|
RIAA Sues 12-Year Old Girl
|
View this Thread in Original format
| loconet |
pathetic
| quote: |
source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,96797,00.html
NEW YORK — The music industry has turned its big legal guns on Internet music-swappers — including a 12-year-old New York City girl who thought downloading songs was fun.
Brianna LaHara said she was frightened to learn she was among the hundreds of people sued yesterday by giant music companies in federal courts around the country.
"I got really scared. My stomach is all turning," Brianna said last night at the city Housing Authority apartment where she lives with her mom and her 9-year-old brother.
"I thought it was OK to download music because my mom paid a service fee for it. Out of all people, why did they pick me?"
The Recording Industry Association of America (search) — a music-industry lobbying group behind the lawsuits — couldn't answer that question.
"We are taking each individual on a case-by-case basis," said RIAA spokeswoman Amy Weiss.
Asked if the association knew Brianna was 12 when it decided to sue her, Weiss answered, "We don't have any personal information on any of the individuals."
Brianna's mom, Sylvia Torres, said the lawsuit was "a total shock."
"My daughter was on the verge of tears when she found out about this," Torres said.
The family signed up for the Kazaa (search) music-swapping service three months ago, and paid a $29.99 service charge.
Usually, they listen to songs without recording them. "There's a lot of music there, but we just listen to it and let it go," Torres said.
When reporters visited teh apartment last night, Brianna — who her mom says is an honors student — was helping her brother with his homework.
Brianna was among 261 people sued for copying thousands of songs via popular Internet file-sharing software — and thousands more suits could be on the way.
"Nobody likes playing the heavy and having to resort to litigation," said Cary Sherman, the RIAA's president. "But when your product is being regularly stolen, there comes a time when you have to take appropriate action."
At the same time, the RIAA offered amnesty to file-swappers who come forward and agree to stop illegally downloading music over the Internet.
People who already have been sued are not eligible for amnesty.
Brianna and the others sued yesterday under federal copyright law could face penalties of up to $150,000 per song, but the RIAA has already settled some cases for as little as $3,000.
"It's not like we were doing anything illegal," said Torres. "This is a 12-year-old girl, for crying out loud."
|
|
|
|
| occrider |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3092854.stm
At least they aren't guilty of age discrimination.
| quote: |
Grandfather caught in music fight
The RIAA may offer to turn a blind eye if people promise to delete files
A grandfather has said he was wrongly accused of illegally downloading music online at the start of a legal campaign by the US music industry.
Durwood Pickle, 71, of Texas, said his teenage grandchildren used his computer during visits to his home.
"I didn't do it, and I don't feel like I'm responsible," he said.
Mr Pickle was among 261 individuals accused of sharing music files on the internet without permission.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed lawsuits in federal courts across the US on behalf of major record companies Universal, BMG, EMI, Sony and Warner Brothers.
It warns those found guilty that they face fines of up to $150,000 (£100,000) per song swapped. Critics have accused the RIAA of being heavy-handed.
Yale University professor Timothy Davis, who was also named in the lawsuits, said he would stop sharing music files immediately.
Activities
He said he had downloaded about 500 songs before his internet provider notified him about the music industry's interest in his activities.
There are presently no plans to launch US-style legal actions internationally or in Europe
IFPI spokesman
Another defendant, Lisa Schamis of New York, said her internet provider warned her two months ago that record industry lawyers had asked for her name and address.
She said she had no idea she might be sued but acknowledged downloading "lots" of music over file-sharing networks.
RIAA president Cary Sherman said he hoped the legal action would prompt parents to pay more attention to potentially illegal activities by their children.
"We expect people to say 'It isn't me, it was my kid,' but someone has to take responsibility," Sherman said.
The music industry says file-sharing is a violation of copyright laws and blames the practice for a drop in CD sales worldwide.
The film industry also says it is being hit by online piracy but it has not yet announced it will be taking similar action.
But media analysts believe it is only a matter of time.
"There's no question other industries will do the same," said Latika Sharma, head of IT law practice at London-based law firm Landwell.
The global music industry trade body, the International Federation of Phonographic Industry (IFPI) said it will focus its efforts outside the US on education.
He added: "But uploading copyrighted music is illegal, and for a good reason, and legal action against uploaders cannot be ruled out in the future."
|
|
|
|
| Floorfiller |
| hahaha she's an honor student hehehe...she's 12 yr old...everyone's an honor student at that age hehehe. and how nice of her to help her little brother with homework :) |
|
|
| Streakfury |
| quote: | | "It's not like we were doing anything illegal," said Torres. "This is a 12-year-old girl, for crying out loud." |
Are 12 year olds above the law then?? Damn, why didn't I know that when I was 12?? :p
Seriously tho, it is a bit sad. I dont arse about with Kazaa so I dont know about their "£29.99 Service Charges", but surely if she's paying for the tunes, thats ok?? Poor cow.
:confused: |
|
|
| Cuervo79 |
| Thank god I don't live in the USA :whip: What do these guys want to acomplish annyway? lawsuits only suck up money, where is the proffit in that, they can't erradicate(sp?) file sharing. Kill em all :mad: |
|
|
| sash |
| quote: | | The family signed up for the Kazaa (search) music-swapping service three months ago, and paid a $29.99 service charge. |
who pays for kazaa? |
|
|
| DJPrototypeX |
| bull...buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuullllllllllllllll...idiots... |
|
|
| BryZe |
| Exactly...who pays for Kazaa...I thought it was a free file sharing program. I guess the IRAA is trying to make a profit for all there CD loses by sueing anyone and everyone:rolleyes: I mean since there settling for $3000 they have alot of people to sue to make it to $150000. |
|
|
| arleetec |
| quote: | Originally posted by sash
who pays for kazaa? |
Thats waht I was about to say!! YOu get kazaa so you don't have to pay. LOL:toothless |
|
|
| JPJH |
| i dont get it..if the 12 year old girl is paying for the service..then shouldnt kaaza be held responsible..? |
|
|
| surferfb |
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,60350,00.html
| quote: | | Notably, however, the decline in CD sales accelerated during the period of reduced peer-to-peer file trading. On June 15, the day the RIAA launched a subpoena campaign against file traders, CD sales were down 6.1 percent year to date. In the seven weeks since launching the subpoena campaign, the decline in CD sales has accelerated 54 percent. |
I laugh at the RIAA. |
|
|
| BryZe |
^^^^^ Totally agree with you surferfb
The information on file sharing declines is so subjective which makes any claims by the RIAA very weak. Well I think the time of the CD is maybe reaching a peak in just the same way as they replaced tapes...I mean everyone can carry around an mp3 player or mp3 CD-player.
:tongue3 :tongue3 :stongue: :stongue: at the RIAA |
|
|
|
|
