I can't wait till RIAA picks on the wrong kid and the parents can afford to push back in court. Good lawyer and a cranky judge could cause the record boys even more bad publicity even if the law is on their side. Geo.
Hit Charade The music industry's self-inflicted wounds. By Mark Jenkins Posted Tuesday, August 20, 2002, at 8:19 AM PT 2001 may not be the year the music died, but the pop biz did develop a nagging headache, and it's not going away. The recorded-music industry's first slump in more than two decades continues this year; the number of discs sold is slipping and so is the appeal of last year's stars. Britney Spears' latest album has moved 4 million copiesâa big number, but less than half what its predecessor did. ...would like to blame much of the slide on Internet music-file swapping. In 2001, U.S. CD sales declined 6.4 percent. Sales have continued downward this year, and... http://slate.msn.com/id/2069732/
you are exactly right. there's no way to prove single-user to single-machine usage beyond a reasonable doubt, especially w/wireless routers ... no traceability of single person to single files... good point it would be nice if the RIAA would do more with the $1/song model and like I say, let me the person, buy the right to download that song, into my personal library... and redownload it in say 8 years if I happen to move and my cd that I burned the original copy onto got damaged etc.. then, I could see the model working..
I seriously doubt the mother paid them anything. How could they enforce a fine against a 12 year old? Put her in jail if she didn't pay? Just how dumb do they think people are? They saw they had a disaster on their hands and cut a deal with the mother to let it slide and everyone would say she paid a fine.
Yeah....my thoughts exactly. Since when have companies sued and collected money from parents for illegal offenses committed by their MINOR children??? Something is fishy about this picture. They either scared poor mom out of her money with big bad lawyer speak, knowing full well she can't afford to defend herself in court, or it's just a PR ploy to get the kiddies from stealing songs. In any case... it's not a sustainable lawsuit business they are in, unless they go after some really big fish for some really big money. Otherwise, they can't cover their attorney fee's. They really are being idiots about this. In the end...the FU**ING attorneys win AGAIN. peace axeman
When the mother "agreed to pay," it wasn't done over the phone. The 12 year old is off the hook as the article claims. The mother is now responsible for the two grand. If she reneges there will be an enforceable legal action to collect, including liens, lis pindens, garnishments, etc.
There goes my theory out the window.... "Parents are responsible for all penalties imposed by the California Civil Shoplifting Law. A merchant who has suffered a petty theft by an unemancipated minor may bring a civil action against the parent or legal guardian for the retail value of the merchandise (if not recovered in merchantable condition) plus damages of not less than fifty dollars and not more than five hundred dollars." "Parents are legally responsible for their children and for their actions, until they turn 18, unless they have been deemed an "emancipated minor", by a Superior Court Judge." "Parents are responsible for all fines, penalty assessment and restitution if their child is found guilty of defacing property with graffiti. " Looks like there is precedent here. Screw having kids then.... the little bastards can get me sued to death Interesting link: http://www.curtis-arata.com/winart/rsc0149.html Look's like the parent COULD get off if the parent had no knowledge, or any reason to think that their child was stealing music. Hmmmm..... Considering how absolutely CLUELESS most parents are about technology like this, it could be hard to make this stick in many cases. peace axeman