Modular Software... Or Modular Communities?

RIAA Suggests MIT Student Drop Out Of School To Pay Fine

from the educating-the-youth-of-America dept

Wed, Apr 5th 2006 2:28am — Mike Masnick

The RIAA has made quite the business out of shaking down folks they accuse of uploading music. This has been covered at length before, but they basically send a "settlement offer" with each lawsuit. The offer says (more or less) "pay $3500 and this goes away." They also make it clear that just taking the case to court will likely cost more than $3500 in legal fees, suggesting it's not even worth fighting it -- which in some parts of the world sounds very much like extortion. Plenty of people have done the math and suggested that this little business of suing their biggest fans has turned into a nice little profit center for the industry. Digg is pointing to the case of one woman, a student at MIT, who is trying to talk to the RIAA after being offered just such a settlement. When she points out that she's a poor college student, the RIAA rep kindly suggests that perhaps dropping out of school will make it easier to pay off the fine. Now, from the story, it's unclear whether or not the student is guilty of uploading files. If she did it, then it's certainly her responsibility to face whatever punishment comes her way. However, on the spectrum of punishment fitting the crime, does it seem reasonable to ask a student to give up her college education for the sake of paying off the recording industry for the "crime" of helping others find music they might like?

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103 Comments

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dirk, 5 Apr 2006 @ 3:43am

GG RIAA
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Yoop, 5 Apr 2006 @ 3:47am

Most trusted news...
Where the hell are the major propaganda (news networks) on this? They could be reporting this kind of business crap and expose this this on a regular basis. It just seems that when an issue is convered the culprits scramble to take care of it somehow.
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- Chuck, 5 Apr 2006 @ 4:38am
  
  Re: Most trusted news...
  You know why they aren't talking about it on the news? They probably paid them off not to report it... :-/
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Dam, 5 Apr 2006 @ 7:34am
  
  Re: Most trusted news...
  They could be reporting this kind of business crap and expose this this on a regular basis.
  
  They don't report on this because, as a content provider, they have a stake in how this all shakes out.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- LipstickHeterosexual, 5 Apr 2006 @ 8:34am
  
  Re: Most trusted news...
  I do remember significant coverage on the networks and major papers when the RIAA sued the 12 year old girl. But to them, now, it's a tired story and so the RIAA gets to go back into the business of extortion.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 5 Apr 2006 @ 3:59am

I won't buy from any music store as long as this nonsense continues. fuck the riaa.
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Louis, 5 Apr 2006 @ 4:01am

I`d be willing to donate a few Euros to help his/her cause. Maybe he/she should start a fund or something so that sympathetic people can help him/her out.
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- hunt, 5 Apr 2006 @ 7:54pm
  
  Re:
  Thanks for the support! I'll take all the help I can get! There is a website where you can donate: http://www.screwpirates.tk.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Reverend, 5 Apr 2006 @ 4:04am

Oh please, like the Big Media is going to run with this story. They'd probably side with the RIAA anyway and alienate all their viewers. Why, you ask? Because they're been cruising the web shutting town torrent trackers that focus on TV shows for months now.
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Kamran, 5 Apr 2006 @ 4:44am

Hehe
We should band together and create a news network that exposes all these nonsense happenings...

That is, unless the Daily Show has had anything on the RIAA recently...
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Apr 2006 @ 4:51am

"Sounds like extortion..."
My theory is that the mafia just moved from booze to music.
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- Reverend, 5 Apr 2006 @ 4:55am
  
  Re: "Sounds like extortion..."
  Sounds feasible enough to me. ~lol~
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  - Anonymous Coward, 5 Jun 2006 @ 8:08am
    
    Re: Re: "Sounds like extortion..."
    They made her an offer she can't refuse
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- bladeburn, 5 Apr 2006 @ 8:43am
  
  Re: "Sounds like extortion..."
  I like what you said. It is indeed extortion and politicians are probably making money on this too that is why they are not saying any thing.
  
  I'd be more than happy to help her out too as long as it is true. Some one needs to start a site about RIAA's extortion practices. Or boycot CD's and all music simple.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 5 Apr 2006 @ 8:43am
  
  Re: "Sounds like extortion..."
  > My theory is that the mafia just moved from booze to music. Just? If you dig into the facts a little you'll find that the Mafia has been in the music business for years.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Laughing, 5 Apr 2006 @ 5:02am

No Suprise...
Why hasn't news reported this you ask, easy answer, look who owns the news feeds, multnational corperations that own various entertainment systems(ie movies and music)
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Jimmy Bear Pearson, 5 Apr 2006 @ 5:21am

On the surface...
On the surface, I would say that the RIAA has placed another rock at the entrance to their little cro-magnon cave.

Since when does an association start discouraging education?
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Apr 2006 @ 5:55am

Again, just makes me glad I'm still not buying any music. There's no way I'll make any sort of financial contribution to this insanity.
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Axe, 5 Apr 2006 @ 6:18am

Keep up the good work...
Every good cause has it's martyrs and there will be a few more until the RIAA has been brought to it's knees.

Keep up the good work and Happy Uploading!
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fromtheheart, 5 Apr 2006 @ 6:25am

I'll donate some money if she sets it up
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- Raye b's, 6 Apr 2006 @ 11:24pm
  
  Re: She set up
  The MIT student in question does have a site:
  http://www.screwpirates.com/
  
  you can donate there.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Cody, 5 Apr 2006 @ 6:27am

I buy CD's because I support the Artists. I don't own all of the songs on my computer, but a vast majority are sitting on my cd shelves. If I actually like the music I'll buy it - otherwise it's a waste of money, and being in college, I'm not in a position to do so. I go to shows and buy CD's of bands I like though because I have friends in bands (some more well known than others) and know that it not only hurts the larger companies when you don't pay for it, but the people trying to make a living with the music I'm enjoying.
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- cody h, 5 Apr 2006 @ 8:59am
  
  Re:
  I was reading a report on the RIAA and they are just mad because they lost 4% of their market due to things like not releasing as many new artists / albums over a years time and the economy being bad and losing money to legitimate downloads etc. they dont know how to evolve in todays economy so they bitch about it. Personally i think it is funny that they are bitching themselves right out of a job. how much crap do people have to take before they just say guess what you corperate pigs, i am not buying your product anymore! since the band only gets like 8 cents of every 15 dollar album that sells why would they care what the RIAA or recording producers think anyway. they make their money off of concerts and advertising mostly anyway. the best thing that could happen to the riaa is if some really big law firm came along and helped out this college student for free and counter sued the shit out of the riaa for asking someone to give up their education and a chance for a better life to pay for something that they probably cant prove anyway.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 5 Apr 2006 @ 9:17am
    
    Re: Re:
    how much crap do people have to take before they just say guess what you corperate pigs, i am not buying your product anymore!
    
    I've already gone that route. check out riaaradar.com and make sure the CD you want to buy is not supported by the RIAA. If it is, consider not buying it. I'm not advocating you "steal" it, but perhaps find something else you like. Before you put your cash into their machine, remember what the money will be spent doing; suing people like you and me and making sure we can't make fair use copies of music we buy.
    
    I stopped buying RIAA-backed CDs a long time ago. As a result, I have discovered a lot of really good unederground artists and local bands that are above and beyond what the machine spits out when I give it my dollar.....
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 5 Apr 2006 @ 8:51pm
  
  Re:
  most large bands make far more money off of live concerts and advertising licenses than they could ever hope to make off of record sales. In fact, many bands actually end up owing the record company that sells their records.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
UCFmethod, 5 Apr 2006 @ 6:29am

I'm starting to wonder about these people
I could be naive, but why are people still getting caught? I would have figured years ago that once the RIAA started doing things like this PEOPLE WOULD REALIZE P2P software (kazaa, etc.) are not safe. Download music/tv/movies the safe way, using technology the RIAA and FBI don't understand. I won't mention it by name, but I am sure most of you know the REAL way to download whatever you like (hint it involves .par2 files and has been around for YEARS) Come on people, tighten up!
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- Anonymous Coward, 5 Apr 2006 @ 6:46am
  
  Re: I'm starting to wonder about these people
  Shutup! Shutup! Shutup!
  
  The more we talk about it, the closer it gets to their radar...
  
  So shutup!!
  
  Sheesh...
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - UCFmethod, 5 Apr 2006 @ 10:30am
    
    Re: Re: I'm starting to wonder about these people
    I love it, somebody got what I was talking about! Long live ...... and .......... hahah!
    
    >Shutup! Shutup! Shutup!
    
    >The more we talk about it, the closer it gets to their >radar...
    
    >So shutup!!
    
    >Sheesh...
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anthony, 5 Apr 2006 @ 7:52am
  
  Re: I'm starting to wonder about these people
  what is this software so that i can get it?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- rbry, 5 Apr 2006 @ 10:21am
  
  Re: I'm starting to wonder about these people
  LONG LIVE PARS2.FILES
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Jason, 5 Apr 2006 @ 6:36am

RIAA Suggests MIT Student Drop Out Of School To Pa
RIAA+MPAA=MAFIAA
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bobdog, 5 Apr 2006 @ 6:38am

Isn't this kind of thing the reason Congress passed the RICO statutes?
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John, 5 Apr 2006 @ 6:40am

Theives at the RIAA
These idiots are quasi-legally extorting money out of someone who obviously worked a hell of a lot harder than I did (not an MIT student). If they were reasonable in the very beginning and did not charge $1500-$2000 for the first CD players, which are at the very top no almost $500. And if they didnt charge almost $30 for some of the first CD's, I might understand. But they did, $1500 for a now $40 box, thousands for a cd collection now worth roughly 7 cents a piece. Most of them are MULTI MILLIONAIRES, and they want to screw up this kids education, I move we all steal 1000 songs, and 100 movies, for each second this poor kid had to lose sleep. GO MAN GO, give it to Lars Ulrich and the rest of his soulless hack cohorts, may you make the next Napster and not sell out and get 10,000 times bigger.

Just in case I didn't make my feeling clear enough, if you work for the RIAA do the world a favor and go stand in front of a bus or lick a third rail, OR stand in front of a mirror and confess your sins to the only person confused enough not to think you are a waste of skin and air, then cut your own throat.
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John, 5 Apr 2006 @ 6:42am

Theives at the RIAA
These idiots are quasi-legally extorting money out of someone who obviously worked a hell of a lot harder than I did (not an MIT student). If they were reasonable in the very beginning and did not charge $1500-$2000 for the first CD players, which are at the very top no almost $500. And if they didnt charge almost $30 for some of the first CD's, I might understand. But they did, $1500 for a now $40 box, thousands for a cd collection now worth roughly 7 cents a piece. Most of them are MULTI MILLIONAIRES, and they want to screw up this kids education, I move we all steal 1000 songs, and 100 movies, for each second this poor kid had to lose sleep. GO MAN GO, give it to Lars Ulrich and the rest of his soulless hack cohorts, may you make the next Napster and not sell out and get 10,000 times bigger.

Just in case I didn't make my feeling clear enough, if you work for the RIAA do the world a favor and go stand in front of a bus or lick a third rail, OR stand in front of a mirror and confess your sins to the only person confused enough not to think you are a waste of skin and air, then cut your own throat.
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- Anonymous Coward, 5 Apr 2006 @ 8:38am
  
  Re: Theives at the RIAA
  No, John. Tell us how you REALLY feel!
  
  (amen, brother!)
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milkman, 5 Apr 2006 @ 6:43am

i think you are missing a big point here. i feel sorry for her having to pay for something i do all of the time, i hate the riaa, but i don't feel sorry for her because she's going to a $30,000/semester college and should be able to pull $3500 out of somewhere. I'm not going to help her come up with any money, but at the same time, I'm going to start uploading even more.

in closing, riaa, my ip address is 24.246.223.251, come try and stop me bitches.
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milkman, 5 Apr 2006 @ 6:43am

i think you are missing a big point here. i feel sorry for her having to pay for something i do all of the time, i hate the riaa, but i don't feel sorry for her because she's going to a $30,000/semester college and should be able to pull $3500 out of somewhere. I'm not going to help her come up with any money, but at the same time, I'm going to start uploading even more.

in closing, riaa, my ip address is 24.246.223.251, come try and stop me bitches.
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- RevMike, 5 Apr 2006 @ 7:05am
  
  Re:
  I'm right there with you.
  
  in closing, riaa, my ip address is 24.246.223.251, come try and stop me bitches.
  
  That is a good idea. My IP is 127.0.0.1. Come and get me!
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- Too lazy to register, 14 Aug 2006 @ 8:28am
  
  Re: milkman
  Just because she goes to an expensive college doesn't mean she's able to pay that suit. I personally go to a private college and tuition is $25,000 a year. I've taken out loans and maxed on financial aid and there is STILL an outstanding balance on my tuition. With my meager part time job, my annual salary just covers that outstanding balance. That leaves virtually no money for food, transportation or books for that matter.
  
  In closing, just because you go to an expensive college, doesn't mean you can afford it and/or have money to spare.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Mr Rat, 5 Apr 2006 @ 6:45am

actually I find it hysterical that she actually even tried to reason with them has she not read the background - if teenagers with absolutely no income can be sued and expected to pay what makes her think a college commitment is going to make a difference - I wouldnt be surprised if they start taking the money from deceased estates after someone passes away - now that would be a headline

best wishes to her and the other ??20,000+?? in her shoes
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- GN, 17 Feb 2007 @ 7:00pm
  
  Re:
  "I wouldnt be surprised if they start taking the money from deceased estates after someone passes away"
  http://techdirt.com/articles/20060814/0215242.shtml
  
  You were saying?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 5 Apr 2006 @ 6:56am

"helping others" -- credibility out the window
... helping others find music they might like?
You gotta be kidding!? If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
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- Anonymous Coward, 5 Apr 2006 @ 9:33am
  
  Re: "helping others" -- credibility out the windo
  "You gotta be kidding!? If you can't do the time, don't do the crime."
  
  There is no crime happening here except for the RIAA committing extortion (among other things). They are the ones who should be sued and thrown in prison.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 5 Apr 2006 @ 7:09am

RIAA= Retarded Idiots And Assholes
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- Anonymous Coward, 5 Jun 2006 @ 4:08pm
  
  Re:
  RIAA= Retarded Idiots And Assholes
  
  Cos that's convincing, rational argument that will persuade everybody to share your point of view...
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Randdickson, 5 Apr 2006 @ 7:26am

So what's ok to stay for
Hey Mike, What crime (assuming she's guilty of something) do you have to commit before you consider it okay to ask the student to leave school? Here in Connecticut it's okay to commit robbery as long as you have a jump shot. Not sure what they do if you don't have a jump shot ... oh yeah, they throw you off the team which is the only reason you were aloud to stay in school anyway.

She can take a nigh or weekend job, 8 to 10 hours a week and pay this off within a year.

No sympathy.

RIAA is still a bunch of idiots but then again, so are a lot of consumers/users/etc.
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PoolGirlFL, 5 Apr 2006 @ 7:35am

RIAA
My brother was in the record/music for over 30 years and believe me when I say that the music business has been ripping off everyone from the artist to the consumer for years. This is just their lastest effort to stuff their pockets. At $3500 how many artist do you think get any of that and how much.

You don't really have to buy music for RIAA to get their share they get paid when to listen to it too because someone has to pay for the right to play it.
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TNBlkBear, 5 Apr 2006 @ 7:37am

Payback
Ok, here is how you get payback on these idiots. As long as you pay something against the fine every month, there is nothing they can do about it. All you have to do is be able to prove in court that you cannot pay a large sum each month. So start sending these idiots $1US a month. Write a check and mail it. Then let's see how long it takes them to collect their blood money. I'll bet if a couple thousand people do this, they will back off, since it will cost more in administrative costs each month to handle the payments then they will actually be receiving. Pretty devious, eh?
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- Adam, 5 Apr 2006 @ 7:48am
  
  Re: Payback
  Now thats a damn good idea! Funny as hell too.
  
  Not that I agree with it... BUT... dumb enough to get caught...
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 5 Jun 2006 @ 6:45pm
  
  Re: Payback
  But then you have to pay for all those checks too.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Ben, 5 Apr 2006 @ 7:38am

Music Downloads...the root of all evil
If your famous and kill someone a few weeks of community service and a fee and your good. but if your not famous and put some digital media up and your future is screwed.
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Slevin, 5 Apr 2006 @ 7:54am

Self-Mutilation
It seems to me that the RIAA has shot themselves in the foot with this one. The more uptight they are, the less the music-listening community wants to invest in them. Judging from the comments like "I won't put any money towards a company that does this" it seems that even fining $3500 for uploading files still doesn't get back the potential money they lost in sales because they are so uptight and unforgiving.
As we all know, VERY LITTLE of the money you pay for a CD goes to the band itself, the royalties can be as low as 10cents a copy and probably even lower. Everything else goes into the pockets of corporate executives. Where's the motivation to buy your CDs?
Why don't we just abolish the CD system altogether? THEN we'd see who's in music for the music itself, and who's just a greedy sellout looking to make a buck because they're attractive. I'd rather look at you than listen to your emo bullcrap for 4 minutes. Go be a model.
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- trrrrrrrrrrrr, 15 May 2006 @ 1:20pm
  
  Re: Self-Mutilation
  you are stuped.eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggggggggg
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Charles, 5 Apr 2006 @ 8:49am

RIAA Pussies...
That is why I teach anyone and everyone I can how to record streaming music from the net and why I give my 20,000+ song music collection to anyone and everyone with a large enough hard drive or the time to sit and burn it to DVD that wants it.

Catch me.. ha.. fuck the RIAA.. keep harassing these poor souls that have no clue..
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ehrichweiss, 5 Apr 2006 @ 8:55am

this is common
DirecTV has been using these same measures for several years now while taking satellite pirates to court. Their main thing used to be to file one lawsuit with like 200 John Doe's but then some of the defense attorneys got wise to this and started making them file each one individually which cost them MUCH more in filing fees and attorney fees and promptly slowed them down considerably and majorly decreased their conviction rate.

Some of these people need to learn to ask for jury trials(better to have your fate in the hands of 6 people rather than just 1 judge) and to state that they will represent themselves. That puts the fear into those idiots since you don't have any financial pressure other than if you lose AND if you convince the jury that since iTunes sells songs for $1/each, then it is obvious that $3500 is ridiculous so you could actually get a much lower judgement if you were to lose.
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i4c, 5 Apr 2006 @ 9:17am

RIAA Pussy Extortionists
What, Metallica now wants to deprive students of educations?
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Carla Bush, 5 Apr 2006 @ 9:21am

How do they find out about this anyway?
Just to be curious, how many mp3s does one have to upload or download in order to get the attention of the RIAA, and how did they get this info to begin with?

Sorry for the stupid question, but I'm just not very well versed in this.
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Lion XL, 5 Apr 2006 @ 9:44am

why are you mad?
Now, I in no way support the RIAA, the MPAA or whom ever....but I gotta ask the question.....

Had this not been a case against the RIAA, and she was found to be guilty of mis-apropriation. (EVIL GRIN).....would asking her to fore go her education until she handles her debts, be such a wrong thing?

If you, also a poor student who needs their car to get to work and school, got rear ended by her, and her plea was 'I am poor college student, I can't afford to pay to get your car fixed because MY education is more important than yours!

would you still support her?

NOPE!!!not even one of you!!!
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- Mik3_D, 5 Apr 2006 @ 10:00am
  
  Re: why are you mad?
  Because downloading/uploading files is not the same as rear ending a car. Its more like jaywalking (except less than that). Its cool as long as theres no traffic or cops around.
  
  How would you like to be forced to drop out of school because you crossed the street?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Starrider1, 5 Apr 2006 @ 11:21am
  
  Re: why are you mad?
  I WOULD.
  
  I had a young woman lose control of her car and drive through my front yard- taking out part of my fence. She has 2 young children and is attending college to try and improve her and her children's future after having been through a divorce. She simply DOES NOT have the means to fix my fence or landscaping.
  
  The bill to get everything fixed, $750.00 usd. I COULD have gone to court, had her pay restitution, arranged payments, etc., what I DID do was ask her to help-out someone in the future when she could. Through Help or Forgiveness, it was up to her, but to remember what had happened, and to return it someday.
  
  Two years later my 16 year old daughter was left stranded on the way home by a (now ex) boyfriend, who should witnees the argument and my daughter getting tossed out of the car, the same woman and her children. After giving my daughter a ride safely home I for one consider the debt not only paid, but I feel in debt to the woman. I would gladly trade my fence, heck my whole house for the safe return of my children.
  
  Apples and Oranges? Maybe, but still...What goes around comes around
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Lion XL, 5 Apr 2006 @ 2:43pm
    
    Re: Re: why are you mad?
    That is touching, but I think some of you missed my point....MY POINT WAS: Are you mad at the RIAA because they are the RIAA or mad because they are asking a college student to pay their debts rather than coolge tuition( That was the tone of the article, as I read it)?? If this wasn't the RIAA, and was a offense you thought was legit, and she was asked the same thing, pay your debt and forego college(for the moment), would you still be barking the way you all are???
    
    I don't think so, and to the gentle man who said he has, you took from the point of, well I can fix this myself and burden her with this because it was accident. That's great, but put it in the perspective I did. she's broke, I'm broke. She smashed my car, I need it foe work, I can't afford to fix it myself. Who should take on the burden?????
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - =-=, 18 Apr 2006 @ 8:14am
      
      Re: Re: Re: why are you mad?
      Uh unlike u, however, RIAA got moeny from all over the place and is can fix the car for themselves, infact. In fact, they have the money to fix 1000+ cars.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Mischa, 5 Jun 2006 @ 6:53pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: why are you mad?
      I would agree, if the college student was actually in debt to the RIAA. She doesn't "owe" anything to the RIAA.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
MikeG, 5 Apr 2006 @ 9:55am

You asked for it....
The RIAA is paid funded by DUES paid for by the recording industry. You buy music (in one form or another) which funds these corporations so that they can pay these fee's.

If everyone was SO upset (which obviosly is MOSTLT lip-service) they would boycott these corporatios by NOT purchasing the music.

RIAA gets away with it because sales are not being affected to the degree that the members demand they rethink their policies.

You buy the music? Its your fault. Period. YOU support this policy. Argue all you want. If you were truely offended by this you would stop suppling the cash means to continue this fiasco.

Me? I have NOT bought a single song/album for over a year and a half. I am doing my part. I refuse to buy anything (even a ring-tone) until this ends.

Bitching about this does NO service whatsoever. RIAA has shown they simply do not care! Until sales impacts force a change, this will continue... and likely escalate. They do whatever they get away with.

You let them get away with it. Just like exercising your vote, if you don't do something anout it; YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.

I strongly suggest those of you who are whining about this, and continue to support it with your money;

SHUT YOUR PIE-HOLE and get with the program! Then you have a right to complain, and the rest of us will respect you.

Otherwise.... YOU ASKED FOR IT.
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fknrob, 5 Apr 2006 @ 9:55am

Boycott The Whole Industrie
I say that every one just boycott the whole industry. They make their money off of you the consumer. This is a crooked game that major business playes in attempt to corner you back in their controled market. I can garentee that if everyone stopped buying, downloading, or ripping music then in a matter of six months the whole industry will begain to crash and all the Corp. Exscs. will be scrambling to figure out what to do. everyone seems to be brain washed by the fact that the Music and entertainment Industry RULES YOUR LIFE. It is still your choice to fallow the trends or not. YOU STILL HAVE CHOICE.
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rbry, 5 Apr 2006 @ 10:18am

Downloads
While I agree of the "legality" of downloading music and movies there is always the same question that comes to mind. Why the record companies do not think that when they charge someone $14.95 for a CD and only one song on the CD is not "ripping off" thier customers. Why do movie companies charge as much as $11 in some places to see another bad acted Bruce Willis movie and when the movie sucks, you have just wasted two hours of your life that you will never get back. That all this is fair but if some schmo downloads something then you need to call the music/movie police. Did they hire the it is illeagle to copy this VHS under penilty of law guy to invoirce this?
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Chris, 5 Apr 2006 @ 10:19am

I'm poor too.
I admit the comment is ridiculous, but whatever...the person stole music and the livelihoods of people that make it. I really don't feel sorry for her.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Apr 2006 @ 10:24am

Quit Fooling Yourselves
Everyone is so hyped up oh all the wrong things that the RIAA is doing. What about everyone who DOES download copyrighted music. I have heard every sob story about "personal rights". There isn't a person I know (including myself) who doesn't have music on their computer or music player that they didn't purchase. I knew more than one person who would have 30,000+ songs on a single computer. I believe that extortion is wrong, but I don't think that the RIAA is the only guilty party in this whole mess.
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Gomorrah, 5 Apr 2006 @ 10:34am

My view
I have never paid for a cd in my life. I refuse to buy cd's that the artist recieves so little on. I do go to concerts, I do support local artist, but I do not support the RIAA.

This is extortion, plain and simple. Let's set up the site, get a fund going. I will gladly donate. Or even better, set it up so that once people join our "fund" we send in all of our payments for them. Rather then them sending in the checks. Then we simply put the $1 check plan into action. Not sure if that is feasable, but who knows, maybe it is.

And to the person who compared this to running into a car. Are you dumb? Did you even read the article? Do not post anything until you know what you are talking about.

Down with the RIAA.
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The way it should be, 5 Apr 2006 @ 10:36am

Support artists and screw the MAN. Pirate the entire CD and send your hard earned $12 directly to the artist.
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- Jimmy Bear Pearson, 5 Apr 2006 @ 9:02pm
  
  Re: Pay the artist a tip
  I like your idea. Some artists have tip jars on their dmusic or purevolume pages.
  
  BTW, buying a CD from CDBaby is not buying a CD from the RIAA. CDBaby is clean, and they're good folks.
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Me, 5 Apr 2006 @ 10:43am

what happened to the days of tapes
Im 33 and in the 80's we did things like trade tapes, record music onto blank tapes for our own compilations. Isnt this the same as we are doing now, with the exception that we are doing it over the internet. Hey if I take a box of cd's next door and my neighbor drops them all on his harddrive and burns his own compilations the artists dont get anything for that except the purchase of the one cd. So now were in the great age of communications and we can send files back and forth on the Internet. Me sharing files with other people is the same thing with the exception that the RIAA feels they can earn a buck. Are these #@??!*&^%$& morons not seeing that it is the same thing. I started using Kazza when it was legal and paid the $19.95 to download legally. I continued to use kazza after the riaa got involved. I stopped using kazza thinking maybe they are right, then I came to my senses. These kids that are 10 to 20 years old dont know about compliing cassette tapes but they do know about swapping cd's, dvd's and other digital media. Is digital media just bad for business or is it the regulators trying to make a buck? FYI I downloaded eMule the other night and downloaded about 10 gigs worth of cd's and iso's.
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Knight Templar, 5 Apr 2006 @ 10:57am

Went to the RIAA's website. Appearently they don't want to hear from the "little people" because the only contact info they list is the webmaster (webmaster@riaa.com if anyone cares). But hey, maybe if the webmaster gets enough e-mails from unhapy people something might happen (yea, I know it is a long shot) Oh well...
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gro, 5 Apr 2006 @ 11:02am

One can hope
that as these scum sucking parasites essentially killed innovation in music already by making it corporate, and by trying to control distribution rather than evolve as technology does (As in the damn technology just might help you twits MAKE you oh so pwecious pwofits), they are ultimately becoming so monolithic and obsolete that in the end their industry will die as it deserves to, or just be seen as the f*****king criminal syndicate that it is, and be held accountable.

Then music can resume being a form of art, not an "Industry", like the scum suckers would have you believe.
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vampares, 5 Apr 2006 @ 12:09pm

You Have Been Sued
Where are your lawyers people? Any good lawyer could talk their way out of this in ten minutes tops. Nobody goes to court for $3500. This is small claims in the big room. RIAA may have written one law but there's a book full of law that they are not prepared to deal with. They haven't even served her with papers. Doing that alone costs $1000 and it opens them up to rules of "disclosure" which mean you can request anything you think they might have that could in even in the slightest help your case. When dogs come after you don't run away -- get a bigger dog.
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mrb, 5 Apr 2006 @ 12:10pm

I have yet to hear any good music today that's worth the risk of getting sued because I deceided to illeagally dl their shit.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Apr 2006 @ 12:12pm

One word: countersue. Seek puniative damages of $10 billion in a class action lawsuit against extortion. Find a few innocent people whose innocence you can prove.
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your name here, 5 Apr 2006 @ 12:56pm

I see their next move...
You know, if a boycott actually suceeds in making the RIAA "lose" money, they'll just pull out the numbers and claim that it's the downloaders' fault.

As for downloaders vs. the RIAA, I don't think either side is on noticibly higher moral ground (especially not the RIAA, bleah). However, I think more downloaders would be willing to think about what downloading does if the RIAA would think about what its own BS does. Until the RIAA cleans up, it won't be able to shoot anyone in the eye without shooting itself in the foot.
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Dromar, 5 Apr 2006 @ 1:29pm

None Of You Get It
You all keep blabbing and blabbing and whining and moaning. But none of you really get the point here. Say you download 1 song. That's all... just one song. While it's enough to get you hunted down by the RIAA, it's not enough to put them out of business or even in any minute percentage, hinder their sales and/or cash flow.

I burn copies of my CDs all the time, and give them to my friends. It's not illegal... it's MY CD, no one elses. That burned CD was also MINE, which I GAVE, as a PRESENT. So tell me... what is the difference when I let someone take ONE song from me, via P2P or any other means online? The ONLY difference is... it's one song compared to 12 or so. I'd say the RIAA would lose alot more money on me giving a burned copy of my CD away than letting someone download from me.

What's more is all you zealouts defending the RIAA, saying that there are those out there to blame besides them, get some friggin brains. Do you really and honestly believe that downloading music is illegal (When you don't pay for it)? Are you truly that stupid? And do you also believe that the person being hunted by the RIAA deserves to be told "Pay us $3500 or else"?

What if they tracked down an IP address, which just happened to be yours, an innocent one, and then told you that same thing? How would you feel, oh so innocent and such, about being charged with something like that? Would you not be infuriated like the rest of us? Hell, none of these people are related to me in any way, they aren't even acquantinces, but I still feel very badly for them. They aren't at fault, even if they have 5,000+ songs on their computer. Because who isn't to say they dont own almost every single damn one of those songs physically? And the RIAA most certainly cannot prove it, they have no authority to issue search warrants just to find said CDs.

All in all, my entire point is this... the RIAA has no right to do this. They never did and never should have. I see no wrong doing in downloading FREE music, as I could just get the same music free in other means if I truly wanted to. Stop being pussy whipped by huge companies, bowing down to them in a cowered and huddled form, and stand up and fight against the man.

Hell, it isn't like I'm asking you to rebel against our government... just a crappy company that has no more or less rights than you do.
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your name here, 5 Apr 2006 @ 2:09pm

well, I personally think the RIAA can go to hell,
To the freeloaders out there, are you sure you want the RIAA to go away? The RIAA may be below contempt, but are you sure you aren't using that to justify your free downloads? If the RIAA disappears, then downloading does start hurting the artists. Would you download freely then?

But I don't want to forget about the rest of you who are not freeloaders and really do care about what matters (i.e. that the RIAA is not only crap but completely unnecessary). Don't forget that artists are making music to money. If people get nothing for making new ideas, music, art, whatever, then you're encouraging them not to do so. However, don't let the RIAA ever use this argument against you, because then they're just using artists as human shields.
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- Pick a name, any name., 5 Jun 2006 @ 4:33pm
  
  Re: well, I personally think the RIAA can go to he
  iTunes has the right idea here: make the song easier to download legally than illegally. If the RIAA were to disappear overnight, then this business model would mean that the artists get their financial support, and we listeners can download exactly the songs we want. artists are making music to money I'd debate that one. I don't think they are. But they should be. The point of quite a few comments here is that artists don't actually get that much money from the sale of a CD - usually less than 10c from $20 or $30. As a musician, though, I have to say it'd be really nice if the artist did get - hell, even 50c per song. That's probably not unreasonable. Sure, recording labels will say equipment and professionals' time is expensive and all that crap. Here's some news. I can buy a PC with a decent sound card for, say, AUD$1000. A mixer, 5 or 6 mics, a short course in home recording and some decent audio software. About AUD$2500 later I'm in business. And that's all one-off expenses, the product of which will last me quite a few years. It's not that expensive to set up a small recording studio, suitable for a small band or choir. And guess what? You can hire out your skills and/or equipment to others and make still more money. As long as you charge less than a big recording label, you can make your money back fairly quickly. Not to mention getting the entire proceeds of your own recordings (however you choose to distribute them).
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- Chris, 3 Apr 2007 @ 1:35am
  
  Re: well, I personally think the RIAA can go to he
  For those who say that DLing is hurting the artists...you are dead wrong. The RIAA is only obligated to pay the artist pennies in royalties and I remember reading not too long ago that they got in trouble for not paying the artists at all. I would be more than willing to pay the artist what the RIAA does.
  
  Heck, I'd pay double, triple, several times the pennies they pay [when they're forced to] per album...if it would go directly to the artist and the RIAA gets NOTHING. I would venture to guess, most artists (Metallica and some other bands I have ZERO interest in have better deals with the RIAA which is why they complain so much) would be happy to get 10 - 25 cents a song ($1-3 per [Burned] CD) if they didn't have to deal with the RIAA stealing most to all of it as they do now [while charging $0.99/song which would be $12/CD].
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Lion XL, 5 Apr 2006 @ 2:30pm

why are you mad?
Now, I in no way support the RIAA, the MPAA or whom ever....but I gotta ask the question.....

Had this not been a case against the RIAA, and she was found to be guilty of mis-apropriation. (EVIL GRIN).....would asking her to fore go her education until she handles her debts, be such a wrong thing?

If you, also a poor student who needs their car to get to work and school, got rear ended by her, and her plea was 'I am poor college student, I can't afford to pay to get your car fixed because MY education is more important than yours!

would you still support her?

NOPE!!!not even one of you!!!
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cb, 5 Apr 2006 @ 3:24pm

Re: why are you mad? by Starrider1
Boy did you hit the nail on the head. Do good and it comes back to you. Do bad and nobody wants to have you around. Apparently theses idiots (RIAA) don't understand business. Treat your customers right and enjoy a wonderful business life. I suggest y ou idiots look for another job, because you won't be working very long.
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- johnnyboy, 5 Apr 2006 @ 10:43pm
  
  Re: Re: why are you mad? by Starrider1
  "Apparently theses idiots (RIAA) don't understand business."
  
  They understand it fine. They do what they think they can get away with. They've been doing this for years now. I think they also understand that their business model is completely fucked, but they have to keep it going as long as possible.
  
  Buy music from street musicians or local bands at shows. They almost all have a CD they made themselves. $10 or $12 minus the $0.25 they spent on the CD, good deal for everyone. You can make a living that way. Tell them to pay sales tax if their state has one or they'll eventually get fucked by "the man."
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ghost, 5 Apr 2006 @ 4:20pm

Strike
Comsumers should come together and refuse to buy anything the RIAA associates themselves with. This is rediculous. F*** the industry. I say there should be a ban or CD-purchasing strike or something. Show these a**holes they arent the gov't. And the gov't is a whole different argument!

Can't the accused turn around and sue for harrassment and privacy invasion?
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Burner, 5 Apr 2006 @ 7:05pm

fuck the RIAA
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Apr 2006 @ 1:34pm

www.allofmp3.com and www.lala.com

pennies per song. no RIAA full cavity search. Fuck the RIAA!
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Ubercase, 6 Apr 2006 @ 3:49pm

The confessions of a downloader...

A couple of years ago I heard a review of an artist I wouldn't have picked up on. Interesting article,so I downloaded some tunes (lots).

Three years later,and it's been four live shows, three cd's purchased at the shows, two shows for her other band, and a couple of new cds from them. Plus lots of sharing the news.

I short, withoutp2p, I wouldn't have picked up on either Neko Case or the New Pornographers, and they wouldn't have picked up my business.
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Misc. General John Doe, 7 Apr 2006 @ 12:39pm

RIAA vs Downloaders
Listening to both sides of the argument, I decide to enter in my ideas about the theory of 'RIAA is right, burn the pirates' versus the idea 'There's no such thing as piracy, more so sharing files that I legally earned; I didn't steal them out of the store!'

If all of the downloaders banded together and chipped in the amount of money they would have need to buy the stuff they "stole" in return for free access to any files that someone else has bought and -FREELY GIVEN-, I think they would do it. There is no harm in paying for what's done and fixing the problem. If a college kid downloads three or four songs and gets in trouble, and thus, is fined thousands of dollars for 'stealing merchandise'...that is absolutely unjust. Make it fair for those who wish to share files, and those who don't. If I give someone a copy of my CD, that's not stealing it's called sharing. We learned that in second grade. Now are the reps in the RIAA too old to remember that? I'll leave that concept up to you ladies and gentlemen.
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Former MIT coed, 7 Apr 2006 @ 12:51pm

RIAA & the poor MIT student
Those who feel that a student attending a $30,000/year college can "find the money" are making a gross assumption that she had that amount to pay her tuition & fees. A large percentage of MIT undergraduates are on scholarship, and not provided with any money they could personally spend. I had classmates who could not afford clothes or snacks, who worked (at minimum wage) on campus because the scholarship did not provide all their expenses and their families absolutely could not contribute a penny.

It would be equally catastrophic for any struggling person trying to get through any college to be hit with a $3500 fine or legal prosecution, and asking any such person to give up their education (to get what kind of job?) to pay that $3500 is extortionate.

Note that other posts have contended that the artists themselves will not see a penny from this porported crime against them. Comparing this to someone who hits & damages your car getting off free is not accurate - more like, someone damages your car, your lawyer sues & pockets your money, and you still have your car to fix.
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- Uncle BS, 14 Aug 2006 @ 12:05pm
  
  Re: RIAA & the poor MIT student
  boo freaking hoo
  
  I worked a minimum wage job during high school and put myself through college.
  
  You don't have to attend a $30k school to get a piece of paper. Anyone can work a min wage job over summers and breaks to make ends meet - stop crying poverty.
  
  Sharing copyrighted musci. movies is illegal - she should consider herself lucky it is only $3500 - legally they could sue for much more.
  
  I hear Direct TV hackers had to pay $5000 to settle out of court.
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joe, 4 Dec 2006 @ 5:46pm

"boo freaking hoo"
the world is evolving beyond the traditional music formula. maybe, just maybe weve been getting fucked for the past 30 years and all the pirating that is going on is simply karma :P join the revolution!
oh and MIT isnt just a pos degree, if everyone had your edjumacation uncle bs this forum would be drawn on a wall with crayons.
burning "witches" WAS allowed at one point, could it be possible that the law ISNT ALWAYS WHATS RIGHT, or atleast fair for all parties.
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joe, 4 Dec 2006 @ 5:47pm

"boo freaking hoo"
the world is evolving beyond the traditional music formula. maybe, just maybe weve been getting fucked for the past 30 years and all the pirating that is going on is simply karma :P join the revolution!
oh and MIT isnt just a pos degree, if everyone had your edjumacation uncle bs this forum would be drawn on a wall with crayons.
burning "witches" WAS allowed at one point, could it be possible that the law ISNT ALWAYS WHATS RIGHT, or atleast fair for all parties.
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John Andersen, 20 Dec 2006 @ 2:39am

I get their strategy
I get their strategy... If she doesn't finish her education, she won't have as much resources, intellectually and economically, as if she had - and that makes her easier to control in the future for RIAA. The RIAA feeds of the weakest in our community.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jan 2007 @ 10:28pm

...whilst one could be sponsoring needy children in third world countries...
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Feb 2007 @ 4:46am

this has nothing to do with why we shouldnt drop out
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RICHARD, 14 Mar 2007 @ 10:38am

READIND
THIS IS GAY
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alyssa, 20 Mar 2007 @ 5:33pm

no dropouts
I think that there shouldn't be anymore dropouts in high school because it is very hard to find a job and you get only paid around $7.50 an up to $12.00 that's very little money.
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Riaa Sucks, 15 May 2007 @ 11:59am

FUCK THE RIAA AND MPAA I REFUSE TO PAY ANY FINE AND NOBODY CAN EVER MAKE ME PAY SHIT!!! FUCK THE RIAA FUCK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUCK ALBERTO GONZALEZ FUCK EM ALL I GOT MORE TIME THEN MONEY AND IM NOT GIVING THE RIAA A FUCKING PENNY AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED THE RIAA AND MPAA CAN FUCK OFF EAT SHIT AND DIE!!!
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Werner, 6 Oct 2007 @ 12:15pm

RIAA and popular music
As much as I would like to see the RIAA turned into Solyent Green by some act of divine intervention I can't help but notice that a lot of garbage being peddled isn't worth the effort OR the risk. The same is true about Hollywood's constant whining about piracy. In the first case why don't more people learn how to play musical instruments themselves instead of just listening to crap. If more people developed a reasonable level of skill in this area then tastes and interests might improve. It's probably fair to say that two hundred years from now reasonable people will remember who Beethoven was and they won't give a rat's ass about Joe Blow and the Electric Banana ... or whatever this stuff is called.
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James, 24 Jun 2008 @ 9:26pm

How the hell do they find out?
How do the RIAA even know that someone has illegal songs on their hard drives? Isn't it an invasion of privacy to start searching peoples hard drives? And if they share songs or something and check who downloads them, then extort $3500 from them, doesn't that mean they were illegally sharing music? Maybe the artists should be suing the RIAA, for alienating and enraging their fans and minimzing their profit, not to mention giving them fuck all for the work they produced, that the RIAA made no contribution to whatsoever. Maybe the RIAA should sue itself... I'm sure there's a law against being a fuckwit somewhere.
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IgorIrka, 17 Jun 2010 @ 10:53am

Help us please!
Me and my girl, a young couple, living with my parents and sister in a small one-room apartment. We're both learning at the university, I have to finish next year. In Moldova, it is very difficult to find a normal job, average wages were eating enough even a single person to live. Parents have often reminds us what we want to have to live for yourself. Favorite very upset about this and suffers. I very much love my girl, tried to work several jobs to at least rent a room, the money earned on them and go for services and for the food lacked. In our country, unfortunately, impossible to live without the help of parents. I tried many times to take a loan to buy an apartment and live there with his beloved. But here, all the banks and private firms were denied due to the fact that I have nothing to leave on bail, no decent salaries, student and many, many others. reasons that they could not give me credit, mortgage is the same. Because of this, a lot of young guys are leaving the country and move abroad, in order that would at least like it, equip your life. Due to the fact that the rented apartments went into debt. To buy the same one-room apartment needed money, which we can not ever earn here, for us to 30000 euros is too much. If you had this situation or you have the opportunity to help us, we are very grateful to all of your financial aid.
hypercube.

USD:

Beneficiary: Tudorean Igor Constantin

ID(series and number) or account number: 0101238408143

Beneficiary's Bank: Banca de Economii S.A., Chisinau, Moldova

SWIFT code: BECOMD2XXXX

Account with intermediary bank No: 890-0260-785

Intermediary Bank: Bank of New York Mellon, New York, USA

SWIFT code: IRVTUS3NXXX
Euro:

Beneficiary: Tudorean Igor Constantin

ID(series and number) or account number: 0101239788197

Beneficiary's Bank: Banca de Economii S.A., Chisinau, Moldova

SWIFT code: BECOMD2XXXX

Account with intermediary bank No: 400886819201

Intermediary Bank: Commerzbank AG, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

SWIFT code: COBADEFFXXX

Any questions or respond to Email: igorirka@yahoo.com Ira and Igor, skype IgorIrkaT thanks in advance. Our site: http://help-me-please.ucoz.net/
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