Mn lady to pay $1.92 Million for illegal file-sharing

[shadyspeed3]

first thing that popped up at me on yahoo home page. $80 grand per song for 24 songs! :busted2:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_tec_music_downloading

 

[VTEC8YA]

Bhahahahahahahahah

 

[dmention7]

pwnd.

I'm torn on cases like this. The final number handed down by the jury is obviously ridiculous, and I'm honestly quite surprised that a jury of average citizens would choose a punishment that so obviously doesn't fit the crime--no way in hell this lady did 1.92 million in damages to the recording industry.

But at the same time, this lady is an idiot for not settling for the $3-5k the RIAA apparently offered earlier in the case. Whether or not you agree with the RIAA's tactics, there can be no question in anyone's mind that she was committing copyright infringement, and when you are unquestionably legally liable for millions of dollars in fines, you'd be a fool not to settle for a miniscule fraction of that number.

 

[Shnifty]

Completely Rediculous. The music industry is a piece of crap and they make way too much money as it is. Screw them. WTF is this jury thinking?

 

[dmention7]

I still fail to understand where the concept of making "too much money" comes from. Why is it good for some industries to make mad bank, but it's bad for other industries?

 

[ZoomZoom Diva]

Completely Rediculous. The music industry is a piece of crap and they make way too much money as it is. Screw them. WTF is this jury thinking?

Why is this in any way relevant? A person's property rights should have no bearing on how much money they make or your opinion of the person.

 

[shadyspeed3]

Come on guys be nice to the new guy! :KANE:

 

[dmention7]

lol, not trying to be mean, just staying factual and on topic.

 

[niterydr]

The punishment did not fit the crime, but perhaps they just needed an example.

 

[Shnifty]

I'm not saying they don't deserve their money. I'm all for capitalism, I'm just saying that even thought they've supposedly lost sooo much money from downloading and sharing music, they still seem to be doing pretty well for themselves and don't need to be trying to ruin some girls life for almost no reason.

 

[YSOSLO]

Once the recording industry has one defendant completely pwned by teh system, the rest of the people they go up against will be much more likely to settle = a nice chunk of change for the recording industry (especially for the lawyers of the recording industry).