Ray Beckerman Speaks on RIAA Consumer Lawsuit Terror Campaign
Ray Beckerman spoke on RIAA consumer lawsuits in a conference call for DefectiveByDesign.org, which is a part of the Free Software Foundation. I attended the call. Ray spoke eloquently about how RIAA investigations and lawsuits proceed, how consumer and privacy rights are trampled, and how people, including the poor, unemployed, and disabled, are forced to choose between spending tens of thousands of dollars to defend themselves or $3,000 to $5,000 to settle … even if they are totally innocent.
Ray is raising money to help defend his cases and set precedent. DefectiveByDesign.org provides both the audio and transcript from the call, as well as a donation link.
I heard of one of those cases. Marie Lindor, a home health aide who has never bought, used, or even turned on a computer in her life, was sued by the RIAA in Brooklyn federal court for using an ‘online distribution system’ to ‘download, distribute, and/or make available for distribution’ plaintiff’s music files. That’s outrageous!
I am curious if they have come to an agreement. 5 thousand dollars is quite a small fee to pay.
That is the law and those are the risks you could pay even if you are completely innocent. If you can’t prove it you are so little…