterize file sharers as hardened criminals and themselves as fair and honest, will now use the settlements to imply guilt when none has been determined.
International singing star and musician Joni Mitchell once said, I’m ashamed to be a part of the music business.
You know, I just think it’s a cesspool.”
When someone shares a digital music, or any other, file online with someone else, it’s not a criminal offence.
No sales are made and no money changes hands. Nor does it mean the loss of even a single sale, industry protestations to the contrary notwithstanding.
Those blackmailed into buying Big Music off agree to pay only because they literally can`t afford to do anything else.
They don`t have the financial or legal resources to take on the multi-billion-dollar industry.
The 17 people involved in the current legal action were written to by IRMA in late July after the organisation and its backers – which include the big music labels – succeeded in forcing internet service providers to give up the names of file-sharers, says electricnewsnet.
Something you think we should know? tips[at]p2pnet.net
See:-
electricnewsnet – Irish music-swappers admit liability , August 4, 2005
buy Big Music off – File sharing, p2p criminals, p2pnet, March 12, 2005
August 4th, 2005 at 8:17 pm
Where is the IRA when you need them? A show of strength is the best DEFENSE against an arrogant show of force by the RIA / MPA.
It’s about time the people of the world UNITE!
August 4th, 2005 at 8:59 pm
Who should filesharers go after? The Music stores? The studios? The other thing I’d like to know about your proposal is how do we make sure the right person is punished. I’s sure hate to see our wrath turned on some low wage clerk (the clerk is probably one of us). I agree that organization against these thug is very much needed.
I also refuse to buy the crap from these thugs. I couldn’t carry a tune to save my life, but I have more talant than SOME of the so-called artists supported by the cartels.
August 4th, 2005 at 11:04 pm
Damages agred for sharing music files
Jamie Smyth
Technology Reporter
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2005/0804/2787269233HM4WEBANALYSIS.html
The first wave of legal actions taken by the music industry has proved costly for several unsuspecting internet account holders who have agreed to pay damages to prevent future court action.
The High Court has barred the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) from releasing the names of the 17 account holders accused of sharing music illegally over the internet. But profiles of the eight internet holders who have so far agreed to pay between â¬2,000 to â¬6,000 in damages to IRMA show that parents are having to account for the online activities of their children.
IRMA revealed yesterday that in at least one case a parent had accepted liabilty on behalf of their child, who had used the family computer to share music.
In another case a company has agreed to accept liabilty for the actions of one of its employees, who had used a computer to share files.
IRMA was able to pinpoint illehal uploaders of music by contracting the consultancy firm MediaSentry to gather evidence of illegal activity by Irish users of file sharing networks. It monitored and logged 66 Internet account holders who shared hundreds of music tracks in March. IRMA then focused on the 17 internet account holders or “serial uploaders” who shared more than 500 tracks on the networks.
IRMA went to the High Court to force the internet firms to provide the details on their clients.
For the nine internet account holders who have not responded to IRMA’s threat of court action or refused to accept liabilty, an expensive court battle could lie ahead. The industry group is threatening to sue the account holders for breach of copyright law, which carries a fine of up to â¬1,900 per track illegally shared.
This follows an international precedent, which has seen the music industry seek to “name and shame” illegal file sharers.
Since some parents have not yet accepted liabilty on behalf of their children in the 17 actions taken by IRMA, it is possible that the courts will have to decide if they are responsible for their children’s behaviour.
August 4th, 2005 at 11:31 pm
“Who do we go after?”
That part is easy, the execcutives. Not the middle-managers who are only enforcing corporate policy (even tough they share some of the blame), or the low-level folks just trying to keep fed (even though they are technically part of the problem). What you do is go after the policy MAKERS, the same asshats that are responsible for reducing the prospects in this world to the point where people have to give up their souls for food.
Every corporation, EVERY ONE, has to list its board of directors and CEO in a public database, as part of the laws of thier incorporation. That gives us names. All that is left is to acquire addresses and hunting rifles.
August 5th, 2005 at 1:23 pm
When this and other intelligence is aquired we need to have a place to post it. Any suggestions? (Notice that I did not say what we do with the info, but it seems fair that if they can trade information about us, we should do the same in return).
August 5th, 2005 at 3:45 pm
That’s an excellent idea!
A website or p2p or IRC… that contains:
(1) Company name, location, business
(2) Board of Directors (BOD), Executive committee (CEO. COO, CFO, etc) — their names, addresses, affiliations/associates, phone numbers, email
(3) Crimes they commit (Forgery, Money laundering, Environmental damage, Employee mistreatment, etc)
B.O.D and Execs are required to be responsible AND accountable!