OT: CNN: 261 music file swappers sued
OnceUponAHiRize
261 music file swappers sued; amnesty program unveiled
By Jeordan Legon
CNN
Monday, September 8, 2003 Posted: 2:55 PM EDT (1855 GMT)
(CNN) -- The recording industry filed 261 lawsuits against individual Internet
music file sharers Monday and announced an amnesty program for people who admit
they illegally share music files through the Internet.
The federal lawsuits and amnesty program are the latest moves by the Recording
Industry Association of America (RIAA) in its fight against illegal music file
trading on the Internet, which record companies blame for compact disc sales
falling 31 percent since mid-2000.
Cary Sherman, president of the RIAA, said the civil lawsuits filed were against
"major offenders" who made available an average of 1,000 copyrighted song
files.
"Nobody likes playing the heavy and having to resort to litigation," Sherman
said. "But when your product is being regularly stolen, there comes a time when
you have to take appropriate action."
Program grants amnesty
Sherman also announced the Clean Slate Program that grants amnesty to users who
voluntarily identify themselves, erase downloaded music files and promise not
to share music on the Internet. The RIAA said it will not sue users who sign
and have notarized a Clean Slate Program affidavit.
"We're willing to hold out our version of an olive branch," Sherman said.
"For those who want to wipe the slate clean and to avoid a potential lawsuit,
this is the way to go," added Mitch Bainwol, RIAA chairman and CEO. "We want to
send a strong message that the illegal distribution of copyrighted works has
consequences, but if individuals are willing to step forward on their own, we
want to go the extra step and extend them this option."
But the San Francisco-based Electronic Frontier Foundation, which has
criticized the RIAA's use of copyright subpoenas, urged file swappers to ignore
the amnesty offer.
"Rather than demanding that 60 million people sharing music files turn
themselves in with a so-called 'amnesty' program, the recording industry should
take this opportunity to make file-sharing legal in exchange for a reasonable
fee," Electronic Frontier Foundation attorney Wendy Seltzer said in a
statement.
The group cautioned that RIAA doesn't represent all music copyright owners and
couldn't guarantee that the person admitting guilt through the amnesty program
wouldn't be sued by others claiming copyright infringement.
"Stepping into the spotlight to admit your guilt is probably not a sensible
course for most people sharing music files online, especially since the RIAA
doesn't control many potential sources of lawsuits," Seltzer said.
Those targeted ineligible
The offer of amnesty will not apply to about 1,600 people targeted by copyright
subpoenas from the RIAA. The decision was made a few weeks after U.S. appeals
court rulings mandated that Internet providers turn over the names of
subscribers believed to be sharing music and movies illegally.
Until now, the only music file-swapping lawsuits filed by RIAA were against
four college students accused of making thousands of songs available on campus
networks. Those cases were settled for $12,500 to $17,000 each.
Sherman said Monday that RIAA had negotiated settlements in the range of $3,000
with a "handful" of Internet users who had learned from their Internet service
providers that they were being targeted for lawsuits. The industry is also
pursuing subpoenas at universities around the country seeking to identify music
file traders.
More information about RIAA's amnesty program is available at
www.musicunited.org.
iTude
news:20030908151916...@mb-m03.aol.com...
| http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/internet/09/08/music.downloading/index.html
|
| 261 music file swappers sued; amnesty program unveiled
| By Jeordan Legon
| CNN
| Monday, September 8, 2003 Posted: 2:55 PM EDT (1855 GMT)
<snip>
God if they only knew about ........oops.
<zips lips>
--
Ernest L Sewell, IV
iTude
--------------------------------------------
We can embrace our differences & stand on our own;
or we can accept the overwhelming evidence that
none of us is so very unique, and stand together on common ground.
--------------------------------------------
AIM: ern iTude / MSN: ErnestSewell (hotmail)
Yahoo: ErnestSewell / ICQ: 116434445
--------------------------------------------
www.FourthProductions.net
Do not add me to any fwd or spam list.
--------------------------------------------
Gonzo
this will once again come around and bite the industry in the ass.
-Z
OnceUponAHiRize <hira...@aol.comnojelly> wrote in message
news:20030908151916...@mb-m03.aol.com...
Mo Lei Tau
news:3f5d1...@news.nauticom.net...
> This is getting ridiculous. I have faith however, that one way or
another,
> this will once again come around and bite the industry in the ass.
>
> -Z
I'd like to see some sort of organized limited boycott. I mean like no
CD buying during Christmas season (November-December). After that we go back
to feeding our addictions if we feel like it. A longer boycott would send a
stronger message, but I'm not even sure people would be down for just the
Christmas protest. I suppose the RIAA believes they're already being
boycotted by downloaders, so who knows...
--
Edshugeo The GodMoor
http://edshugeo.com
http://www.mp3.com/psychovoyager
http://www.mp3.com/ejam
My DVD collection:
http://www.dvdprofiler.com/mycollection.asp?alias=Edshugeo
I just came. Everything just came. W-was that the big bang?
Alan Moore - Promethea book four
iTude
--
Ernest L Sewell, IV
iTude
--------------------------------------------
We can embrace our differences & stand on our own;
or we can accept the overwhelming evidence that
none of us is so very unique, and stand together on common ground.
--------------------------------------------
AIM: ern iTude / MSN: ErnestSewell (hotmail)
Yahoo: ErnestSewell / ICQ: 116434445
--------------------------------------------
www.FourthProductions.net
Do not add me to any fwd or spam list.
--------------------------------------------
"Gonzo" <no spam, bitch> wrote in message news:3f5d1...@news.nauticom.net...
The Ur-Vile
On the news, they said everyone being sued were people that had over
1,000 songs or something like that.
This is a battle where I can't feel too much empathy for either side.
.Faux Boo.
"The Ur-Vile" <urv...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:7d4cb9e0.03090...@posting.google.com...
I'm sure you mean sympathy.
The Ur-Vile
Yes, opps
haven't been sleeping much lately
np: Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz
_akire
>This is getting ridiculous. I have faith however, that one way or another,
>this will once again come around and bite the industry in the ass.
>
>-Z
It's been ridiculous for a while now, imho. The *only* good thing the
music industry has done in the past few years is Universal lowering
the cost of their CDs.
I feel like the record labels are trying to force consumers into
buying overpriced, crappy albums and are whining because we aren't
wasting our money on hundreds of CDs with only one or two good songs
on them.
Erika
I'll take away the bucket.
-- Wesley to Justine, Angel "Deep Down"
iTude
|
| It's been ridiculous for a while now, imho. The *only* good thing the
| music industry has done in the past few years is Universal lowering
| the cost of their CDs.
That's crap. TransWorld Entertainment, which owns Coconuts / Saturday Matinee / Record Town / and
the newer FYE (For Your Entertainment), just raised their basic prices to 18.99-19.99 for a single
disk. 2 Disk sets are about 23.99. TWE is based here in Albany, NY, and it's pretty much the only
major record chain around (which of course lends to a shitload of independent/used stores to battle
them....and that's where I go). I occasionally go into one to browse the 5.99 rack, and I always
have the purple shirt associate ask me "Can I help you?" I told this girl once, "Yeah, can you
knock off about $6.00 off this CD? Best Buy already did." She just looked at me like a deer in
headlights.
| I feel like the record labels are trying to force consumers into
| buying overpriced, crappy albums and are whining because we aren't
| wasting our money on hundreds of CDs with only one or two good songs
| on them.
That's what marketing is all about. I mean look at Blu Cantrell. She had ONE song that hit, and
her album did well. Marketing. Justin Guarini and Kelly Clarkson (as talented as SHE is), have
sold some albums, but Justin's is horrible. Kelly's is okay, but her voice isn't highlighted like
it should be, and a pop album starts off w/ some moonshine-outback number. She did sell a million
though, thus far. The list goes on and on of potential one hit wonders in the pop world, who will
end up selling a good stack of CDs, based solely on marketing, hype and 45 minute radio rotation for
3 months, going to 90 minutes for another 3. But oddly people like Justin Timberlake has his CD
doing well, and is on his 3rd single, which is doing well also. And didn't even have to ride the
coattails of the NSync fame to establish himself in whatever niche he's going for. It'll be
interesting to see who fellow NSyncer JC Chasez (or however you spell his name) does when his album
comes out this fall.
Beyonce is riding a wave that won't last through next summer (and that's being generous). When DC
went separate ways to temporarily pursue solo projects, Beyonce had Austin Powers come out, so she
was still in the spotlight. Plus a video from the movie. Then not long after, her CD comes out.
That coupled w/ a few misc appearances w/ the DC girls in public have almost guaranteed Ms.
Shakeyaazz a spot in the kiddies Christmas stockings this December.
However, on the other tip, successful artists like Michael Jackson or have one single, and a popular
name, and their album flops. Luther Vandross records a decent album, has a stroke and he doesn't
even get the sympathy purchase. And the marketing for that has been minimal. They know some
comatose fat black guy isn't going to appeal to a 15 year old. (PS Beyonce duets w/ Luther on a
remake of "The Closer I Get To You" on her album. I don't know if it's on his Dance With My Father
CD or not off hand.)
Even Janet's All For You a few years ago wasn't that great, and had only 2 or 3 singles off of it,
(I can only remember the title track, and "Son Of A Gun", and "Someone To Call My Lover"). By the
time the tour is over, so is the album. And the best dance number which practically begged for a
dozen remixes on a maxi, "come On Get Up", wasn't ever released, and the rest wasn't that great
overall. You really have to have quality for people to consider buying your CD. And now we have
newer and fresh artists like AFI coming up and winning a frickin' MTV award.
In short, prices aren't going down after all this time. It's been 16 or so years, and not a major
change. I'll got to an independent store to continue to get CDs, OR hit Best Buy or Circuit City
the first week to get shit on sale. I got Madonna's American Life for only 9.99 it's opening week.
Circuit City had it for 10.99. (And yes, I'll cross the street to get another buck off. LOL) I
have no idea what happened to the lawsuit against the major labels about pricing. Apparently money
won out.
I will continue to support the artists who I feel deserve it (after all it IS my dollar), and keep
my catalog stocked w/ older and newer stuff. However, I'll also download Blu's ONE HIT, or
Beyonce's ONE HIT, or whatever, cuz I'll be damned if I'm even going to spend $4-5 on a damn single.
And a maxi is like what....$8.99 now? Why does that make sense for a maxi (despite the number of
remixes on it), compared to the full album being roughly $4-5 more at Best Buy or Circuit City?
Where's the logic in that? Can you imagine buying those things at Record Town and spending well
over $25 for shit?
I got enough music I've downloaded to play.....for a long damn time.
Lee Harris
"iTude" <fin...@my.site> wrote in message
news:afV7b.25594$3t2....@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
> "_akire" <rozand...@PLEASEhardlink.com> wrote in message
> |
> | It's been ridiculous for a while now, imho. The *only* good thing the
> | music industry has done in the past few years is Universal lowering
> | the cost of their CDs.
>
> That's crap. TransWorld Entertainment, which owns Coconuts / Saturday
Matinee / Record Town / and
> the newer FYE (For Your Entertainment), just raised their basic prices to
18.99-19.99 for a single
> disk. 2 Disk sets are about 23.99. TWE is based here in Albany, NY, and
it's pretty much the only
> major record chain around (which of course lends to a shitload of
independent/used stores to battle
> them....and that's where I go). I occasionally go into one to browse the
5.99 rack, and I always
> have the purple shirt associate ask me "Can I help you?" I told this girl
once, "Yeah, can you
> knock off about $6.00 off this CD? Best Buy already did." She just
looked at me like a deer in
> headlights.
And of course you were complaining about the price to just the right person,
Ernest! The minimum wage teenager that makes decisions like that.
>
>
> | I feel like the record labels are trying to force consumers into
> | buying overpriced, crappy albums and are whining because we aren't
> | wasting our money on hundreds of CDs with only one or two good songs
> | on them.
>
> That's what marketing is all about. I mean look at Blu Cantrell. She
had ONE song that hit, and
> her album did well. Marketing. Justin Guarini and Kelly Clarkson (as
talented as SHE is), have
> sold some albums, but Justin's is horrible. Kelly's is okay, but her
voice isn't highlighted like
> it should be, and a pop album starts off w/ some moonshine-outback number.
She did sell a million
> though, thus far. The list goes on and on of potential one hit wonders in
the pop world, who will
> end up selling a good stack of CDs, based solely on marketing, hype and 45
minute radio rotation for
> 3 months, going to 90 minutes for another 3.
And this is a NEW thing in the world of pop music? The radio of life is
littered with thousands of one-hit wonders who were "the next big thing" and
overhyped when there single was out. Maybe you've never heard of Erykah
Badu, Edie Brickell, Chantay Savage, Alicia Bridges, Jeff Healy, Benny
Mardones, Robbie DuPree, Michael Johnson, Bertie Higgins, Alan O'Day,
Triumph, Climax Blues Band, Corey Hart (Sorry Chuck!), Alannah Myles,
Quarterflash, Fruer (Sorry Bart!), Bonnie Tyler, Tracy Chapman, Basia,
Tanita Tikarim, Vixen, Suzi Quatro, Dave "Baby" Cortez, The Champs, Crash
test Dummies, Jermaine Stewart, Gerardo (I bet you have that one), Lipps
Inc, Aqua (Sorry Josh!), Stacy Q, OMC, Nena, Dee-Lite, Vanilla Ice, Lou
Bega, Des'ree, Oleta Adams, T'Pau, Jane Child, Toni Basil, Thelma Houston,
Ratt (Sorry Rhastus!), Meredith brooks, Young MC, Taco, David Naughton, M,
Haddaway, Nick Gilder, The Proclaimers, Edwyn Collins, Right Said Fred, etc.
Universal is dropping wholesale by SIX DOLLARS. You can bet retail will
follow suit.
>
> I will continue to support the artists who I feel deserve it (after all it
IS my dollar), and keep
> my catalog stocked w/ older and newer stuff. However, I'll also download
Blu's ONE HIT, or
> Beyonce's ONE HIT, or whatever, cuz I'll be damned if I'm even going to
spend $4-5 on a damn single.
> And a maxi is like what....$8.99 now?
Um-the lables hardly even make singles anymore.
Why does that make sense for a maxi (despite the number of
> remixes on it), compared to the full album being roughly $4-5 more at Best
Buy or Circuit City?
> Where's the logic in that? Can you imagine buying those things at Record
Town and spending well
> over $25 for shit?
>
> I got enough music I've downloaded to play.....for a long damn time.
>
>
> --
> Ernest L Sewell, IV
> iTude
Better not let the RIAA know, or they'll sue any of your relatives named
Durwood Pickle.
Lee
OnceUponAHiRize
>Corey Hart (Sorry Chuck!),
*GASP!!!*
one hit wonder to YOU!! (ok well amost everyone else in the US as well but
still..)
*I* still buy all his albums.. and multiple copies at that.
BUT... here is his US only chart info, keep in mind he is a Canadian artist:
1984 It Ain t Enough Adult Contemporary No. 19
1984 It Ain t Enough The Billboard Hot 100 No. 17
1984 Sunglasses At Night The Billboard Hot 100 No. 7
1984 It Ain t Enough Mainstream Rock Tracks No. 36
1985 Never Surrender Adult Contemporary No. 8
1985 Boy In The Box The Billboard Hot 100 No. 26
1985 Never Surrender The Billboard Hot 100 No. 3
1985 Never Surrender Mainstream Rock Tracks No. 8
1985 Boy In The Box (Remix) Hot Dance Music/Club Play No. 19
1986 Everything In My Heart The Billboard Hot 100 No. 30
1986 I Am By Your Side The Billboard Hot 100 No. 18
1987 Can t Help Falling In Love The Billboard Hot 100 No. 24
1987 Dancin With My Mirror The Billboard Hot 100 No. 88
1987 Can't Help Falling In Love The Billboard Hot 100 No. 52
1988 In Your Soul The Billboard Hot 100 No. 38
1990 A Little Love The Billboard Hot 100 No. 37
don't have Canadian chart info now BUT i will be sure to post it when i can
find it! Fucker
;)
OnceUponAHiRize
>Ratt (Sorry Rhastus!
grrrrrrrrrrrrr
Ratt is at least a 3-4 hit wonder. sheesh!!
OnceUponAHiRize
>Erykah
>Badu, Edie Brickell, Chantay Savage, Alicia Bridges, Jeff Healy, Benny
>Mardones, Robbie DuPree, Michael Johnson, Bertie Higgins, Alan O'Day,
>Triumph, Climax Blues Band, Corey Hart (Sorry Chuck!), Alannah Myles,
>Quarterflash, Fruer (Sorry Bart!), Bonnie Tyler, Tracy Chapman, Basia,
>Tanita Tikarim, Vixen, Suzi Quatro, Dave "Baby" Cortez, The Champs, Crash
>test Dummies, Jermaine Stewart, Gerardo (I bet you have that one), Lipps
>Inc, Aqua (Sorry Josh!), Stacy Q, OMC, Nena, Dee-Lite, Vanilla Ice, Lou
>Bega, Des'ree, Oleta Adams, T'Pau, Jane Child, Toni Basil, Thelma Houston,
>Ratt (Sorry Rhastus!), Meredith brooks, Young MC, Taco, David Naughton, M,
>Haddaway, Nick Gilder, The Proclaimers, Edwyn Collins, Right Said Fred, etc.
all together there is an excellent 2 cd set in there!!! that is WITHOUT Toni
Basil (damn i hate that song!)
Lee Harris
Lee
--
"OnceUponAHiRize" <hira...@aol.comnojelly> wrote in message
news:20030912131940...@mb-m20.aol.com...
Lee Harris
I know
But what song does everyone know?
Lee
"OnceUponAHiRize" <hira...@aol.comnojelly> wrote in message
news:20030912132233...@mb-m20.aol.com...
John
> even get the sympathy purchase.
What do you think made it go platinum?