The Law Catches Pro-Napster User
Posted by Heidi Chambers in Archive on January 14, 2001 at 8:21 PM

"Pimpshiz," also known as the person who allegedly hacked into over 200 websites last year and changed the sites to promote Napster, has had the law catch up with him. On Friday, police confirmed that they have searched the home of the 17-year-old high school student and confiscated computer equipment.

"Music is art, an extension of ourselves. Major-label record companies do not sell art; they sell 50 cents of plastic at $15 because they see music as an industry they can control. Maybe 5 percent of your $15 will end up going to the artist," read one hacked site.

"The (Recording Industry Association of America) does not represent your favorite music artists. They represent rich record executives. These are the fat cats who make profit from the other 95 percent of CD sales. All because you either wanted more money (not like you had enough to begin with, right!?) or because you wanted publicity," read another hacked site, Palminfocenter.com.

While the 17-year-old has stated that he knows what he did was wrong, he doesn't totally regret his actions. "My defacements are protests. I want people to think about the Napster case positively, not negatively," he said.

Before state attorneys can continue with their case, they must wait for the FBI to complete forensics on the computer and other seized equipment. Pimpshiz did indeed "work on" over 200 sites for his pro-Napster cause, yet many of those sites were out of the United States. Which means they are out of the jurisdiction of the FBI.

Pimpshiz is currently seeking legal representation.

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