MPAA Remains Unaware Of The Magnitude Of The Problem They Face

Sued By The RIAA? Blame Kazaa!

from the take-that dept

Thu, Dec 7th 2006 11:09am — Mike Masnick

As long as Skype's founders are paying out many millions to the RIAA to settle its claims against Kazaa, perhaps they might want to compensate a few of the folks sued by the RIAA for using Kazaa as well. While some are already claiming that the settlement should cover them against the RIAA, a group of those sued by the RIAA have now filed a class action suit against Kazaa, blaming it for their problems. Among the claims against Kazaa are that it advertised "free downloads" leading people to think that it was legal, it set up a "shared folder" without making that clear to the users and (everyone's favorite) it surreptitiously installed adware and spyware on computers. All three things are true, but whether or not they broke any laws is another question. Again, like way too many class action lawsuits, this one seems more like a way for people who knew they were breaking the law to pass the blame onto another party.

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26 Comments

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Adam Lea, 7 Dec 2006 @ 11:32am

I am going to sue Kazaa for the cost of my new external 180 GB hard drive. After all, THEY allowed access to all of those large files that I assumed I was legally entitled to have since they were advertised as FREE...

$120 comin' my way soon!
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Jay, 7 Dec 2006 @ 11:39am

Is a "class action suite" like a honeymoon suite, but for polygamists?

~j
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Dec 2006 @ 12:23pm

Re:
I didnt realize Kazaa had moved to Utah!
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The infamous Joe, 7 Dec 2006 @ 12:26pm

Armed with just my whip and chair..
Down typo nazis! Down! :-P
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darnell, 7 Dec 2006 @ 12:48pm

if you use kazza, your a beginner. and should be very careful about what your getting into.

you might wanna check out frostwire or limewire

also if you have kazza on your computer, you may also wanna go to your prefreed sight, and download avg anti virus and avg anti spyware programs, because your almost certain to have a few.

thanks
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Roughly Average Joe, 7 Dec 2006 @ 12:54pm

Re: Armed with just my whip and chair..
Suet is a typo, suite is a misspelling.

---
Counting beans, old school
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joenewbreed, 7 Dec 2006 @ 12:55pm

Re:
that smacked of a spam bot advertisement
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Dec 2006 @ 12:55pm

Re:
If you continually use "your" instead of "you're" and "kazza" instead of "Kazaa", you're an idiot.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Dec 2006 @ 1:13pm

ever see someone use "your're" ha ha
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Dec 2006 @ 1:48pm

" If you continually use "your" instead of "you're" and "kazza" instead of "Kazaa", you're an idiot. "

---whoever that was, i love you.
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Some guy, 7 Dec 2006 @ 2:26pm

maybe your the idiot!
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SinceWhen, 7 Dec 2006 @ 2:31pm

ok... but
All three things are true, but whether or not they broke any laws is another question.

Since when does a law have to be broken in order to sue? The new way to get rich is to be offended.

I think I have been offended that Kazaa never told me they would share my files. I'm Suing.

I am offended that the words CHRIST are in CHRISTMAS. I think I will sue everyone who uses the word CHRISTMAS.

I am offended that my Mom grounded me when I was young. I think I'll take her house.

For some strange reason, people think the world owes them something. Why? Because we let that happen.

The next time I am dining out and I hear a spoiled little brat kid yelling at her parents and ruining my experience, I am going to shove a dinner roll down her throat... um.. nevermind. I don't want her to sue me.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Dec 2006 @ 2:37pm

Your're all got too much time on you're hands!
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Sherell Horsley, 7 Dec 2006 @ 2:55pm

Suing Kazaa
Hi,

i read the article about users being sued by RIAA
and then the users then sue Kazaa.

What's wrong with suing someone who helped you
commit a crime? And in many cases actually
misrepresented the fact that there was a crime
involved?
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klb, 7 Dec 2006 @ 3:53pm

Re:
haha....the office?
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William, 7 Dec 2006 @ 4:08pm

Hello party people
Their stance was always that there were perfectly legal uses for there service like sharing open source files and music that is in the public domain. And that they have no control if there users break the law. Kind of like you cant sue the crowbar maker because you used it to break open someones front door. That is why they were allowed to stay open as long as they did
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William, 7 Dec 2006 @ 4:10pm

ignorance of the law is no excuse.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Dec 2006 @ 5:49pm

Ignorance in downloading the wrong and worse P2P software available out is no excuse either.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Dec 2006 @ 5:49pm

Ignorance in downloading the wrong and worse P2P software available out is no excuse either.
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benji, 7 Dec 2006 @ 11:08pm

DUH!!
everybody knows that limewire is the way to go.......duh..
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M3gaManX, 8 Dec 2006 @ 6:39am

p2p noob
quote=darnell "if you use kazza, your a beginner. and should be very careful about what your getting into.

you might wanna check out frostwire or limewire"
no your still a p2p noob
look into newsgroups, one click hosters, ftps, and private torrent sites
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RonnieK, 8 Dec 2006 @ 7:03am

Re: p2p noob
newsgroups are the way to go...optimal speed and vast selection...but you'll need a small bit of basic computer skills to use them.
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RonnieK, 8 Dec 2006 @ 7:03am

Re: p2p noob
newsgroups are the way to go...optimal speed and vast selection...but you'll need a small bit of basic computer skills to use them.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Dec 2006 @ 9:21am

well, remember that tobacco companies were sued for targeting kids to smoke. gun companies were sued because the provided guns to criminals (offering deals to sales reps and such)

so, if Kazza markets its software as a way to get leagal (or refrained from saying piracy was illegal) they coulld be held for some convictions.
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Ribin, 28 Feb 2007 @ 5:04am

Comment
see http://doted.info
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Tolerance, 14 May 2007 @ 8:58am

Re: ok... but
So, instead of trying to be tolerant, which is the concept you were trying to get across by the world not owing everyone something, you are going to shove a dinner roll down a kids throat. WOW, you're smart! Does that kid OWE you a peaceful meal? Stop thinking you are owed something just because you got $20 or so bones to throw down on a sit down dinner out. It's called tolerance and you should learn some.
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