52 of 261 subp'd people Settle / 838 accept amnesty

[FutureIverson]

Selling Their Souls to The devil
http://www.comcast.net/News/TECHNOLO...be2efb47f.html



Music Download Suit Settlements Announced

22 minutes ago

By TED BRIDIS, AP Technology Writer

WASHINGTON - The recording industry on Monday announced settlements with 52 of the 261 Internet users it sued over allegations they illegally permitted others to download music from their computers using popular file-sharing software.

The Recording Industry Association of America, which plans to file hundreds more lawsuits in October, did not specify how much it collected. Defense lawyers familiar with some cases said payments ranged from $2,500 to $7,500 each, with at least one settlement for as much as $10,000.

The settlements, which do not include any admission of wrongdoing, require Internet users to destroy copies of illegally downloaded songs and agree to "not make any public statements that are inconsistent" with the agreement.

The RIAA, the trade group for the largest labels, said one dozen other Internet users also agreed to pay unspecified amounts after they learned they might be sued. They had previously been notified by their Internet providers that music lawyers were seeking their names to sue and agreed to pay to avoid a lawsuit.

"The music community's efforts have triggered a national conversation, especially between parents and kids, about what's legal and illegal when it comes to music on the Internet," RIAA President Cary Sherman said in a statement. "In the end it will be decided not in the courtrooms, but at kitchen tables across the country."

Just three weeks ago, the RIAA filed 261 lawsuits against what it described as "major offenders" illegally distributing on average more than 1,000 copyrighted music files each. Lawyers and activists said more settlements were inevitable.

"We don't know how many additional people are negotiating," said Fred von Lohmann, a lawyer for the San Francisco-based Electronic Frontier Foundation. "There could well be a large number of people deciding whether to write the check or not."

Daniel N. Ballard, a lawyer whose firm is representing at least four defendants, said the settlement offers he was familiar with _ between $3,000 and $4,000 _ appeared aimed at discouraging Internet users from hiring defense lawyers.

"It's a small enough number that it doesn't make economic sense to hire an attorney to litigate these," Ballard said.

The RIAA also said 838 people have requested amnesty from future lawsuits, in exchange for a formal admission they illegally shared music and a pledge to delete the songs off their computers. The offer does not apply to people who already are targets of legal action.

"I'm not surprised that 838 people have been intimidated into signing this," said Ballard, who noted there are roughly 62 million Americans who participate in file-sharing networks. He called those seeking amnesty a small ratio of total users.

Some defense lawyers have objected to the amnesty provisions, warning that song publishers and other organizations not represented by the RIAA won't be constrained by the group's promise not to sue. Similarly, people who settled their lawsuits with the RIAA conceivably still could be sued by others for infringement.

The RIAA has promised that hundreds or even thousands more lawsuits will be filed, with the next round coming as early as October. It has continued issuing hundreds of copyright subpoenas through U.S. court clerks' offices nationwide to compel Internet providers to identify subscribers suspected of illegally distributing music online.

The announcement about settlements came one day before a Senate hearing to examine the industry's use of lawsuits and copyright subpoenas to identify Internet users accused of distributing music. Critics have argued that judges should be more involved in issuing the subpoenas, which are approved by clerks and are the subject of an ongoing federal appeals court fight over their constitutionality.

"This isn't a legal matter, this is a PR event," said Greg Bildson, the chief operating and technology officer for LimeWire, a popular file-sharing service.

Bildson complained there aren't enough checks involved in the subpoenas used by the music industry to identify Internet users. "It's ridiculous the kind of power that they wield," he said.

LimeWire and other file-sharing companies have announced a new trade group, P2P United, to urge Congress to approve compulsory licenses for music files, which would force labels to offer songs on services for flat fees.

[Kevin06906]

"The RIAA has promised that hundreds or even thousands more lawsuits will be filed, with the next round coming as early as October. It has continued issuing hundreds of copyright subpoenas through U.S. court clerks' offices nationwide to compel Internet providers to identify subscribers suspected of illegally distributing music online."


The RIAA sounds that they are pretty confident that the lawsuits will not be overturned. The hell with hundreds of lawsuits, there going for thousands.

It looks like techtv.com is gonna have to do a lot of updating this month on their list.

[aqlo]

Thanks Future
*sadly*
Wish it wasn't so.

[baghdad_steve15]

Sadly there are 838 identifiable stupid people roaming the US right now. Can't wait they start filling lawsuits against the supposedly pardoned ones. Why arent alot of people fight this all the way. Your name in history. YOURNAME Vs RIAA in the supreme court.

[cheapprick]

"I'm not surprised that 838 people have been intimidated into signing this," said Ballard, who noted there are roughly 62 million Americans who participate in file-sharing networks. He called those seeking amnesty a small ratio of total users.

"This isn't a legal matter, this is a PR event," said Greg Bildson, the chief operating and technology officer for LimeWire, a popular file-sharing service.

Just more good fear-mongering, as the one lawyer said. They are requesting settlements lower than potential legal fees. Extortion in a sense.

[Kooperman]

Good job getting the news on the board, FI. I like seeing more and more people involved with news hounding.....most of it seems to land in the Forum, it seems. I'd like to see the news mods taking a more active role in making the front page news better and more timely. Are the mods allowed to find and post news stories? I see very few credited to the members who are listed as news mods.

[aqlo]

I don't know if the mods themselves have the same obsession with news that the members do Koop. The idea is for the members to actually post the news and the mods to check it to make sure it isn't some tricky sht of the spam variety. And then I see the real mods down there in the trenches with the "first post" people as much as anybody, it's fair game for anybody who can delete that autistic-chat there fast enough.

Guess that's what the news-spiders want or something

[Kooperman]

I don't know if the mods themselves have the same obsession with news that the members do Koop. The idea is for the members to actually post the news and the mods to check it to make sure it isn't some tricky sht of the spam variety. And then I see the real mods down there in the trenches with the "first post" people as much as anybody, it's fair game for anybody who can delete that autistic-chat there fast enough.

Guess that's what the news-spiders want or something

I recall phalkon asking for a more fluid system of actually getting the news ON the front page, and although there has been some improvement I still see delays of as much as 24 hours or more on some items. I suggest that having a rotating system of one mod actively seeking news might pay off in timlier front page articles.

[aqlo]

Johnnie Cohrane takes on RIAA

Janett you're a genius :gj

[Kooperman]

Johnnie Cohrane takes on RIAA

Janett you're a genius :gj

Music Industry is full of shit....
so you must acquit.

[Malicious Intent]

I'm really tempted to complain that these people didn't fight their cases are being bullied, but I know full well that I would bottle it and settle.

[shawners]

Ive submitted news on there, later on a few days later someone else submits what i sent in. It gets posted.. And the news can get old being on their for days without any submissions, FORUMS get the news before it gets sent into News area.. Kooperman post awesome news on the forums. And then later i see them on the News page. Stupid to have outdated stuff hanging around there when people are submitting current things.

As far as people sending the to the anemisity plan. I believe they knew people who do this would be kids who dont know better. The get the word of mouth around school about kazaa. Dont check p2p forums for info on whats going on, or about kazaa lite or lawsuits. Hear about a kid getting sued, so they send in the letter themselfs.

[rainbowdemon]

Just saw a similar article on Yahoo. Says basically the same thing.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...oading_music_4

[Crazy Horse]

The RIAA, the trade group for the largest labels, said one dozen other Internet users also agreed to pay unspecified amounts after they learned they might be sued. They had previously been notified by their Internet providers that music lawyers were seeking their names to sue and agreed to pay to avoid a lawsuit.

These have to be some really stupid people!!! .... a sucker born every minute. They paid because they thought they MIGHT be sued ?!?!?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA :ass

[rainbowdemon]

[QUOTE=Crazy Horse]These have to be some really stupid people!!! .... a sucker born every minute. They paid because they thought they MIGHT be sued ?!?!?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA :ass[/QUOTEThat's beyond ridiculous!!