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RIAA amnesty deal
By Jon Newton
Say you're sorry, promise to delete ilegally downloaded music and that you won't do it again, and the RIAA won't sue you.
This story was doing the rounds yesterday, as most people reading this will know. We also had it early on from reliable sources but - my fault entirely. It inspired me to write the RIAA / MPAA merger spoof and I just didn't get around to it. More on that later.
Make sure you read Bill Evans' piece HERE before you even think of doing anything.
In the meanwhile, the Associated Press' Ted Bridis says it's true: so it must be, given that Bridis seems to be among the RIAA's beloved.
But, he says, the offer of amnesty won't cover, "the roughly 1,600 people who already have been targets of copyright subpoenas from the Recording Industry Association of America, which has promised to file hundreds of infringement lawsuits across the country as early as next week.
"Sources who described the proposal Thursday spoke on condition of anonymity. A spokeswoman for the RIAA, Amy Weiss, declined to comment.
"The RIAA's offer would require Internet users to complete a notarized amnesty form that includes promises to delete any illegally downloaded music and not participate in illegal file-trading in the future. In exchange, the RIAA would agree not to file a potentially expensive infringement lawsuit."
As EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) spokesman Fred von Lohmann is quoted as saying, "It will be an interesting measure of how much fear the recording industry has managed to inject into the American public."
Von Lohmann warned the RIAA 'deal' couldn't guarantee self-confesses infringers wouldn't be sued by others.
User Comments
(These do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of this site)
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kneo24
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 9:19 AM
The question is what kind of information will they be taking, and how will this even work?
If you're not even under their microscope, but get enough information to track you, they're gonna surveil you. It really sounds like a lose-lose situation to me. |
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isp-privacy
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 9:27 AM
They are now going beyond the letter to Mr. Coleman! They have now become the Internet police and we continue to loose our privacy. This is BULL! Where the hell is our protection? |
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AverageConsumer
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 9:30 AM
How in the world could you even trust them to keep their end of the bargain?
You'd have to be nuts to accept an offer like this. All this seems to be is an attempt to gather more names without filing subpoenas.
Speaking of subpoenas, what happened to the "firestorm" of legal action the RIAA promised? You don't think this is turning out to be a lot harder than they thought it would be, do you?
Continue the boycott! They're staggering now, keep it up until they fall. Death to the RIAA. |
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CodeWarrior
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 9:32 AM
I'm pi$$ed at myself for not posting this when I thought of it. I'd looked like a genius. I saw this amnesty thing coming about a week ago. From now on, I believe the RIAA's actions will be predictable. They are starting to panic "A LITTLE" right now. You panic, and your actions get a bit frenetic. Here's what I predict. Starting around the end of September, first of October, expect to see lots of RIAA sponsored ads on all media, saying "piracy is bad, it hurts the artists and the little man". Expect to start seeing these amnesty ads around October 7th. Then, expect to see law enforcement come into play. I expect you will see a couple of arrests around Oct or early Nov.
WHY? They have found out that the boycott is NOT going away. They did this price slashing to get the folks that are NOT hardcore back. They are doing the amnesty to try to stem the boycott, and to act like they are trying to make up with customers. And, the deal with law enforcement? They will try to SCARE everyone into amnesty participation (good cop/bad cop). Ya gotta understand that a lot of music outlets, are riding the razors edge of failure. They MUST make up for lost sales between Oct 1 and December 27th, otherwise, they are going to have to close their doors.
Believe me, even if the average American has no idea this boycott is going, Sherman and crew know QUITE WELL. They have most certainly had toadies monitoring the boards, and also, may have them occasionally pop up as members, trying to moderate our fervor. So, SHERMAN KNOWS! And, the RIAA is scared. They MUST at all costs, prevent the news of the boycott from getting out. I contacted someone this morning about the boycott, that if they put out the word, it will spread. I'm not saying whom right now.
So, we are kicking big music's butt.
And once this is done, we will ALL have good reason to be proud of ourselves, and our hardworking brothers and sisters in this fight.
ROCK ON, BOYCOTT ON, AND GET OUT THE VOTE!
~code |
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isp-privacy
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 9:33 AM
I suppose nezt they will come door to door with a warrant to check computers in your house! I SWEAR I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER RIAA MUSIC CD AS LONG AS I LIVE...... OR UNTIL THEY ARE PUT DOWN!! |
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svengali
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 9:34 AM
I like the last sentence....theres always a back door somewhere. I wonder who the "others" would be? Mysterious shadowy figures waiting to slap subpoenas in your face? The RIAA veers from the the ridiculous to the sublime with ease |
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PeoplePower
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 9:43 AM
We have the right to freedom....this isn't Nazi Germany !!!! P2P shall live on and the RIAA shall crumble.I don't understand why the artist aren't behind us.Think of the milions that the RIAA are stealing from them.A large chunk of the sale goes in their pockets...not the artists.
If the RIAA wants to take me to court over it...SO BE IT!!! I will fight till the end of time to stop their evil crucifiction of the people
LONG LIVE THE FIGHTERS OF THE RIAA!!!!!!!! |
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CodeWarrior
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 9:44 AM
It's sad that the RIAA has SUCH a low opinion of us all. They underestimate us. They think we are stupid,cowards, have no resolve, are poor and powerless. They also think most of us are uneducated. They are using very obvious, old tricks. Carrot and stick/ Good Cop/ Bad Cop...Sue a bunch to scare people and intimidate users, that's the Bad Cop...offer amnesty, that's the Good Cop. Slash prices, that's the carrot...and I suggest, that we will see law enforcement recruited by the RIAA (or PIs) to start scaring people by using the NET act, that's the stick.
It's the Hegellian dialectic of Problem, Reaction, Solution. Problem- you kids are downloading our songs and we are really mad at you and are going after you....Reaction-Oh, we are so scared of you lawyers, whatever can we do, we're not stopping downloading....
Solution- OK, we'll offer amnesty to those we haven't sued, and cut prices..howz that?
These people are deplorable, they're slime. I've bought a bucketload of new CDs from these artists over the years. I'm not uploading or downloading or buying now, and won't. Their little action has won me as a lifelong enemy of the RIAA 4 EVER!
-Fight on- We are Winning!
~code |
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isp-privacy
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 9:57 AM
This is crazy......but it makes me sick to even listen to a cd anymore! To think of the money I have spent to put these Nazi's in power to infringe on my privacy and rights. I have a good mind to burn every RIAA cd I own!
I think This will be the biggest BOYCOTT this country will ever see! Every one of us here should make every effort to push it as far and as fast as we can to cut the head of the snake off! This weekend I will have a burn party and get rid of any RIAA cds I own...
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Malchus
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:03 AM
It looks like they're using a three pronged attack consisting of the sub-liminal, liminal, and extrememly liminal. Now what, may you ask, is extremely liminal? That's when the troll with the stuck caps lock key comes in and says "STOP FILE SHARING YOU BUNCH OF THIEVES." |
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captdunsel
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:03 AM
Actually this is all part of a multi pronged approach that involves:
Having all children in the 1st grade confess their sins against the music industry and sign a binding document stating that if they ever share music they will have their feet cut off.
Rectal exams of all music users to make sure they don't have any hidden "illegal files".
Home searches to establish a persons level of computer knowledge and inventory.
Implanting of the new riaa malware chip (RMC) in the forehead. This chip sends out a "substantial electric shock when it detects that a person is listening to possible "illegal files".
Marketing of the new hilary rosen "please like me" doll to all preschool children. It says 14 different lines including "you're not stealing music are you?" and "you're gonna burn in hell if you don't pay for that song." and of course the trademark " Please like me, I only want what's best for you.".
Collecting census data to establish a "Future mailing list" for subpoenas.
All they ask in return for their hard work in protecting us from online piracy is that we establish a tithe fund to help them finance their rightful struggle. Right now that contribution would be somewhere in the range of 50%-60% of each individuals projected gross worth for a 150 year period.
This should begin in earnest by October 1. |
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directive
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:11 AM
The RIAA is looseing, kazaa numbers are up and there is nothing they can do to stop the masses from filesharing, they should of thought of something 4 years ago. |
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AverageConsumer
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:12 AM
ISP, don't get too crazed. You legitimately own those CDs. Just don't buy any more, or get them used. At least, until the RIAA figures out how to collect royalties on used music as well.
I see weakness in the RIAA. They thought this was gonna be a cakewalk, and the Boston actions took them by surprise. And now we're all waiting to see what Pac-Bell comes up with. Things have been interestingly quiet on those fronts lately.
The final straw will come when some enterprising lawyer takes a case all the way to a jury and actually wins. THAT will be sweet. It's all about spin.
Keep the boycott. Like Code has said, this Christmas season is going to be make or break. I vote for BREAK. I want to see them fall so far and so hard, their screams will echo for years.
Remember, the harder they shove information down the public's throats about 'piracy', the faster the public will get tired of it, and stumble across sites like this.
The message new visitors need to hear is, "Boycott, Boycott, Boycott!" |
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TheSherminator
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:14 AM
ok ok. I promise to never buy a cd again .. er wait.. what was that again? |
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captdunsel
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:15 AM
Isp, Don't burn your cds. put them on ebay and sell them! |
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indieWarriors
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:27 AM
RIAA = Taliban of the Record Industry
Each d/l = finger amputations
I swear..our country is becoming more like Afghanistan and a lot of apathetic consumers/citizens are letting those suits get away with it
Welcome to the Bastardization of America |
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svengali
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:33 AM
.....and as always Code you are right on....the price slashing is probably a bid to undermine some of the arguments for p2p."They say our music cost too much and they would rather download it...we lowered the cost and they still download,those vile digital pirates!" |
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burner97119
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:43 AM
lol you gotta be kidding. do they want you to wipe your hard drive clean or what? i have tons of legal music and im sure some stuff thats not but i would have no idea how to know what is and what isnt so should i just assume its all illegal? maybe they should have to put up a site that has a listing of every song they own with proof of copyright so we know what to get rid of. of course they will never be able to keep the site up lol. keep the boycott going they are reaching out in desperation now |
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purfus
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:44 AM
Sign a contract with an organization that is roaming my country trying to essentially pick off pedestrians like a drunk driver.... I think not.... I don't make deals with the devil...
And if their price drops are an attempt to undermind the arguments of the public, the RIAA's reasoning is just a fallacious as ever. They would have us believe that their actions over the past years and the dis-content they have spread has had no affect on sales. The would also have us believe that consumers would change their behavior over-night simply because the price changed. History has shown that neither of those stipulations are true... |
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isp-privacy
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:52 AM
I read this on some forum! From a common music lover!
The Recording Industry (RIAA) has failed to keep up with changing technology. They have also crossed a line with consumers on their lawsuits and BS campaigns. I have been downloading independent music (Non RIAA music labels) and it is both challenging and rewarding to find good quality music & recordings from hard working caring musicians.
I feel I have a closer touch with the artist, because most of them invite me to download their music, where I can store them on my computer, burn them and email the songs to my friends giving them even more exposure. If I like what I hear, I purchase music from them at much lower prices, cutting out the Fat cat middleman. I also can go directly to their website to purchase and make comments or reviews on their work.
Many Americans do not succumb to fear and have already started a boycott movement against RIAA labels. (Visit BOYCOTT-RIAA.com). Yes the old way of doing business in the music industry is quickly coming to a close. My personnel opinion; the RIAA should have listened to their customers and got aboard the technology train during the Napster days. Instead they choose to alienate the consumer driving more nails into their own coffin of a dying business. They will be buried alive!
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iostreamh
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:53 AM
Isp.. don't get rid of your CD's.. instead, RIP em :-) |
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isp-privacy
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:54 AM
ITS GETTING OUT BOYS AND GIRLS! |
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boomfoot
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:56 AM
It's a shame there is no way to truly track how many of these "deals" are accepted. You know the RIAA is just going to blow smoke and say that this was such a success. This isn't just Nazi Germany, it's 1984, and overall VERY Kafka-esque. Such a shame. They have truly become the Ministry of Dis-Information. |
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burner97119
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:59 AM
kinda sounds like the turn in your gun programs that disarm honest citizens and makes it easier for the criminals to operate |
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Jazzmary2U
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 12:04 PM
Thanks,Bill..right on top of things:thumbsup:. If you guys havent scoped www.boycott-riaa.com. It is your loss..could it be that the riaa realizes that their "legal" tatics are so weak that they have to wrest false confessions and actions from "pirates?" Seems pretty lame to me. |
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Funksaw
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 12:11 PM
Wow, this is the greatest thing since the Catholic Church offered to let the Jews convert.
The easiest way to not get sued is to just not listen to RIAA music. |
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rexholmes
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 2:30 PM
"Isp, Don't burn your cds. put them on ebay and sell them!"
At the risk of being repetitive, this is a great idea (you beat me to the punch!)
I've been selling mostly books, a few CDs I no longer listen to, but in the last few weeks I've noticed 1) a marked increase in sales of used CDs & 2) a marked drop in selling price of used CDs (this may just be me, I haven't done an exhaustive study.)
The idea here is two-fold (but linked). 1) Swamp the market with used CDs. 2) drive the price of (used) CDs down.
Prices for mainstream/major-label CDs used are so low (in my random sampling - brief & nonscientific) that you are essentially paying for shipping plus a nominal charge for the disc. Any possibility that that may be having an effect on sales of "new" product???
If enough people do this, this will have a dramatic impact on their bottom line.
Not that I really want to put *more* money in these companies hands, but since ebay was brought up, I thought I'd point out amazon marketplace, half.com & gemm.com as other places to consider selling off used CDs.
Also, two other things.
1) Find your local independent retailer [If you live in the Bay Area you are lucky enough to have places like Amoeba Records...] Encourage them to give more of them valuable display space to indies & local musicians...
2) More importantly, if you are interested in any indie bands, find their website & order DIRECT from them. This puts the money directly in their hands (hopefully) and bypasses as many middlemen as possible.
[I'd also like to encourage indie musicians to get audio files onto their websites ASAP, and to encourage their fans to *share* them by any means necessary - though the bandwidth ($$$) considerations may be beyond the reach of some.] |
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sosueme
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 2:32 PM
Cary-Sue can bite my hiney in hell. I'll sign his confession, if he signs a confession that he is, in actuality, a girl. |
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PeoplePower
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 2:59 PM
I'm sure he wears a training bra to work....transvestitve fascist Cary-Sue.I hope they all burn !!!!
DOWN WITH THE RIAA !!!!!! |
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sosueme
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 3:16 PM
I wonder if he prefers cotton underware to silk panties?
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goofycaca
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 3:40 PM
I'm glad that somebody mentioned the last line of the article.
"Von Lohmann warned the RIAA 'deal' couldn't guarantee self-confessed infringers wouldn't be sued by others."
Notice is says the RIAA would not sue. It did not mentin that it's constituent members would not sue. So you send in the amnesty statement, notarized of course, plus a picture ID and a list of the files downloaded and deleted, then expect to be free and clear. Except that the RIAA then sends that information to each of the big 5 labels. Who then has all the information they need to file a nice fat infringement lawsuit. Including your identity and what files you "stole." This notarized amnesty form would be tatamount to a signed confession. Undoubtedly admissable in court.
Gee, sounds like a good deal to me. |
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PyroHazard
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 3:41 PM
Watch next thing you know we'll be seeing innocent kids jamming to their new Slipknot mp3s in the park and they get tackled by RIAA police. they do that to me. ill be keeping a bat with me at all times :) |
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koemoejoe
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 3:59 PM
my bet is thay will give you some software at the amnesty deal what thay will say is take this as us saying thank you for promissing not to steal from us any more but the software will be spyware filled to watch your music thay will have no idea i mean thay have no idea that singing a deal of amnesty with the riaa is singing a deal with the devil so why would thay know the software will be spyware and the moment the user D/L any riaa music thay will be infringing on the riaa deal and thay will be took to court and the courts will grant them any thing thay want becose of contract infringment this sounds like the promisary note thay give new found artests like pointed out hear http://www.negativland.com/albini.html
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CodeWarrior
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 4:00 PM
I think this could be used to our advantage...we could download the form, put a picture of cary-sue, and put a note about all the RIAA labels we HAVE not bought from, and promise to never buy from them again!
I have my 37 cent ready! |
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rexholmes
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 4:27 PM
Another note (since nobody brought this up): if you download this amensty form (for whatever reason) from them (via the riaa website), they'll have your IP address... |
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RingdemBells
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 6:16 PM
Don't even think about it! |
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thepick
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 6:34 PM
That's true rexholmes. An IP address is essentially all they need to gather incriminating evidence against you. For this reason, I don't do anything involving the RIAA from my home computer. |
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wabbitman
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 6:59 PM
isp-privacy , you're probably right . When they come with their warrants, they'll have to take my meat-covered hard drive away from my siberian huskies !
LOL , captdunsel ! Rectal exams to search for illegal files. Would be even funnier if there wasn't some truth to it.
Funksaw , to quote Mel Brooks , "the inquisiton what a show... "
Have a great weekend all ,
WABBITMAN |
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SinisterX
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 7:15 PM
"Say you're sorry, promise to delete ilegally downloaded music and that you won't do it again, and the RIAA won't sue you."
ROFLMFAO!
and whats sad is, people will probably fall for this...
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SinisterX
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 7:17 PM
I still can't help but wonder if I ever made the RIAA hitlist? even though I dont share anymore? teehee. |
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chaosaerie
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 7:21 PM
Has anyone seen the form? I'm guessing it contains a clause granting the RIAA and it's constituent membership the right to verify that the files in question have indeed been removed. This will no doubt include grants of electronic access for monitoring purposes. |
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PeoplePower
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 8:04 PM
I hope the RIAA is watching me right now......I say to them FUCK YOU!!!!!
Let them come knockin at my door cause they will haveto add manslaughter to the charges cause i'll shoot the faggot bastards if they even step near my door |
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koemoejoe
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 8:09 PM
SO it is true techtv live just reported the amnesty program is real |
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W-B
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 8:58 PM
Yeah, I could see what it boils down to . . . "be a good little member of the Communist Party and your family will be safe" . . . "if you renounce your ties to those 'civil-rights' subversives and go back in your place, we won't lynch you" . . . and so forth. |
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mtekk
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 9:23 PM
So what, I know that many will "agree" to it, find a way to not delete their files, block the RIAA from seing their internet activities, Continue to share, and use file-sharing programs/ systems.
W-B, your right this is just another Pro-RIAA/COMMUNIST BS move to try to get their hands closer to YOUR private information, and eventually the RIAA dream, a Communist USA, under controol by them. |
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JamesD2
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Date: September 5, 2003 @ 10:11 PM
Oh sure, and I didnt exhale either, I will do just what they ask, Hey, if we start turning ourselves in, also all those we know, and some we dont, perhaps we could actually do away with the government and just rely on corporate rule. Next they will vote for a world court where you can sue anyone anywhere in the world.... wait that is already in the works... |
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stilltrying
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Date: September 6, 2003 @ 12:00 AM
Hi all have been reading all of the POST'S here and man are there are alot of smart people here.I agree with all the ideas you all have about the RIAA. You all are on the right track!!!I hope I can have a surpize for all of you next week on the NET. Check back next week and I will let you know if I was able to get it uploaded on the NET. The We Be Jamin Band!!!!!!! |
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Jazzmary2U
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Date: September 6, 2003 @ 9:18 AM
Yo, sosueme..I got your anger, but I'm a girl..and believe me, it ain't so bad. You guys assume that assigining a "girls" name to a guy is negative? Check yo'self! Don't mess wid' me this mornin"..it's that time of the month!! :rofl: |
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Jazzmary2U
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Date: September 6, 2003 @ 9:22 AM
New posters..welcome aboard! Veteran posters..right on, right on!! The gist of this thread has been, to me, to have a true democracy, ya gotta put in some work. Keep it up!! Good stuff!!:thumbsup:
BOYCOTT. EDUCATE. REGISTER. VOTE. |
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AverageConsumer
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Date: September 6, 2003 @ 10:34 AM
Is it possible that the RIAA doesn't have as much legal clout as they thought they did?
Now that they have to go through local districts to file subpoenas, maybe they aren't finding such a nice reception so far away from DC. Maybe some of those court clerks are treating them with a bit of "contempt"?
Oh, sure, it's still their job to handle the filings, but they don't have to be cheerful, or quick about it, perhaps? After all, the local jurisdictions may resent the added burden of what they consider "frivolous" actions.
The RIAA may have been counting on filing everything from a friendly court office in DC, and now that's over.
Boy, wouldn't you love to be a mouse in the corner when those arrogant RIAA goons waltz into the court offices in Tennessee or Mississippi and demand to file subpoenas?
Hey, we all have fantasies. |
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MacLiberatio...
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Date: September 6, 2003 @ 10:50 AM
Let me get this straight. They don't know my online name. They don't know where I live or what I look like. They have no idea what is on my computer. But they want me to turn myself in, offer no protection from prosecution when I do, and basically give them all the eveidence they need to get a successful conviction against me.
LOL!
LOL!
Thats funny! Are people that stupid to fall for it? |
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grumpygeezer
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Date: September 6, 2003 @ 11:45 AM
MacLiberation;
The RIAA can know if a person is sharing files and could be aware of one's downloading habit; they routinely monitor the P2P networks. They can get identifying information if they download from your "shared" files, for example. And then, "armed" with either your username or your computer's unique address (always available when you're on the web unless you securely mask it by a foreign anonymous proxy server, for example) that they've garnered, they can go to your internet provider and ask them to release your personal information. By law (the law the RIAA lobbied for and won through their efforts and "contributions" to Congressional members while most of the rest of us were basically asleep at the wheel), your internet provider is supposedly required to give them the information, but a few (to their credit) have balked at them. Chances are, though, that the RIAA will get the info. if they really want it badly enough, and could then issue you a subpoena for you to appear in court; then, you either show cause for your defense, or, they hope, you'll cower and give in to a settlement, often in the many thousands of dollars.
This is probably oversimplified, and I'm sure I will precipitate a volume of posts critical of some of the things I've included here, but, on the spur of the moment and in trying to provide help here online to someone, I'll risk that. Just wanting to give a little basic information to MacLiberation . . . sorry if I was presumptuous or whatever. My heart was in the right place. ð
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grumpygeezer
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Date: September 6, 2003 @ 12:06 PM
P.S. Concerning the idea of masking one's unique computer address through a foreign-based anonymously configured proxy server: Unfortunately, most of the P2P networks I'm aware of don't work when you use this method. However, for other uses of the web, most anonymous proxy servers seem to be okay and are recommended.
There are various mega terabyte super-snooper computers that are used by governmental entities to monitor, or at least filter, every data that is globally communicated across the internet. And, even though I'm not doing anything illegally and actually have nothing to hide, I just recoil at the thought of anyone or any agency unnecessarily intruding into my life; so, I'm going to be trying to thwart every attempt they muster in their penchant for violating personal rights.
After all, they don't call me GrumpyGeezer for nothing!
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JamesD2
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Date: September 6, 2003 @ 12:57 PM
I was thinking that if the RIAA wants to use such words as "piracy" and " stealing" against people who are merely downloading, perhaps we should use words such as "pay-offs" and "blackmail" to discribe such things as contributions and lobbying.
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grumpygeezer
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Date: September 6, 2003 @ 1:30 PM
Agreed! Plus, isn't there evidence that the RIAA's organization has overcharged consumers and indirectly short-changed musicians? If so, that's a form of "stealing" too, isn't it? Let's just start using labels and appropriate name-calling right back in THEIR faces, since there are quite a few terms that are applicable against them!
(As you may know, pinning a "pirate" label on filesharers is bogus; CodeWarrior in an articulate fashion has already called them out on that one, yet the RIAA relishes in their persistence of slapping that improper word against P2P users anyway.)
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CodeWarrior
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Date: September 6, 2003 @ 10:17 PM
I just read MacLiberatio... 's post, and something he said make me snap to the real lunacy of this thing. Just imagine, if people actually do this, I can see great implicatons...here's the scenario..
IRS ANNOUNCES AMNESTRY DRIVE- Yes, if you've cheated on your taxes, download a form that you get notarized,fill out your soc. sec. number, tax id number, address, phone, bank account number, work number, and put 2 (two) pictures of yourself (full face and profile...and hold a number under your chin...we will send you the number), along with how much you stole, when you cheated on your taxes, send in ALL monies and penalties you owe, and promise never to cheat on taxes again and WE promise not to sue you this year.
or...
DEA ANNOUNCES AMNESTY- download a form, include your address, phone number, a full face picture and profile, plead guilty under oath to drug distribution and trafficking, and burn all your drugs, and promise not to ever do it again, and we promise not to sue you in CIVIL court.
LOL...60 million confessions of copyright infringement is what they want in their hot little databases.
My new tagline for my posts is....
"Mr. Sherman,at long last, sir, have you no sense of decency? Have you no shame?"
~code |
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Seikatsu
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Date: September 7, 2003 @ 1:44 AM
CodeWarrior: that would fucking hilarious if wasn't so damn tragic (not to mention true) |
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Remye
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Date: September 7, 2003 @ 10:55 AM
I KNOW this is wrong. Blackmail. Extortion. There are some other legal terms. They would have to do some SERIOUS changes to any paperwork from anyone taking this. I'm wondering tho, what the info from the "taker" would be used for? I have to believe the RIAA would put something in the paperwork about "where did you get most of your files" or something like that, then use that 411 to track down others. So, by proxy, the takers of the amnesty would be put into service of the RIAA. Possible yes, Plausible YES!
As for the 1600 people who are ALREAY subpoened (sic)? Why are they excluded? I'm sure there's a legal term for that. It's not fair is the only thing I can think to say. I know I know, whiny Remye. Sorry. I personally would put more credence to this (but no support) if they had first offered it to those poor souls. It would go a LOOONNGG way to showing they were serious about it being about the music and the artist and not about the money. I can answer my own question tho. They didn't offer/include the 1600 because those people are already on the hook. The RIAA knows they can take em for whatever dollars they want, so why kill a good thing?
I for one would love to see the demographics on who takes this deal, and if possible, who it's targeted at. I bet a lot of the takers are parents with kids who downloaded, or college kids that don't want to finish school only to have a career ruined for some "bad choices".
ttmmm
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stilltrying
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Date: September 7, 2003 @ 11:35 AM
In responce to the question YES the 5 major labels were found guilty of price fixing a couple of year's ago and had to pay a total fine of 154 million $. Maybe that's why there suing their trying to recoup their loses???? ha ha |
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wethepeople
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Date: September 7, 2003 @ 3:53 PM
I expect the next move will be to get the UN involved.
Somehow, the RIAA will link itself to the WTO (World Trade Organization). Once this occurs, we will be tried under the ICC (International Criminal Court) or International court of communists and be sent to a secret international prison.
Black UN helicopters and multinational "Peacekeepers" will be assigned to round us up in the near future.
Maybe not yet but could happen a few years down the road if things continue in the direction they are heading. |
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gangofone
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Date: September 7, 2003 @ 4:10 PM
JamesD2 has hit on a VERY important aspect of this amnesty joke. Think about this. OK, we won't prosecute YOU, but only if you give us the names of at least 5 people you know who are 'stealing.'
It works great with the drug dealers. It's called rolling over on the little guy. |
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siggier
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Date: September 29, 2003 @ 2:00 PM
everybody, i mean everybody who gets served a sopeana should fight it right to the end. remember one thing people we all have the right to face our accusers in court. can you imagine riaa and they're team of ambulance chasers scrambling to keep up with that list they themselves have genorated |
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