RIAA Sues AllofMp3.com for $1.65 Trillion

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Hello All,
There was a lengthy discussion about the RIAA a few months back. It would be good for you all to search the archive and read that thread. The RIAA wants their members to get paid for what they own, their intellectual property being used by the masses.

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

RIAA wants their members to get paid for what they own, their intellectual property being used by the masses.

The question is, whether the artists/producers individually own the rights to this music, or whether the recording industry at large collectively owns it. Russian intellectual property law is its own beast, and consequently, the North American concepts of ownership aren't necessarily applicable there. Russian law currently recognizes group ownership and group licencing for conventional radio broadcasts (meaning individual songs don't need to be licenced), and allofmp3.com tried to extend that model to downloadable content. It's for the Russians to decide whether that conforms with their law.

Also, damages of $150 000 per download are simply stupid. How are the plaintiffs proposing to prove that each of 11 million downloads caused those damages, especially when they themselves licence the very same songs over other services for less than a dollar apiece? What court would offer punitive damages in that amount, when it is obviously beyond the means of the defendant's nation to cover the sum of the damages?

[Ryan Dognaux]

As I've said before, this cannot be stopped - especially when you're dealing with countries other than your own. The Pirate Bay's servers (formerly based in Sweden) were raided and look what happened - they came back stronger than ever. The RIAA is really only going to make AllOfMp3.com even stronger from this lawsuit, and come on, 1.65 trillion dollars? Right. Keep dreaming. This should be entertaining to say the least though.

[chris31]

The RIAA does alot of stupid stuff and I hope they lose this case. I actually bought a CD from them several years ago before this whole RIAA lowsuit started. It runs from Russia so I dont think the RIAA can do much. I for one would like to see the law suit fail since I hate seeing the US try and dominate and overpower the laws of other countries.

[efoote868]

Personally, I think everything having to do with intellectual property is just messed. The laws, regulations, and organizations set up have become out of hand. I think a reform is in order.

[chris31]

Originally Posted by efoote868

Personally, I think everything having to do with intellectual property is just messed. The laws, regulations, and organizations set up have become out of hand. I think a reform is in order.

Agreed. Btw take this RIAA. http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2006/12...over-new-years