RIAA's methods questioned again

Some parties still don't accept the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) methods in tracking down Internet pirates. Internet service provider SBC Communications has filed a complaint in a U.S. district court saying that many of the RIAA subpoenas have been done improperly.

Like Verizon earlier, SBC also fears that the turbo charged DMCA subpoena process might be unconstitutional. "Misapplication of DMCA subpoena power raises serious constitutional questions that need to be decided by the courts, not by private companies which operate without duty of due diligence or judicial oversight," a spokesperson for SBC said.

RIAA has also grouped demands for information of multiple file-sharers under one subpoena.

RIAA's methods have also been put under scrutiny by sen. Norm Coleman on Thursday. He has begun an inquiry into the lawsuits, saying the tactics used by RIAA might ensnare innocent people.

While Coleman understands the concerns of the music industry, he feels that the ends don't always justify the means. "The industry seems to have adopted a 'shotgun' approach that could potentially cause injury and harm to innocent people who may have simply been victims of circumstance, or possessing a lack of knowledge of the rules related to digital sharing of files," Coleman said.

Source:
Wired News
The Kansas City Star

Written by: Jari Ketola @ 31 Jul 2003 14:55

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15 comments

Toiletman

Well, I've developed a "shotgun" approach to any RIAA. Fuck the RIAA!!!! They're so fucking gay! Those people digust me!

When you are on your deathbed, you will wonder, "Did I waste my life? Was it worth spending all that time on that?" Do not despair, no one has wasted their life. After all, you can only waste something if you throw it away. And you can't throw life away.

31.7.2003 15:22 #1

Oriphus

Here, i know your name suggests toiletman, but try not to let that reflect in this forum. keep your language for teh safety valve and use it in moderation there too. Remember minors use this site too. :-)

For DVD Back up info: http://www.chrismccann.co.uk
For User Guides/Downloads: http://www.chrismccann.co.uk/user_guides.htm

31.7.2003 15:38 #2

GrayArea

I'll say it again. This issue sets very dangerous precedents that go far beyond P2P and copyright "infringement". These guys (riaa) are like babies playing with machine guns where constitutional law is concerned. Here's and open question to the RIAA.
WHAT KIND OF WORLD DO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN?
(like they actually give a $hit about anything but money)

We mustn't lower ourselves to the level of those we loathe, lest we become loathsome ourselves.

31.7.2003 16:22 #3

Amakuza_8

I agree with you GrayArea, just wasting their times.

31.7.2003 20:31 #4

ookami

You go Sen. Coleman! About freakin time someone NOT on the RIAA payroll speaks up!

_______________________
Ookami-san

31.7.2003 22:23 #5

Dela

Toiletman, language is not a big thing on the forum, but u really are pushing it lol!! everytime i see you post its about the RIAA with several lovely swear words to go along with it!

Anyways, to the matter at hand, coleman knows what he is talking about, think of n internet cafe that dont know kazaa is running on one of their computers, just a customer installed and downloaded music, its not fair that they get sued or anything over that, its plain wrong!

http://www.BillLonero.com - Check out a true artists music!

aD Channel on IRC: Server: rod.liquidirc.com channel: #ad_buddies

1.8.2003 01:35 #6

Rodgers

Hopefully someday we will find that the courts decide issues of law and not the RIAA.
Eventually the Supreme Court will interpret the Constitution and decide these issues. I strongly object to anyone prying into my private life and voice my opposition to the methods used by RIAA.

Best to All!
Rodgers

1.8.2003 02:24 #7

Toiletman

Sorry guys, I'll be a little bit more careful from now...

1.8.2003 09:39 #8

seanbyrne

I thought that music was suppose to be a form of entertainment, i.e. when you want to relax, just pop on a CD, tape or your radio and relax.

Now, the RIAA decides to make music which appears so harmless a living hell for those who do not follow the RIAA's rules. I.e. share your music with someone else or get it without getting the CD and you are asking for trouble!!

1.8.2003 12:43 #9

Shegax

wow

Shega
(adrenaline Is the closest Total freedom)

3.8.2003 04:56 #10

fishman35

It's like this folks.
I am a musician in Nashville and I work for a computer company. I play original music and am still trying to "make it big". A lot of people ask me wy I don't fight file sharing. The reason is simple, considering I grew up aroud the industry and know how the system works.

Paying $20.00 for a new cd because the radio is playing the only good cut makes me mad as hell when the rest of the cd sucks! That has always been the problem. The record industry signs these cheeseball bands that have one good "hook" song and knowing that they won't sell enough to get to cut another record. They don't care because it is the "flavor of the week" that makes them money. If i know the cd is good, then I will buy it, but most of the time, you don't get the chance to check the whole thing out before you buy. They did a study back in the day of ol' Napster. Record sales actually INCREASED due to people checking out songs before they buy the CD. What a concept! I hope that people will soon be buying my music, and I have no problem in people sharing a few files to determine if they want to shell out the ridiculous price that record companies charge for a cd. (Band's make money on the road folks, not in record sales. I know, I have been on both sides). I have said my peace, and as a computer expert, this will never be stopped.

3.8.2003 13:08 #11

jimmycoli

yeah, i have to agree with fishman35 on a few fronts . . . the whole "bait'n'switch" phenomenon has been ruining the credibility of the music industry for ages, and even moreso, with the advent of the compact disc. the CD has been one of the biggest marketing scams of recent memory (i.e. charging 2-3 times as much for a product that costs pennies to produce, in relation to vinyl; and remember how indestructable they were claimed to be back in the day . . . i'd rather have a scratch on a record than a CD, of course). however, the CD wasn't/isn't the only problem; the corporate merger climate in the american music industry has also played a large role in the validation of file-sharing. in the past 2 decades, so many record labels went under because of these BEHEMOTHS, crushing creativity and variety and replacing these vital characteristics of music with the bottom line. why are there so many pearl jam soundalikes? because pearl jam sold. why hasn't gangsta rap beaten itself out of existence? because that is what sold ten years ago and the industry WILL NOT take any chances with something that might not. as a serious musician that's done some DIY touring and selling a unit here and a unit there back in the day, i say the RIAA has provided itself with serious grounds for the digging of its grave.
http://music.mp3lizard.com/wetdentist/

3.8.2003 20:03 #12

DarkmanX

Just a thought to this forum. There was an articel on news channels that a person could go to the RIAA's website to find out if they were on a list to be subpoenad in the near future http://www.eff.org/IP/P2P/riaasubpoenas/ . the site asks for your username or IP address. Seems to me that this would be a great way for them to harvest potetial targets. The site swears that the RIAA would not use the information to target individuals, but how would the person know. The RIAA could just go out and search to see if the person that visited their query is a "major" sharer. Why else would that individual be querying unless they were, in the eyes of the RIAA, a violator who needed to be prosecuted.

Silent Assasin

4.8.2003 07:07 #13

DarkmanX

Opps! After further reading, the RIAA does not run the site, but it is run by an organization against the RIAA, who checks Pacer,which is an online access to US Justice system. Just thought i should clear that up

Silent Assasin

4.8.2003 07:24 #14

vudoo

The only real solution to this is Ad-Supportive licensing in which was talked about on eff.org. We all need to edit and send that letter to our congressmen and women. It is time for our pain to stop and for the evil that is spewing from the RIAA to be nullified. The lies that the RIAA has said about Nikki Hemming are not so. Nikki has in the past offered to solve this issue with ad supportive licensing and so has Napster. However bands like Likin Park (Stinkin Fart) and Metallica (Madtalica) have tried to stifle technology with an iron fist. And they still won't let us have what we've been enjoying for years and that is files that are transportible to other computers. Yes in the fantasy world where computers never break down it is nice to think restrictions. However we need to be able to back up our media and play it in more then 1 machine. Think of it like this:

You buy a CD and open it up and play it on your home stereo. Oh but wait it has restrictions and you did not have any knowledge of that or maybe you did. Now you want to play it in your car or your bedroom. Nope can't do that because you've already played that CD on your home stereo in which was Downstairs. Later your home stereo broke and is now unrepairable. Well too bad so sad for you because your entire CD collection needs to also be replaced at $20 a pop. Now multiply that by about 400 CD's and you have a huge bill. So maybe on top of health insurance and home owners insurance we'll have to purchace software and midia insurance too right because God forbid that we have an accident and all of our stuff gets rouined. One more thought won't this intise "Tangible stealing" instead where a person who can't afford to replace something he or she bought and just attemp to go to Best Buys or Circuit city and rip it off the shelves of the store or some other scam to rip the phisical product off? Now that is stealing and if they keep it up this is what we'll get. It was tried with the paid DivX format and failed horribly. What makes the RIAA think that they can re hash this type of format on Music? What makes any copyright hold think that this is any sort of answer? Truth be told it was tried and failed and Curcuit City almost lost their business over pushing this format. Any real businessman with any sense would not push this issue. Oh one more thing suppose there was a law against duplicating your car keys and you lose them. Imagine what would happen if you were forced to buy a new car. For some it is the same because of limited income. A Blind person for example in his or her 40's has a snowballs chance in hell for finding a job. Well there goes the SSI money on Music. So in the long run the Blind will rally and force the SSI income to increase and guess where that comes folks, your little sighted peoples pocket book that is where it comes from. So think about that and stick it in your pipe and smoke that!

Voodoohippie
www.earthstation5.com
www.foldershare.com
Share Privately and Securely.
Just make sure that people you don't know have contributed alot on ES5 before you invite them to your library.

8.8.2003 11:01 #15

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