RIAA wins first jury trial

Kilarney

Well... the RIAA won the first jury trial. A woman was ordered to pay $220,000. (Bankruptcy court here she comes!)

I hope that this will show how ruthless the RIAA is in trying to prop up a defective business model. This verdict may be a blessing in disguise. It also sounds like there is a very genuine appellate issue in the nature of the jury instructions.

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DULUTH, Minnesota -- Jammie Thomas, a single mother of two,

DAMNED RIAA!

Also, the argument of them (Music business)

Still, it's unlikely the RIAA's courtroom victory will translate into a financial windfall or stop piracy, which the industry claims costs it billions in lost sales.

is bullshit. One can claim just as easily that people might go out to buy the actual CD to have a legal copy and the little book with lyrics (I like those).

Omnutia

On a brighter note, anyone who fights the RIAA and Co rarely lose. The RIAA tries to bully people into settling so fighting back usually discourages them. Unfortunately they have a lot of practice with suing people and each defendant has only done so once.

Kilarney

Look at how much money allofmp3.com made. You can't tell me that people aren't willing to pay a fair price for music. The more I think about what the RIAA is doing, the more I don't want to purchase any music from a source affiliated with the RIAA.

I've got a lot of sympathy for the record companies. But this is not the answer. Putting single mothers into bankruptcy, when it won't even solve the problem, is just cruel. Piracy has gone up since these lawsuits have started. While this may have stemmed the rise, it's time to stop the nonsense.

I wouldn't even mind if Kazaa got sued - as futile as that would be. I just have a problem ruining the lives of decent people who made a mistake.

I'm not the biggest record purchaser out there, but after this verdict, I am vowing to never purchase an RIAA affiliated album again.

Indy music here I come!

Call me an optimist, but this defendant is very sympathetic. Because of that, there may be a turn in public opinion. I hope the internet gets together and starts a boycott or something similar.

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Look at how much money allofmp3.com made. You can't tell me that people aren't willing to pay a fair price for music. The more I think about what the RIAA is doing, the more I don't want to purchase any music from a source affiliated with the RIAA.

Agreed. They should stop fucking around and invest the money they spend on trials on a new business model. They can make money by offering the songs online. That way the cut out the annoying middleman and thus can make more profit.

Neito

Agreed. They should stop fucking around and invest the money they spend on trials on a new business model. They can make money by offering the songs online. That way the cut out the annoying middleman and thus can make more profit.

But that would involve them giving up a measure of perceived control. So it's never going to happen.

GreatTeacherMacRoss

MC Lars - "Download This Song"

Find it, downlaod it, enjoy it.

Sail

MC Lars - "Download This Song"

Find it, downlaod it, enjoy it.

I concur. I enjoy the MC Lars very much.

Usagimaru

Has anyone else looked at the jury for the case?
Only two of the people own computers...and only one has EVER used the internet.  Jammie Thomas wasn't even from Minnesota.  Also, the way that they're catching these people is from downloading the music themselves.  So to uphold the law, the RIAA pays companies breaks the law...awesome.
It's bullshit that they presented information about her downloading and sharing 1700 songs; which was totally irrelevant, since she is only being convicted of sharing 24 songs.  Hope it gets appealed and tried in a fair court.