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Should RIAA sue college students who facilitate massive copyright piracy? March 9th, 2007
Tom Giovanetti
There is a story out today that RIAA is gearing up its program of suing college students whose IP addresses suggest that they have facilitated massive copyright piracy.

A letter to one Ohio University student told her that she distributed 787 audio files, putting her total minimum potential liability at more than $590,000. The minimum damages under the law is $750 for each copyright recording that had been shared, the letter said.

Now, I know this is going to generate much derision of the RIAA on various tech blogs and news sources. I don't even have to look.

But, really, what is RIAA supposed to do?

If Suzy College had copied and illegally distributed 787 copies of Adobe InDesign, wouldn't we expect the Business Software Alliance to go after her? Or would that be equally offensive to the CopyLeft community?

If you were a programmer on the InDesign project, you'd want her prosecuted, because her theft and distribution threatened your livelihood. But if you were just an idiot college leftist, with nothing invested and nothing at stake, basically living off of others, you'd think Suzy was a Hero of the Revolution.

How about if Suzy College had illegally distributed 787 vials of crystal meth? Should we just look the other way?

If you were the parent of a student at that college, you'd want her prosecuted, because she endangered your child. But if you are just an idiot college leftist, with nothing invested and nothing at stake, basically living off of others, you'd think Suzy was doing something really cool and cutting-edge.

What about if Suzy College was the on-campus distribution center for stolen exam keys? Say Suzy gave 787 students the answer key to a major test. Would that be okay?

If you sweated through the test legally, and then found out that almost everyone else in your class was working from a pilfered answer key, you'd feel screwed. But if you were just an idiot college leftist, with nothing invested and nothing at stake, basically living off of others, you'd think Suzy was a hero.

You see, if you actually contribute something to the economy in some way--if you actually have an interest in the system, and understand that things are not owed to you, but you have to actually first make some kind of contribution before you can reap the rewards--- you want the rules kept and the law enforced.  But to idiot college leftists, including those who have never grown up for some reason and continue to parasitize the economy instead of actually making a contribution, all this is really cool and cutting edge, and The Man is trying to keep us down.

Grow up.

Posted in  Intellectual Property  || 1 Comments »
Author: Tom Giovanetti || Location: Lewisville, Texas, USA

 

  
 
March 9th, 2007

Should RIAA sue college students who facilitate massive copyright piracy?

Posted in  Intellectual Property 
Author: Tom Giovanetti || Location: Lewisville, Texas, USA

There is a story out today that RIAA is gearing up its program of suing college students whose IP addresses suggest that they have facilitated massive copyright piracy.

A letter to one Ohio University student told her that she distributed 787 audio files, putting her total minimum potential liability at more than $590,000. The minimum damages under the law is $750 for each copyright recording that had been shared, the letter said.

Now, I know this is going to generate much derision of the RIAA on various tech blogs and news sources. I don't even have to look.

But, really, what is RIAA supposed to do?

If Suzy College had copied and illegally distributed 787 copies of Adobe InDesign, wouldn't we expect the Business Software Alliance to go after her? Or would that be equally offensive to the CopyLeft community?

If you were a programmer on the InDesign project, you'd want her prosecuted, because her theft and distribution threatened your livelihood. But if you were just an idiot college leftist, with nothing invested and nothing at stake, basically living off of others, you'd think Suzy was a Hero of the Revolution.

How about if Suzy College had illegally distributed 787 vials of crystal meth? Should we just look the other way?

If you were the parent of a student at that college, you'd want her prosecuted, because she endangered your child. But if you are just an idiot college leftist, with nothing invested and nothing at stake, basically living off of others, you'd think Suzy was doing something really cool and cutting-edge.

What about if Suzy College was the on-campus distribution center for stolen exam keys? Say Suzy gave 787 students the answer key to a major test. Would that be okay?

If you sweated through the test legally, and then found out that almost everyone else in your class was working from a pilfered answer key, you'd feel screwed. But if you were just an idiot college leftist, with nothing invested and nothing at stake, basically living off of others, you'd think Suzy was a hero.

You see, if you actually contribute something to the economy in some way--if you actually have an interest in the system, and understand that things are not owed to you, but you have to actually first make some kind of contribution before you can reap the rewards--- you want the rules kept and the law enforced.  But to idiot college leftists, including those who have never grown up for some reason and continue to parasitize the economy instead of actually making a contribution, all this is really cool and cutting edge, and The Man is trying to keep us down.

Grow up.