Skip to content
BOL Conferences
Learn More - Click Here!

Thread Options
#1204200 - 06/19/09 01:09 PM $80,000 per download
A_G Online
10K Club
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 18,989
Jury rules against Minn. woman in download case

A federal jury ruled Thursday that Jammie Thomas-Rasset willfully violated the copyrights on 24 songs, and awarded recording companies $1.92 million, or $80,000 per song.


At first I felt bad kind of bad for this woman (big bad record industry vs. mother of 4), until I read this:

Cara Duckworth, a spokeswoman for the RIAA, said the industry remains willing to settle. She refused to name a figure, but acknowledged Thomas-Rasset had been given the chance to settle for $3,000 to $5,000 earlier in the case.
_________________________
With the lights out, it's less dangerous.

Return to Top
Chat! - BOL Watercooler
#1204227 - 06/19/09 01:33 PM Re: $80,000 per download A_G
FBH Offline
Power Poster
FBH
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,649
The Land of Tax Free Shopping!
That's pretty harsh. I think RIAA is shooting themselves in the foot with this kind of litigation. Music sales continue to plummet (I know I don't buy as much music as I did in the past - and the music I do buy tends to be older bands now), and I don't see the quality of performance like I used to.

Plus, it seems like "albums" are dead. Remember when you'd talk about all the tracks on an album? How it flowed, and how the the overall work was viewed? Now it seems I only buy only singles...The last full album I've liked was Wolfmother's first (and only) album...and that's like 6 years old now.
_________________________
Caveat Lector! The opinions expressed in this post are those of FBH and no other, not even my employer!

Return to Top
#1204378 - 06/19/09 03:22 PM Re: $80,000 per download FBH
buggs Offline
Power Poster
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,487
Everyone is given the right to "settle" for $3,000 to $5,000. That's how it worked. The RIAA would contact someone and claim he or she illegaly downloaded and/or shared music protected by copyright. Then they would say, however, if you agree to pay us $3,000 we won't file a lawsuit.

Some people consider this offer to "settle" to be tantamount to extortion, but were intimidated enough to accept the offer, even if they didn't do anything wrong. Ms. Thomas-Rasset decided (or was talked into it) to challenge the RIAA's practices and go to court.

Now, the RIAA wants ISPs to enforce copyright law by giving us three strikes and then cutting off our access to the internet. That tactic seems to be failing in France due to public outcry.

Return to Top
#1204380 - 06/19/09 03:24 PM Re: $80,000 per download buggs
doobydoobydoo Offline
Power Poster
doobydoobydoo
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,195
Basking in the Cool Weather
In communist America.... Songs download you
_________________________
I'll be in the hospital bar.
Uh, you know there isn't a hospital bar, Mother.
Well, this is why people hate hospitals.

Return to Top
#1204398 - 06/19/09 03:45 PM Re: $80,000 per download buggs
FBH Offline
Power Poster
FBH
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,649
The Land of Tax Free Shopping!
Originally Posted By: Bugs Bunny
Everyone is given the right to "settle" for $3,000 to $5,000. That's how it worked. The RIAA would contact someone and claim he or she illegaly downloaded and/or shared music protected by copyright. Then they would say, however, if you agree to pay us $3,000 we won't file a lawsuit.

Some people consider this offer to "settle" to be tantamount to extortion, but were intimidated enough to accept the offer, even if they didn't do anything wrong. Ms. Thomas-Rasset decided (or was talked into it) to challenge the RIAA's practices and go to court.

Now, the RIAA wants ISPs to enforce copyright law by giving us three strikes and then cutting off our access to the internet. That tactic seems to be failing in France due to public outcry.


I might try something like this this weekend. Whenever anything happens to me, I'm going to ask the nearest person if they'd like to settle the dispute now with a $1,000 check, or risk going to court. Maybe I'll get enough settlements to pay off my law school loans...Sheer brilliance!
_________________________
Caveat Lector! The opinions expressed in this post are those of FBH and no other, not even my employer!

Return to Top
#1204402 - 06/19/09 03:47 PM Re: $80,000 per download buggs
A_G Online
10K Club
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 18,989
Originally Posted By: Bugs Bunny
Some people consider this offer to "settle" to be tantamount to extortion, but were intimidated enough to accept the offer, even if they didn't do anything wrong. Ms. Thomas-Rasset decided (or was talked into it) to challenge the RIAA's practices and go to court.


Aren't settlements and plea deals a huge part of our justice system?

It's the way things work.
_________________________
With the lights out, it's less dangerous.

Return to Top
#1204407 - 06/19/09 03:48 PM Re: $80,000 per download A_G
FBH Offline
Power Poster
FBH
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,649
The Land of Tax Free Shopping!
Absolutely - they beat the costs of trial any day! I'm a big fan of settlements.
_________________________
Caveat Lector! The opinions expressed in this post are those of FBH and no other, not even my employer!

Return to Top
#1204424 - 06/19/09 04:01 PM Re: $80,000 per download FBH
buggs Offline
Power Poster
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,487
This issue with the RIAA's settlements is that nobody knew for sure (for a variety of reasons) whether or not the RIAA could prove infringment. Many look upon the RIAA as using the legal system to strong arm individuals into forking over money in order to scare others from downloading "free" music files.

It's worked somewhat for them, but as someone has already pointed out, the music industry is still seeing their sales drop, so one has to ask, whether these tactics help or hurt the industry in the long run.

Here's a joke flowchart about how the process works. But remember, there is some truth behind this joke.

RIAA Lawsuit Decision Matrix

Return to Top
#1204448 - 06/19/09 04:18 PM Re: $80,000 per download buggs
HappyGilmore Offline
10K Club
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,844
Pulling people out of the ditc...
wait a minute, having parties agree to settle is wrong, wrong, wrong...just look over there>>>>>in the Donte Stallworth thread
_________________________
Providing alternative truths since the invention of time

Return to Top
#1204458 - 06/19/09 04:28 PM Re: $80,000 per download HappyGilmore
Spook-a-Muffin Offline
Power Poster
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 8,528
Elm Street - ish ♥
I admit i'm a pirate, but if i like the band i will go out and buy a cd just to support them.
_________________________
I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.

Return to Top
#1204476 - 06/19/09 04:52 PM Re: $80,000 per download Spook-a-Muffin
Ops Offline
Power Poster
Ops
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,827
Georgia
Last two albums I bought were pretty much terrible. Last one was a couple years ago, and I don't know that I'll buy another unless it's classic rock.

Return to Top
#1204492 - 06/19/09 05:05 PM Re: $80,000 per download Ops
GuitarDude Online
Power Poster
GuitarDude
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,925
So Cal
Note to Ops: There aren't that many classic rock albums coming out these days. grin
_________________________
I've just writed a wrong.

Return to Top
#1204627 - 06/19/09 07:04 PM Re: $80,000 per download GuitarDude
buggs Offline
Power Poster
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,487
Ops, there's good new music out there, you just can't rely upon the major labels to sign and promote these bands. You have to listen to the right radio stations and podcasts, track the right blogs, and keep your ears open.

Return to Top
#1204792 - 06/19/09 09:21 PM Re: $80,000 per download buggs
buggs Offline
Power Poster
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,487
Here's the $2 million dollar playlist:

Guns N Roses "Welcome to the Jungle"; "November Rain"
Vanessa Williams "Save the Best for Last"
Janet Jackson "Let’s What Awhile"
Gloria Estefan "Here We Are"; "Coming Out of the Heart"; "Rhythm is Gonna Get You"
Goo Goo Dolls "Iris"
Journey "Faithfully"; "Don’t Stop Believing"
Sara McLachlan "Possession"; "Building a Mystery"
Aerosmith "Cryin’"
Linkin Park "One Step Closer"
Def Leppard "Pour Some Sugar on Me"
Reba McEntire "One Honest Heart"
Bryan Adams "Somebody"
No Doubt "Bathwater"; "Hella Good"; "Different People"
Sheryl Crow "Run Baby Run"
Richard Marx "Now and Forever"
Destiny’s Child "Bills, Bills, Bills"
Green Day "Basket Case"

Return to Top
#1204798 - 06/19/09 09:33 PM Re: $80,000 per download buggs
Peepers Offline
10K Club
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 13,994
for $2 million dollars you would think she would share some good music
_________________________
blah

Return to Top
#1204799 - 06/19/09 09:33 PM Re: $80,000 per download buggs
Ops Offline
Power Poster
Ops
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,827
Georgia
Originally Posted By: GuitarDude
Note to Ops: There aren't that many classic rock albums coming out these days. grin


You're a turd. grin

::waits for someone to freak out on me for callin GD a turd::

Originally Posted By: Bugs Bunny
Ops, there's good new music out there, you just can't rely upon the major labels to sign and promote these bands. You have to listen to the right radio stations and podcasts, track the right blogs, and keep your ears open.


That takes too much time I don't have. Why don't you just tell me where to look. laugh Oh, wait... we don't so much agree on [most] music. Scratch that.

Return to Top
#1204802 - 06/19/09 09:36 PM Re: $80,000 per download Ops
Peepers Offline
10K Club
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 13,994
Originally Posted By: Ops
Originally Posted By: GuitarDude
Note to Ops: There aren't that many classic rock albums coming out these days. grin


You're a turd. grin

::waits for someone to freak out on me for callin GD a turd::


good job with the turd reference
_________________________
blah

Return to Top
#1204803 - 06/19/09 09:37 PM Re: $80,000 per download Peepers
Ops Offline
Power Poster
Ops
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,827
Georgia
Thanks.. I put a lot of thought into that.

Return to Top
#1204812 - 06/19/09 09:47 PM Re: $80,000 per download Ops
buggs Offline
Power Poster
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,487
Originally Posted By: Ops
That takes too much time I don't have. Why don't you just tell me where to look. laugh Oh, wait... we don't so much agree on [most] music. Scratch that.

LOL! I'd love to, but well, we know what would happen. laugh

Return to Top
#1204848 - 06/19/09 10:59 PM Re: $80,000 per download buggs
Ops Offline
Power Poster
Ops
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,827
Georgia
Give it a shot.. dunno how long it'll last. laugh

Return to Top