RIAA settles with 12-year old girl [$2,000 payment to music cartel]

ZDNet ^ | September 9, 2003 | John Borland

[honeygrl]

"I guess copying books and selling them cheaper than the publisher isn't theft either. "

No one is *selling* the files. They are not making any profit from sharing the songs with each other.

[honeygrl]

"What is the name of your dog? I will open a Kazaa file-sharing account in its name tonight. "

Maybe I should open one in my 2 1/2yr olds name and and see the media circus when they sue a 2 1/2yr old.

[honeygrl]

I haven't bought CDs in years with the exception of Tori Amos when she puts out a new one. So unfortunately, me boycotting them won't make much difference since I didn't fund them to begin with. Do all popular musicians work with the RIAA? Anyone here know of a list of popular musicians who do not work with them or support them? I would gladly start purchasing CDs from musicians who have nothing to do with the RIAA if they are decent to listen to.

[honeygrl]

"How about if we click on the Viking Kittens and listen to Led Zepplin? What if we copy VK to our hard drives? "

If you listen to it on your computer, you likely are copying it to your hard drive without even being aware of it. It probably saves in your Temporary Internet file until you clear it out or until your computer clears it if you have it set to clear the temp files every so often. It does that so that the next time you listen to it, it opens up faster for you.

[Spirited]

These same leftist companies that the RIAA represents screw artists out of money, sign horrible acts, contribute to Democrats and are generally a legalized mafia trading in music."

Your post is very interesting to me. Thank you. It gives me very good reason to stop purchasing CDs too. What was meant by "sign horrible acts"?

Can you (or anyone else) inform about what level of contribution is made by them to Democrats vs. Republican contributions?

Also what does an artist get from each CD? Thank you.

[TheOtherOne]

Does anyone know if the actual settlement agreement is public?

I would be curous if the RIAA did not somehow agree to return that money plus more for her education or someother compensation later in return for a $2000 settlement and a statement now.

[Spirited]

"RIAA is essentially a trust, the same as the steel trust or the biscuit trust etc. that existed and were broken up at the turn of the century. They control (through their member parties) the vast majority of music released to the public (at least that above the level of garage bands) and have engaged in price-fixing and collusion to keep the price of music artificially high, while forcing artists to submit their work at artificially low prices. We still do have anti-trust laws in this country, and I'm surprised that some enterprising young district attorney hasn't filed criminal charges.

Consider the case of another trust: DeBeer's (the diamond trust). They control the vast majority of new diamonds on the market, and they deliberately conspire to keep the price of diamonds artificially high. The diamond trust is well aware that what they're doing is illegal in the US, so much so that DeBeer's corporate executives are forbidden to as much as change planes in the US, lest they get served with a summons."

Thank you for these excellent observations and the meaningful comparison.

My hope, then, becomes that there will be some courageous David raised up to go after the Goliath in court before a jury that can see beyond it's navel and relate to the reality of the world around it. Perhaps one of those sued (too bad it wasn't the child's parents) will get this thing into a court where all of what is being said here, pro and con, might be exposed. Problem may be that since government these days favors corporate elitism and attorney-decreed justice one might not see all of the truth exposed at all.

[honeygrl]

It looks like bands are going to have to make money the old fashioned way... by actually touring and doing concerts and making money off the ticket sales. But hey, why should they actually have to work for their money when the RIAA can get it out of 12yr olds for them without them having to sing the song more than a few times to put on a CD?

[honeygrl]

"The U.S. Constitution recognizes intellectual property rights"

Care to show us where?

[tru_degenerate]

And what about recording tv shows?

[dwollmann]

The U.S. Constitution recognizes intellectual property rights and so does the federal law (USC 17 chapter 1).

Where does the U.S. Constitution mandate that we extend the definitions of the words "steal" and "theft" to cover violations of these "rights"?

[Lazamataz]

Suing 12 year old girls living in projects for thousands of dollars.

Quite simply, if a mass-murder happened at the RIAA headquarters, I would try really hard to squeeze out a tear.

I really would.

(still trying)

(Aw hell. I give up.)

[Lazamataz]

I haven't bought CDs in years with the exception of Tori Amos when she puts out a new one. So unfortunately, me boycotting them won't make much difference since I didn't fund them to begin with. Do all popular musicians work with the RIAA? Anyone here know of a list of popular musicians who do not work with them or support them? I would gladly start purchasing CDs from musicians who have nothing to do with the RIAA if they are decent to listen to.

I, on the other hand, have explicitly and purposefully decided -- because of this case -- to share and steal music with the sole intent of hurting the RIAA.

Since I have an ISP that assigns me a new IP point every connect I make, and since I am moving from corporate furnished apartment to corporate furnished apartment about once every four weeks, I DEFY the RIAA to sue me. Come get it, a-holes.

[Bush2000]

By corrupting our government they have no right to make a profit again. By messing with our government they have effectively become no better than the chicoms who supported Clinton. I am about as concerned with their future as I am the chicoms'.

I'm surprised at how many people think that domestic special interest groups lobbying the federal government to see things their way is somehow "un-American". That's precisely what the founding fathers knew would happen. And the fact of the matter is that you have an opportunity to make your voice heard. Just form the 50 million or so people who are trading music into a PAC and lobby Congress. But, no, you guys could care less about the rule of law. You'd rather bitch about the influence of the RIAA -- and then use that whine as some kind of lame justification for violating the law in ripping off their content. You are not demonstrating conservative values. Quite the opposite, actually. Conservatives don't like enforcing laws that they disagree with (Roe v Wade, Alabama 10 Commandments memorial, etc). But they do it, anyway -- because, without the rule of law, we're nothing but a nation of rogues and thieves.

[Bush2000]

I, on the other hand, have explicitly and purposefully decided -- because of this case -- to share and steal music with the sole intent of hurting the RIAA.

Thus, making you a pathetic weasel and poor excuse for a human being.

[Lazamataz]

Thus, making you a pathetic weasel and poor excuse for a human being.

And damned proud of it.

See my tagline, pls.

[Lazamataz]

Oh well. I am going to continue to steal and share music and I have ZERO compunction or moral issue with it thereof.

Sue me, baby.

If you can find me, that is.

[Lazamataz]

That does it. I'm no longer going to pay a thin dime for anything the RIAA produces. May the illegal downloaders drive it clean out of business and urinate on the ground it once stood on.

That's my take on it. I am now PROUDLY stealing from the RIAA.

Let's see 'em go after Chinese citizens. LOL!

[tdadams]

Have you ever actually read the Constitution?

[Bush2000]

Add ugly to your list of accolades.