Defending the families sued by the RIAA, via Kuro5hin [ip]

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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From: "Paul \"Evil Genius\" Music" <evlpawl () cox net>
To: "Pundit" <pundit () instapundit com>, "DeClan" <declan () well com>
Subject: Defending the families sued by the RIAA; via Kuro5hin
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2003 18:07:58 -0500


This is the Daily digest for Kuro5hin.org.

Defending the families sued by the RIAA

By Holmes Wilson, 2003-10-17 13:32:43

Section: Culture, Topic: Music

When the RIAA sued 261 music sharers, the press was ready. Journalists knew 
the suits were coming--it was only a question of when, and who. But for the 
targets of the lawsuits (the vast majority families with children)

there was nothing inevitable about it. Imagine getting hit with a lawsuit

for more than the value of your home because your kids went to the wrong

webpage and downloaded the wrong program. My role in this started a

month ago, when my site was contacted by a programmer who, appalled by the 
story of Brianna LaHara, wanted to collect donations for people who'd been 
sued. We worked out a simple "P2P" Defense Fund 
[<http://downhillbattle.org/defense].that>http://downhillbattle.org/defense].that 
could go up quickly without any legal hassle or red tape, and we started 
calling people who'd been targetted. The first phone calls were a shock: 
until then I'd thought about the lawsuits in intellectual/strategic terms 
(is this a good move for the RIAA or not, etc.) but on the phone these were 
real people with

tough, complex lives: My husband and I both work full time to make ends

meet. We have 4 children ... We are middle class and live from paycheck to 
paycheck. We are good, honest people. This lawsuit has devastated us.

Musicians and independent labels are speaking out against the RIAA 
lawsuits, and one independent musician 
[<http://www.scottandrew.com/>http://www.scottandrew.com] is even donating 
proceeds from his CD sales to the Defense Fund. An opportunity exists to 
stop future lawsuits.

<http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2003/10/16/14350/583>http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2003/10/16/14350/583

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