Why the RIAA’s extortion racket works so well
In this article “Does the RIAA let defaulters off the hook?” from Ars, Nate Anderson explains why the RIAA’s extortion racket works so well, and exactly why the US’ copyright books need a good rewriting so as laws that were meant to be used business to business are not abused in the way the RIAA are using them: business to consumer.
In the end, despite the long and winding road to a settlement, Straw ended up paying $5,350. The original complaint had listed nine songs, including “Rock Wit U” and “Cleanin Out My Closet,” which would have been worth $6,750 plus several hundred dollars in fees if Straw had defaulted. And, as the recording industry implied, more songs could always be added to the complaint.
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“No one wants a default judgment on their record,” says Pariser. “It can ruin your credit indefinitely. It’s also not an easy way to avoid paying. We use a collections firm to try to recover on all of the default judgments we get.”That firm? Caine & Weiner, which has been around since 1930 and specializes in “global receivables solutions.” Translation: these are some high-class repo men.
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The bottom line appears to be simple. If you’re liable, settle. If you didn’t do it, go ahead and fight The Man in court—it’s the only way to get out of a fine altogether.
As one astute commentator remarked:
As we’ve seen before, networked printers have received DMCA takedown letters. I don’t know what’s scarier: settling when you know you’re innocent, or facing a million dollar judgment.
Don’t you all agree that’s what is wrong with this whole mess? Settling is just easier than proving innocence.
Couldn’t agree with you more if I tried buddy.
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- Pink Floyd Bitch Slap EMI
- Finished With Slavery, RIAA Are Back To Fairy Tales
- RIAA Jump On Another Bandwagon: Haiti
- Judge Sides With RIAA, Against Class Action
- HBO to Make RIAA Self Destruct Film!
- Verizon to Forward RIAA Warning Letters
- RIAA Branch (BVMI) Lose In Germany: Private Copying Still Legal
