Posted on 11/05/2010 4:23:36 PM PDT by paudio
A federal jury found Wednesday that Jammie Thomas-Rasset, of Brainerd, must pay $62,500 per song — for a total of $1.5 million — for illegally violating copyrights on 24 songs. This was the third jury to consider damages in her case, and each has found that she must pay — though different amounts. And after each time, the single mother of four has said she can't pay. "I can't afford to pay any amount. It's not a matter of won't, it's a matter of 'I can't,'" Thomas-Rasset said Thursday. "Any amount that I pay to them is money that I could use to feed my children. Any amount that I pay to them is money I could use to clothe my kids, and pay my mortgage so my kids have a place to sleep."
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
It’s not about her. Setting damages she can’t possibly pay and has to appeal shows that this is makework for the lawyers.
And if she just shoplifted the CD.....
______________________
Exactly. The fine should be what she would’ve paid if she’d bought 24 cd’s, about $400. Although she might also be responsible for the legal costs.
I did all that on speculation, and was never paid a dime for the hours. So I own the product (IP). I'm not releasing it until I'm happy with the situation.
And the guys that want it are acting squirrelly.
I don't have the option of suing. So I'm not releasing. But I don't expect more than the product is worth, regardless of how I collect.
/johnny
The "living/breathing" part.
Yeah, the raii treats the artist who wrote the song poorly too, so my sympathy for them is thin. And the attorneys are way overpaid (I should know, I am one, believe me, get a female, we work harder and the men are arrogant and overpaid) I agree with the guy who said charge her 2.50 a song. $150 court costs and be done with it.
That's the makings of a GREAT rap tune just waiting to be stolen via the Internet.
bingo, not makework, make $$$$$$$
If you play a CD in your car and you have passengers, you owe the record company a penalty for the passengers hearing the song.
Not sure why people would pay anything to download a bunch of crap music. Buy a kazoo and learn to whistle.
Don't blame the passengers, ban speaker manufacturers and the legal ownership of them!
The ridiculousness of the fine is a form of bullying to make “an example” of her. I think the price per song on itune is reasonable, and I have been thinking of buying a couple hundred songs for a while. However, just the thought that I would direcly or indirectly be rewarding the music industry bullies and their shameful tactics have so far kept me on the side line. The hateful nastiness of the political speach of most artists does not make me feel like contributing to their well-being either.
While, stealing is wrong and such. And I am not sure what her being a single mother has to do with this story. I feel this is a violation of her Constitutional right. The Eigth Admendment. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. I feel that 1.5 million to pay for illegally downloading songs is extremely excessive, especially when they particular person may never earn that amount in their entire life. If I stole 20 CDs, and was prosecuted, I seriously doubt that would be the punishment I face.
I am with you on this one. IF she shoplifted the CD how much of a fine would she have received? This is way too much of a fine. This is just beyond belief.
That was the original intent but people who illegally download music look at these judgements the same way that drivers look at car crashes; everyone does it but occasionally bad things happen to a small few. Those are the chances one takes. Verdicts like this aren't stopping downloading.
In fact, I've read the RIAA has stopped pursuing legal action towards individual downloaders and is now strategizing to go after the deeper pockets of ISPs.
Stealing is wrong! She stole the songs and now nobody else can hear them, right?
But 62K per song is over-reach.
/johnny
On as side note, iTunes are scum. They refuse to cooperate with me or with the police to give us the addy that downloaded songs or whatever using my credit card number. They are of the opinion it’s not worth it and they can write it off. Excuse me, I’m the one wanting to press charges, not them. It’s my bill the charges showed up on. But hey, they don’t care. They might lose that criminal as a customer if they cooperate with the cops. Good to know that all of you are paying more for your downloads for all the countless times they’ve “written it off” in other incidences.
I will NEVER use iTunes. Never did before and certainly won’t now.
The Federal Reserve is coming to her aid with QE 2. By the time hyperinflation kicks in, she won't have a problem paying the fine.
People don't use that much logic anymore. Since the year I was born, my mother was a widow, and people were always referring to her as a single mother.
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