RIAA goes after more kids

Patricia Santangelo, the mother of two who was sued last year by Elektra Entertainment Group, is now finding out just how ruthless the music industry can be. After refusing to settle with Elektra for sharing six songs on the KaZaA file-sharing network, five record companies, represented by the RIAA, decided to sue her children instead.

Its almost like when the RIAA sued Larry Scantlebury, a defendant who then passed away mid-trial a few months ago. Realizing the case would be over, they decided to sue the children, though “kindly” offering 60 days to grieve. It was only because of all the criticism they received that they later decided to lay off the deceased gentleman’s kids. Apparently children are again fair game for the long arms of the RIAA’s attorneys.

Patricia repeatedly complained all along that she is “internet illiterate,” a reference repeated by a federal judge in the case.

So who was that it shared the six songs on KaZaA? Well, the RIAA realized that it had to be somebody in the house, and the only people left were the kids.

Filing a lawsuit in White Plains federal court yesterday against Santangelo’s son and daughter, they used incriminating statements made by each of the siblings. Thyme said that “…Michelle Santangelo, 20, has acknowledged downloading songs on the family computer and that her brother, Robert, 16, had been implicated in statements his best friend made.” Some of the songs included “Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)” by the Offspring, “MMMBop” by Hanson and “Beat It” by Michael Jackson.

Hanson’s “MMMBop?” Say it isn’t so.

The RIAA’s complaint against the defendants reads:

…each of the defendants participated in the substantial violations of plaintiffs’ copyrights at issue and then concealed their involvement, standing idly by as Patricia Santangelo repeatedly protested their innocence and chastised plaintiffs for filing allegedly frivolous litigation.

Michelle claims to have no knowledge of making such statements about her downloading music on the family’s computer but, it seems to be a moot point. The mother adamantly argued throughout the case that it wasn’t her that downloaded the music though never saying who she thought had. It had to be somebody, and the RIAA then focused its sights on her “internet literate” children.

Elektra had previously offered Patricia a chance to settle for $7,500 USD, but now with the full weight of the RIAA on the case, and the copyright charges elevated from 6 to 1,000 songs, it’s going to cost her children much, much, more.

SOULXTC: walking the streets of P2P

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