NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20060814/0215242.shtml

The RIAA really knows how to handle its file sharing lawsuits in ways that make themselves look incredibly heartless. It seemed like maybe they'd scraped bottom when they suggested a student should drop out of MIT to pay a few thousand dollars for file sharing, but they've now topped that one. When one of the people they were suing (who appeared to be fighting the charges) happened to die earlier this summer, the RIAA kindly requested that the case be pushed back 60 days for the family to grieve, before the RIAA started deposing the dead man's children. This for a few thousand dollars? It's been quite clear for some time that no one at the RIAA ever bothers to think about the PR impact of their moves, but isn't there someone there who thought that perhaps this was a case that they could let go of?

The children should kindly request the case be dismissed on cause of douchebaggery.

See, the problem with RIAA and these cases is that they are mired in the past. It used to be that when companies were heartlessly evil to individual families that it made the local papers and that's about it. But in today's electronic age, their evil corporate deeds are scrutinized by a far lager number of people in a much broader area. They always had trouble evolving to the new realities of technology. :p

Are these businesses owned by seventy year old technophobes or something?!? THey seem mired in business practices that went obsolete ten years ago!

Well when you start filing suits against dead people, you might come across as a little mean.

Well when you start filing suits against dead people, you might come across as a little mean.
Sins of the father...

Sins of the father...
I'm pretty sure that is illegal in the US..

You are forgetting that they are a dead industry in their current manifestation. The internet has changed the way music is distributed and has made the RIAA fairly obsolete.

These lawsuits are not about the couple grand a person they might get, the point is to try to scare everyone into going down to their local store to pay $15 for a crappy CD. It is about frightening everyone away from getting music online as that is the only way the industry might survive a little bit longer (aside from, ya know, adapting to the modern high-tech business environment).

Unfortunately the RIAA is headed by idiots who think this is a viable strategy. Trying to scare people into buying your product (because if you don’t my cousin Guido and his baseball bat are going to pay you and your knees a little visit) is never going to keep a struggling industry alive for long.

I'd suggest that the family file a counter-suit for undue psychological pain and suffering.

I'd suggest that the family file a counter-suit for undue psychological pain and suffering.
Oh, yes.

I'd suggest that the family file a counter-suit for undue psychological pain and suffering.

The question is whether or not that familiy can pay for the lawsuit.

The question is whether or not that familiy can pay for the lawsuit.

I know that would be an issue.

But you'll have to agree that the payback would be SWEEEEEEEET...

The question is whether or not that familiy can pay for the lawsuit.
Frankly, the family may not even be able to afford a lawyer to write an official fuck off letter, at $200 per hour or whatever. Explaining the situation in writing, and asking for the case to be dropped, is in itself not cheap.

I already had a low opinion of these morons before, but suing a dead guy's family for downloading music?

Somebody needs to get these people committed.

Everyone knows the RIAA isn't very bright. As far as I can tell, their lawsuits have only made illegally downloading music more popular just because people can't stand the thought of giving money to an organization as cruel as that.

Is the lawsuit against the family or against the individual? Because if its against the person who died, then the lawsuit is done, over, kaput. Hell, the Federal Government may not be able to go after the estate of Ken Lay because he died while his case is under appeal, and that has the effect of his conviction being vacated--how is this not similar?

This thread is calling out for it.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/NuGo1988/Communism.jpg
That's right. COMMUNISM!!!

This thread is calling out for it.

That's right. COMMUNISM!!!
Intellectual property is theft, comrade. :D

The RIAA is really full of idiots. I think that rather than just sit around complaining on the internet, we might think it a good idea to send them letters explaining why they are so stupid to follow this policy. In kind language--and possibly leagalize--of course.

Sunday Sunday SUNDAY!!!

Countersuit Countersuit COUNTERSUIT!!!

When my father died, the state had a case pending against him for failure to pay child support. 3 weeks after, they dropped it because he was dead.

RIAA should learn something. And they will, because there's this one guy who made a shitload of money in the .com boom and is being sued by them. He has the money and will pwn them.