RIAA Targets University
Written by Ernesto on November 03, 2006The University of Maryland is confronted with a wave of copyright infringement claims by the RIAA. In one month they received 130 letters, almost a tenfold of what they receive on average.
The biggest spike was in September, probably to scare newcomers, and students who returned form their summer break, but in October they still received a considerably higher number of complaints than the monthly average.
Students are an easy target for the RIAA because they do not have the money to fight back. They often offer students a chance to settle for $3000 or $4000, leaving the students broke, but avoiding a real case. This trick seems to work well for the RIAA, they easily collect money without having to prove (they have no clue) that the defendant is actually someone who engaged in peer to peer file sharing of copyrighted music without authorization
Sometimes it looks like the RIAA willingly selects their targets based on their bank account. They try to avoid the mistake the MPAA made earlier this year by suing millionaire Shawn Hogan who allegedly downloaded a film on BitTorrent. Hogan, however, was not easily scared by the MPAA and said “$100,000 in legal fees is a small price to pay to challenge the MPAA’s tactics. They’re completely abusing the system, I would spend well into the millions on this.”
Previously: Spanish judge: Non-commercial filesharing is legal
Next: Classic Superman Cartoons, Free and Legal on BitTorrent
9 Responses
I love Shawn Hogan.
I got a notice from UCLA via the RIAA last year, and it was because my wireless had no password. I would never download Ben Harper.
The RIAA just keep sinking lower and lower and lower and…
I admire Shawn Hogan. I bet there would be more Shawn Hogan’s if more people had that kind of money. What millionaire is going to let himself be scammed?
[quote comment="19345"]I love Shawn Hogan.[/quote]
Thirded.
[quote comment="19360"]The RIAA just keep sinking lower and lower and lower and…[/quote]
I totally agree, but “lower and lower and…” what?
this is outrageous! go terrapins!
[quote comment="19452"][quote comment="19360"]The RIAA just keep sinking lower and lower and lower and…[/quote]
I totally agree, but “lower and lower and…” what?[/quote]
…lower
Everybody seem to forget a couple of things here.
Downloading Movies and music IS ILLEGAL, there is no if’s or but’s about this, it is in the LAW and last time I checked we were all obligated to follow these laws.
And sorry but we could as well be talking about bank robberies here, should the police just let bank robbers off because everybody does it?
Tactics is nessesary when you deal with this many purpotraiters at the same time.
If you cant do the time, dont do the crime!
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