RIAA forced to divulge expense information on digital downloads

[gtrhangar]

I was reading this in Slashdot, thought it might be interesting:

http://recordingindustryvspeople.blo...r-expense.html

The blog doesn't really provide much concrete information, but if you want to peruse the legal document it is available on the blog site...if you have the patience to wade through the legalese.

The legal implication is such (I believe): if the RIAA is forced to disclose this information to the defendants lawyers and it becomes a part of their argument in trial, after the trial is closed, that information becomes public record- which means that eventually, we will all finally find out how much the RIAA "spends" on digital distribution - or they will just make something up extrordinary, which could get them into even more trouble.

They only have two weeks to deliver the information, I believe.

I'm *all* for musicians getting paid for what they write (im trying to get into audio recording myself), but $750 fine per .99 cent song just doesn't really add up...I'm not sure if I even have 750 friends...actually, I *know* I don't

(The fine is probably so high to cover the escalating legal costs)

[sabriel9v]

I love how the RIAA doesn't mind attacking broke college students for downloading music, but they won't discuss the huge pink elephant which is looming over them in their conference rooms. That elephant being corporations like Apple and Microsoft who have created and disseminated the technology that made downloading so easy and comfortable to do. Don't get mad at the kids downloading, get mad at their damn ipods and the ipod's cheap retail price. I don't think the RIAA has the guts or power to take on these bigger companies though. That in addition to the fact that they're owned by even bigger multinational conglomerates that also distribute the same technology. Anyway, thats my 2 cents.

[Opus Antics]

Originally Posted by sabriel9v

I love how the RIAA doesn't mind attacking broke college students for downloading music, but they won't discuss the huge pink elephant which is looming over them in their conference rooms. That elephant being corporations like Apple and Microsoft who have created and disseminated the technology that made downloading so easy and comfortable to do. Don't get mad at the kids downloading, get mad at their damn ipods and the ipod's cheap retail price. I don't think the RIAA has the guts or power to take on these bigger companies though. That in addition to the fact that they're owned by even bigger multinational conglomerates that also distribute the same technology. Anyway, thats my 2 cents.

I believe that argument was already tried and lost in the days of the VCR. Legal precedent is already set.

But against someone like Napster, it did work. It set up some exceptions, however.

This is the framework of the current law. If you want them to go after the corporations that make the technology, then you have to have Congress change the law. And do you really want to invoke a law that puts constraints on the advance of science? I'm tickled pink to be able to listen to songs on my ipod instead of having to carry around a stack of CDs.

[soundwave106]

Originally Posted by Opus Antics

This is the framework of the current law. If you want them to go after the corporations that make the technology, then you have to have Congress change the law. And do you really want to invoke a law that puts constraints on the advance of science? I'm tickled pink to be able to listen to songs on my ipod instead of having to carry around a stack of CDs.

Some of what has propelled piracy into mainstream thought is the music industry's seemingly anti-consumerist sentiment. People will cry when their Napsters disappear, sure, but that was a corporation and that can be forgotten. What really hurts is when an industry targets not only broke college kids but mere children and grandmothers directly. Add to that other niceties (the Sony rootkit scandal, the Internet royalty rate hooplah that's happened twice now) and people will really start to think that pirating music is nothing more than acting like Robin Hood. Want the music industry to bully Congress into taking their iPods away? The kids will *love* you for that one.

[scarecrowbob]

The thing is that the entites who end up with the rights aren't paying artists, either. That is why the WGA east is striking right now:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzRHlpEmr0w