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OptimusG4 · May 2, 2003, 04:00 PM

Four college students will pay the major music labels fines ranging from $12,000 to $17,000 each for sharing music on campus networks, the first time file-swapping individuals have agreed to pay damages to the music industry for copyright violations.

Superchicken · May 2, 2003, 04:08 PM

Meh break the law and you pay, it's tottaly with in the RIAA's rights.

I mean really it's not like these guys didn't know they could be sued, I mean they go to top colleges I thinkt hey probably understood oh hey the RIAA could take everything we own.

To be honest I think the RIAA should have not settled but charge enough to get these kids to have to declare bankruptcy.

OptimusG4 · May 2, 2003, 04:15 PM

Well the original idea was to get $150,00 per song...thats rediculus. I agree about paying if you get caught, but they were college students, not siblings of Bill Gates.

starman · May 2, 2003, 04:53 PM

Meh break the law and you pay, it's tottaly with in the RIAA's rights.

I don't buy that (no pun intended). I'm not FOR stealing, but up until Monday, there was no easy way to buy music online for a reasonable cost. People want low cost and convenience which didn't exist until Monday. I'm sorry, but the RIAA can shove their pre-Monday lawsuits up their ass.

However, NOW that there's a legit and easy-to-use online service I think that the RIAA can do what they want.

Mike

May 2, 2003, 07:00 PM

Originally posted by OptimusG4:
Read more.

They knew what they were doing was illegal. They did it anyway.

I'm glad the RIAA is doing this. That's what they should be doing. They shouldn't be suing software companies, trying to get tariffs placed on blank media, or putting restrictive copy protection on CDs that only tick off their law-abiding customers.

May 2, 2003, 07:03 PM

Originally posted by starman:
I don't buy that (no pun intended). I'm not FOR stealing, but up until Monday, there was no easy way to buy music online for a reasonable cost. People want low cost and convenience which didn't exist until Monday. I'm sorry, but the RIAA can shove their pre-Monday lawsuits up their ass.

So what? That doesn't mean it's ok to steal it. Outside the US, there is no online music store - does that mean it's ok to steal music there? Is there an item in the Charter of Human Rights saying we have a right to purchase music online? These kids could have easily hauled their asses down to a music store and bought CDs. They stole music and then gave it to everyone else - they did the crime, and now they should pay.

Anomalous · May 2, 2003, 07:18 PM

I don't need another reason, I HATE THE RIAA!

cpt kangarooski · May 2, 2003, 10:15 PM

Originally posted by hayesk:
These kids could have easily hauled their asses down to a music store and bought CDs. They stole music and then gave it to everyone else - they did the crime, and now they should pay.

Actually, that's not what they did. They're more like Napster -- they created search engines that other people could and did use to infringe. They likely did do some direct infringing on their own, but nowhere near the amount they were being sued for. They're basically contributory infringers.