Music industry wins approval of 871 subpoenas against Internet users

[Nambe]

WASHINGTON (AP)

The music industry has issued at least 871 federal subpoenas against computer users this month suspected of illegally sharing music files on the Internet, with roughly 75 new subpoenas being approved each day, U.S. court officials said Friday. ---

Subpoenas reviewed by The Associated Press show the industry compelling some of the largest Internet providers, such as Verizon Communications Inc. and Comcast Cable Communications Inc., and some universities to provide names and mailing addresses for users on their networks known online by nicknames such as ''fox3j,'' ''soccerdog33,'' ''clover77'' or ''indepunk74.''

The Recording Industry Association of America has said it expects to file at least several hundred lawsuits seeking financial damages within the next eight weeks. U.S. copyright laws allow for damages of $750 to $150,000 for each song offered illegally on a person's computer, but the RIAA has said it would be open to settlement proposals from defendants. ---

Music fans are fighting back with technology, using new software designed specifically to stymie monitoring of their online activities by the major record labels.

A new version of ''Kazaa Lite,'' free software that provides access to the service operated by Sharman Networks Ltd., can prevent anyone from listing all music files on an individual's machine and purports to block scans from Internet addresses believed to be associated with the RIAA.

Banish bush From Texas Too

[bluestateguy]

1. I invite everyone to join me in a boycott of CD's

Until the RIAA backs down OR lowers CD prices. Vote with your dollars. It's the only language they understand.

[Nottingham]

4. I agree! I liked my tapes! And I have a bunch!

Its time to go there! :bounce:

CD's are WAY to expensive

[Papa]

8. 1000% behind you

I've been boycotting CD's as best I can for the last few years or so. The RIAA really pissed me off and i was a heavy heavy music purchaser. All of my spare money went to music. I own over 750 purchased cd's and have only increased that number by a dozen or so over the last few years.

MP3's are like today's radio in the Internet age. MP3's don't even come close to what the "master tapes" sound like.

Suing the traders is going to backfire so big, it's not going to be funny. Half of the defendents will probably be minors who were doing stuff their parents didnt know about. It'll get real ugly when people lose their homes, go bankrupt, not be able to afford their child's education etc...

I don't know the solution for piracy, but I know for damn sure that bankrupting people for downloading music is not good business sense.

[Norbert]

18. I'm with you

If you buy CDs buy used ones.

I remember the record companies saying in the late 1980s that as technology gets better the price of a new CD would fall to around $7 to $8.

I'm still waiting.

I hope thrers is a huge backlash ofer the downloading issue. The RIAA need to be sent a message too and boycotting is it.

[GreenArrow]

22. I'll go along

Used CDs for me only.

This is such bullshit.

[BlueState]

24. I absolutely agree.

This idea should be promoted in every way possible.

I think the college students here should start printing flyers to distribute around their campuses.

[saigon68]

2. WHO is paying for this SHIT

They had me worried there wouldn't be enough money for schools and head start.

Then I learned they still have enough for Federal Prisons

Boy I'm relieved

</Sarcasm>

[CarlBallard]

3. Even if you buy their arguments

that file sharing is somehow stealing, the punnishment is all out of wack. The're going to charge a quarter million dollars per track. Somehow I don't think that'd be the offense if you stole a CD.

[chenGOD]

5. While i do think that file sharing of copyrighted material is illegal.

I don't think the crime warrants this punishment. I would suggest 50 cents per song.

CD prices are crazy, I remember when an average CD cost $10. That's a reasonable price, and I'm sure that if the Big5 decided to go back to that kind of price range, sales would skyrocket.

In the meantime there are plenty of great musicians that don't deal with the RIAA, and sell their CDs at reasonable prices.

[short bus president]

7. IT IS NOT A CRIME!

Copyright infringement is a violation of copyright law, but not a violation of any criminal code in this country (that I'm aware of). That is why these people are being sued by the labels in civil court, instead of being tried for a crime in criminal court. More power to 'em if the labels are able to accomplish anything by this other than further alienating themselves from their (former) consumer base. The court costs associated with seriously going after file sharers individually like this will break the RIAA before it makes the tiniest dent in song swapping statistics.

[sandnsea]

6. Complete waste of money

I understand wanting to be paid for your work, but this is a complete waste of Federal resources. First it was the marijuana pipes and now this. Is anybody going after the terrorists, murderers and rapists?

[saigon68]

20. Unfortunately Doctors who prescribe Medical Marijuana are next.

We also have to spend $8,000.00 of the taxpayers money to cloth two 12 foot high art-deco statues with tunics so their bare chests don't show.

Note the statues were placed at the Justice Dept in 1927.

Thanks John Ashwipe.

[Ivory_Tower]

9. This is stupid

Does the RIAA not realize they're just shooting themselves?

Personally, I don't trade music online -- I can afford to purchase the music I want to hear. BUT, back in my college days my friends and I taped each other's albums all the time. I couldn't afford to buy albums of music I was unfamiliar with, and neither could my friends. By trading tapes, we exposed ourselves to new bands and whole new styles of music that we otherwise might have never experienced. And hearing that music at that age definitely "imprints" you -- once I starting getting a paycheck I would search for CDs by the bands that I listened to in college to "backfill" my music library, but I also looked for new stuff by those bands, and looked for other bands of similar styles. The music industry fought the sale of blank cassettes back then, but by letting me tape friends' music they got a HELL of a lot of money from me later on.

And when the next music format comes along, many of the people trading MP3s right now would have considered buying new music in the new format. Now I'm not so sure.

Yeah, I can afford the music now, but I'll have to seriously reconsider buying any major label stuff anymore. I'll still support local music, but that might be it.

I was going to say that it's hard to believe the RIAA is that stupid, but given their idiocy with the blank cassette issue in the 80's, I guess I'm not surprised.

[akitamata]

15. Dear RIAA,

I have just made the decision to NEVER buy a CD or recorded product from your associates at the music "giants". I am disgusted with your silly and petty tactics. Boycott going on, brothers!!! :)

Afterall, who needs more shit music to dull one's senses?

[DeathvadeR]

28. better start listening to that tape you made in the shower.

<http://www.riaa.com/about/leadership/board.asp>

I'd say it doesn't leave many other labels.

I agree on the concept of the boycott. The price of cds are ridiculous and to charge the same amount to dl them online is a crock of shit.I just don't find it feasible. Also even if a local artist becomes recognized, they would eventually sign to one of these major labels, because thats where all the money is.

I think if you want to support your artist. make em work for their money, pay to see them shake that ass on stage at a local show next time or purchase a DVD that has both music and video which cost damn near the same price as a cd at your local musicland.

The used cd concept is awsome to...... except.. someone inetially has to buy the new cd in order for it to work its way to the bin in your local music trader years down the road.

I would almost bet the government with our tax dollars is helping to fund the RIAA lawsuits. Most record industries are owned an operated by huge multinational corporations(Viacom,Sony,AOL/TimeWarner etc..)that have more say then anyone of us apperantly. Plus I think that the governmet somehow believe they are losing revenue generated through taxes, even though record sales have increased since file sharing programs came about.

Anyway just my 2Cents on the issue...............

[Enraged_Ape]

19. Mike Nesmith, Cocteau Twins, Brian Eno, Nick Drake...

Ken Nordine, Kirsty McColl, The Smiths...

These are just a few of the artists I heard for THE FIRST TIME on the Internet. God knows their stuff isn't played on Clear Channel. And guess what? I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT THESE PEOPLE'S CDs to hear MORE. In fact, since I started listening to Internet radio, I've spent a lot more on CDs than I ever did before.

And an acceleration factor is involved, because I've loaned these CDs out and OTHER PEOPLE HAVE GONE OUT AND BOUGHT THEM TOO! Because this is good music, not the worthless shit the industry spends millions peddling.

Kiss my fucking ass, RIAA. You are shooting yourselves in the foot with this, and I will cherish every moment of watching what happens to you.

[bluestateguy]

10. I have another idea

Call up the RIAA and tell them that if you are selected as a juror in a "trial" of a downloader, you will not listen to testimony, you will immediately vote in favor of the defendant no matter what.

[classics]

11. Watching the death convulsions of the music industry is gross.

Someone should have put down a tarp.

[Il_Coniglietto]

12. As a frequent downloader

this definitely bugs me. I have a small amount of MP3s compared to many people (about 100) and half of those are of artists who aren't very well known. I have a friend in Georgia who has thousands of MP3s. This is definitely going to backfire on them. Those who are 25 or younger make up a great deal of their buyers. If we all decide to boycott CDs, the RIAA could go bankrupt. It would never happen, obviously, but it's a nice thought.

[akitamata]

16. If you organize...

"they will come". The 25 year old crowd is also a political entity, if you help them become a force by starting a CD/MP3 boycott JUST4US...

[LifeDuringWartime]

25. look what i just found

http://www.boycott-riaa.com/

spread the word

[FlaGranny]

13. Is there a way

they can tell where the music came from that you have on your computer? For instance, I've recorded several of my favorite CD's (purchased) to my hard drive and individual songs from others. Could they tell the difference?

[bluestateguy]

14. As long as you don't share them you're fine

You can copy anything you want to your hard drive, but I would stay off swapping service sites and not keep anything in your shared folder until this all blows over.

[Nambe]

17. I agree totaly and I use Kazza lite. Sharing is worldwide!

If we in the US back off open files for a while, there will still be millions of people out of the country sharing.

IMO, talanted musicians can make a million on a 6 month tour. They just have to adjust their lifestyle to that lowly income. And we get a broader concert menu on tour. The big loosers are the suits at sony etc. Big deal.

[FlaGranny]

21. Thanks!

I've never visited music swapping sites. I was just wondering how they could tell where you got your music from.

[LizW]

23. I wonder what they're going to do

when lots of these sharers turn out to be minors. That will be great for public relations.:eyes:

[jwcomer]

26. I suspect they are hoping for minors.

"I wonder what they're going to do" when lots of these sharers turn out to be minors. That will be great for public relations


I suspect that they are hoping to catch a few minors. That way they can sue their guardians. I'm sure it has crossed the minds of the RIAA that parents are far more susceptible to the threat of legal recourse than are 18-25 year olds. Just as colleges are more susceptible. The RIAA seems to have a strategy of scaring those entities which ultimately have the power to pull the plug on the majority of infringers... parents, colleges, and ISP's. This creates a much more manageable way of handling their 'crisis'.

[retread]

27. To quote a post on another board "My neighbors are going to regret

not securing their wireless network."

[DeathvadeR]

29. lol...

I know this is kinda tinfoil, but anyone ever think of this?

The US governmet began to recognise that certain artist(starting with rock groups in say the 80's and people like michael Jackson to now say artists like RATM, Marilyn Manson, Rap artists like emenim or Public Enemy etc..) were begining to gain too large of an influence over the youth, which would eventually compromise the Christian path that our so called leaders have in mind. So they actually secretly encouraged file-sharing in order to dilebertly stifle and hurt artists that could gain power/influence with the huge sums of money otherwise ????

they may even classify it as some sort threat to security????

Tinfoil or Not to Tinfoil?