Wednesday, June 25, 2003



WASHINGTON — The embattled music industry disclosed plans Wednesday for an unprecedented escalation in its fight against Internet piracy, threatening to sue hundreds of individual computer users who illegally share music files online.

The Recording Industry Association of America, citing significant sales declines, said it will begin Thursday to search Internet file-sharing networks to identify music fans who offer "substantial" collections of MP3 song files for downloading.

It expects to file at least several hundred lawsuits seeking financial damages within eight to 10 weeks.

Executives for the RIAA, the Washington-based lobbying group that represents major labels, would not say how many songs on a user's computer might qualify for a lawsuit. The new campaign comes just weeks after U.S. appeals court rulings requiring Internet providers to identify subscribers suspected of illegally sharing music and movie files.

The RIAA's president, Cary Sherman, said tens of millions of Internet users of popular file-sharing software after Thursday will expose themselves to "the real risk of having to face the music." He said the RIAA plans only to file lawsuits against Internet users in the United States.

"It's stealing. It's both wrong and illegal," Sherman said. Alluding to the court decisions, Sherman said Internet users who believe they can hide behind an alias online are mistaken. "You are not anonymous," Sherman said. "We're going to begin taking names."

Shopping at a Virgin Megastore in San Francisco, Jason Yoder was planning to delete file-sharing software he uses from his home computer because of the new lawsuit threat. He acknowledged using the Internet recently to find a copy of a rare 1970s soul recording, but he agreed that illegal downloads should be curtailed.

"It's sort of like a serial drunk driver has to have their license taken away at some point," said Yoder, 30.

How can they prove you don't own the music?

Yepper, but they can "bill" me till they run outa fucking trees to make the paper out of...It'll just not come to anything. Been there, Done That, & designed the friggin T-Shirt too...

well really alot out there is mostley teens under 18, can RIAA sue the people under 18 years of age? lol i like to see them take the people under 18 to court and the kid says, huh? what you mean? whats RIAA mean? lol

Yes, they can. And their parents will be forced to settle or go to court and pay all fees and judgment.

When I was 16 after I got my first Credit Card, sent to me by Shell I think it was. Pre-aproved and active, all I had to do was call an automated number and I was able to use it, with a $1,000 limit. Being 16, first car, and the out all night party type, I maxed that fucker out on gas, snacks and smokes. Never paid the bill, then BAM!!! I was in a world of legal and credit problems.

ouch, is your credit fucked or does that goes against your parent credit?

I was able to fix it by working my ass off and paying it off.

"It's stealing. It's both wrong and illegal," Sherman said. Alluding to the court decisions, Sherman said Internet users who believe they can hide behind an alias online are mistaken. "You are not anonymous," Sherman said. "We're going to begin taking names."

That really sucks. Even worse is cc companys are just waiting for things like this to happen. I heard a lot of scary stories about peoples credit and how it got fucked when my mom worked as a credit counseler.

Hmm... 20 songs in My Shared Folder from Kazaa Lite. Do you think that will be "substantial?"

You, the RIAA are fucking wrong.

"We're going to begin taking names."

hmm where can i sign up???

Is the FBI gonna involved?
Are P2P Users gonna get labeled as terrorists?

EDIT - Does it matter if the MP3's are by singers popular in America   

Is the FBI gonna involved?
Are P2P Users gonna get labeled as terrorists?

EDIT - Does it matter if the MP3's are by singers popular in America   

Well, everyone should go to http://www.eff.org and join. I have been a member with them since 1992. More to the point on RIAA: http://www.eff.org/share/

Due to this crap, I am no longer buying and CDs by labels that are part of RIAA. It's a shame too, 80% of the songs I have in mp3 format I own. I download songs, and if I like the CD I go buy it. For now on, only private label artists will get my money. I'll no longer be buying CDs untill RIAA is gone.

you're too worried.

Yes I am

I'm scared of big mosquitoes and that toad around my apartment

man, its all about FEAR. they want everyone to be scared and what not. thats how this country is run..ON FEAR. i am not aware of anythig like this going on in any other country. these greedy bastards have screwed artists and all types of people and now they're tasting it...they wanna bitch. screw that, i'm not gonna be scared. they need to stop being afriad. they're liek teh atrix ad its up to each of us to be "THE ONE" and kick their asses. dont be afriad...lets push things forward. they can kick and scream as much as they want, but things are gonna progress and they need to deal with it instead trying to stay in the past. we're about to enter a whole new world and these people are afraid of the change because they know theres no place in the future for them. witht eh birth of the internet artist can now directly communicate with their fans and get exposure......we shall not be afraid

they cant sue us all if we all stick together. so means no pussying out....thats how they get us...break us dwn. we must all stand together.after they sue us all no one will have any cash to buy any stupid CDs and it'll fuckup the whoel economy....they dont want that.

P.S.
if anyone knows some good ftps dont be afriad to share...wit me

Fuck them.