[Y!] Woman to pay 1.92 million for illegal downloads - Page 12 - Overclock.net

Dman · 06-19-09

This lady is being charged with copyright infringement, and according to USA law, those fines are the punishment for copyright infringment. Her fines are not based on the value of the music, they are basically the highest fine that can be imposed on someone for committing copyright infringement. Ever read those FBI warnings on movies? The punishment for violating copyright laws can be as high as $250 000 per violation. These laws have been around long before there was even file sharing. For all you piracy purests out there who say that downloading music, games etc. without paying for them is not stealing, its copyright infringement, you are correct, and that is what this lady is being fined for. However I doubt she will pay even a fraction of that money, it is more of a scare tactic to curb file sharing.

eXtr3m3 · 06-19-09

I know i'd butcher certain people if i was her...i mean wth 80k??

dralb · 06-19-09

Plenty of sea-lawyers in this thread.

I am curious: What means or how did they determine the fine? It was more than the judge saying $80k per is good. I know you all love to say gov't is corrupt and the music industry has everyone in their pocket, but there has to be some sort of basis for this judgment. I agree that it is a very high amount, but there has to be some fact behind it no matter how small.

Also, I agree that she took the risk and has nobody else to blame. Just because you and your peers think the punishment for a crime is silly doesn't make it go away or make it less wrong to steal.

ElMikeTheMike · 06-19-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_Henderson

As a musicion myself, I can say it basically infuriates me how much money is tied up in the recording industry. Music is not about money. At least, it never used to be. How about if someone gets nabbed for theft under $5000, and then is ordered to pay back a restitution of $100,000? Realistic? Not really. Ridiculous? Sure. Anyway, not trying to start a flame war. People need to see past laws and governments to understand, which is something most are unable to comprehend. Anyway, not starting a flame war. Just stating opinion.

And if you're a musician and you hit the big time, you're not going to want your music freely distributed around the internet. You put a lot of time, effort, heart and soul into your music, and you're not going to care who gets it? Please.

The problems many of you have is with the federal/state laws that allow juries (not the RIAA) to decide how much restitution someone has to pay.

Really, all the outrage here boils down to one thing: People are afraid of the day when they won't be able to download whatever it is they want. That's my two cents.

Aaron_Henderson · 06-19-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElMikeTheMike

And if you're a musician and you hit the big time, you're not going to want your music freely distributed around the internet. You put a lot of time, effort, heart and soul into your music, and you're not going to care who gets it? Please.

The problems many of you have is with the federal/state laws that allow juries (not the RIAA) to decide how much restitution someone has to pay.

Really, all the outrage here boils down to one thing: People are afraid of the day when they won't be able to download whatever it is they want. That's my two cents.

Dude, I would care less if technology as we know it was banned and we all lived in self built log shacks. And if I made it big, I would care less who downloads my music. The more people to hear it, the better. I mean, as long as I could make a descent living from touring. Not going to argue though. Thousands of years of civilization have "brain washed" people. No matter how much I argue I wouldn't get anywhere. What did musicians do before record labels? Think about that for a second...

dieanotherday · 06-19-09

Just go Fight Club and bomb all the entertainment skyscrapers.

dieanotherday · 06-19-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElMikeTheMike

And if you're a musician and you hit the big time, you're not going to want your music freely distributed around the internet. You put a lot of time, effort, heart and soul into your music, and you're not going to care who gets it? Please.

The problems many of you have is with the federal/state laws that allow juries (not the RIAA) to decide how much restitution someone has to pay.

Really, all the outrage here boils down to one thing: People are afraid of the day when they won't be able to download whatever it is they want. That's my two cents.

The only thing I care about is how fast my work gets spread.