RIAA Really Does Not Want Live Broadcast Of Hearing In Tenenbaum Case

from the what-are-you-afraid-of? dept

Mon, Jan 19th 2009 3:29am — Mike Masnick

It seems the RIAA is, once again, showing its true colors. When Charlie Nesson asked the court in the Tenebaum case to allow a live internet broadcast of a hearing to dismiss the case, the RIAA protested. This was odd, on its face, since the RIAA has insisted from the beginning that the reason for the campaign is educational. That was the point made by Judge Gertner in granting the request -- and she even pointed out how odd it was that the RIAA didn't want that to happen.

It turns out that the RIAA is so against the idea that it's gone and asked an appeals court to overturn the ruling, which even has entertainment industry lawyers who support the lawsuit strategy questioning the RIAA's move here. Of course, it's not surprising to find out that the RIAA has been misleading (at best) about its intentions with these lawsuits, but it is rather amusing at how hard they're fighting this, even knowing how it shows their hypocrisy.

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Filed Under: charles neeson, constitutionality, fines, joel tenenbaum, lawsuits, penalties

14 Comments

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The Natrix, 19 Jan 2009 @ 4:00am

Disingenuous Shitheads
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2009 @ 4:20am

RIAAs actions were to be expected, lets just hope the judges don't fall for there dirty tricks.
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Michael Whitetail, 19 Jan 2009 @ 6:12am

Newyorkcountrylawyer over on /. says in this article:

"The RIAA has appealed the order entered several days ago allowing the January 22nd hearing in SONY BMG Music v. Tenenbaum to be streamed over internet TV. Additionally, they've made a motion for a stay. I'm just a country lawyer, but as far as I know: (a) it's not possible to appeal the order, (b) it was procedurally improper and ineffective to file a notice of appeal, and (c) it was improper to direct their motion for a stay to the District Court Judge."
If it is so improper to do this, wont they (the RIAA) get smacked down even harder by this judge and still be televised? Isn't this a no-win situation for them?
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2009 @ 6:28am

Leave them alone
Remember, this is all about protecting the artist's 5% share of revenue. Their intentions are completely honorable!
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Rajio, 19 Jan 2009 @ 6:29am

har har
I'll bet they'll try claiming that televising this will just give other people ideas to pirate stuff and reveal how to do it. (...as if)
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2009 @ 6:46am

I seriously think they need to televise the remainder of this trial and any trials in the future for further review and scrutiny by the public forum (including large law schools).

I would love to hear what other judges and lawyers personally think about the way the entertainment industry is conducting themselves.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2009 @ 7:12am

Re: har har
or the RIAA's brother will ask for an obscene amount of money in for the webcast.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2009 @ 7:22am

RIAA is right.

Their defense is copyrighted and the term "RIAA" is trademarked!!!

yeah, they should run with that..
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2009 @ 9:10am

RIAA: "We Really Don't Want To Broadcast our Hearing."

Me: "But it's the first RIAA product I want to buy in years!"
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Pete Austin, 19 Jan 2009 @ 9:21am

The court is proposing a *free* streamed download, so of course the RIAA are going to oppose it. This is anathema to them.

For example the following quoted RIAA supporter: "We strongly support the music industry's effort to stop free downloading and file sharing. It is a matter of survival to our constituents"
http://www.riaa.org/newsitem.php?id=85183A9C-28F4-19CE-BDE6-F48E206CE8A1
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ehrichweiss, 19 Jan 2009 @ 9:59am

Re:
Well played, sir.
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RD, 19 Jan 2009 @ 11:02am

the 5%'ers
"Remember, this is all about protecting the artist's 5% share of revenue. Their intentions are completely honorable!"

Woah hold on! Where in the world of God and the angels did you get such a ludicrous figure as 5% for the artists from? Hold on there son! An artist typically sees 15-50 CENTS of a CD sale! Big names get more of course, but the vast majority see more like 2% or less. AND they have to pay back all costs FIRST before they get any profit. AND...from these lawsuits, they get almost NOTHING, the RIAA keeps it all.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2009 @ 12:12pm

Re: the 5%'ers
You are right. I was way too generous with my estimate of 5%.

So let's say 2%... before RIAA association fees of course.
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TDR, 20 Jan 2009 @ 8:08am

Seeing the RIAA being embarassed in front of a worldwide audience... priceless.

*cue Rocky theme music*
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