Since September 2003, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has been launching new waves of lawsuits against private users of file-sharing networks, claiming to curb the illegal exchange of copyrighted music. However, consumer discontent with this approach is growing stronger — and some are now resorting to legal countermeasures.
As reported by CNet, Michele Scimeca, an insurance employee living in New Jersey who also received a lawsuit letter from the RIAA, has now engaged lawyers to take action against the RIAA. In her opinion, it is unlawful for the RIAA to offer defendants an out-of-court settlement in exchange for payment of correspondingly high fees.
A large portion of the recent lawsuits initiated by the RIAA has already been settled out of court, with defendants typically having to pay sums of several thousand US dollars. Scimeca views this as a mafia-like approach — first, users are threatened, and then they are extorted into paying fines. Since most individuals are too afraid to confront such a large organization as the RIAA, this tactic has been successful in most cases so far.
Scimeca's lawsuit is now set to be heard in a federal court in New Jersey.
Source: golem.de
As reported by CNet, Michele Scimeca, an insurance employee living in New Jersey who also received a lawsuit letter from the RIAA, has now engaged lawyers to take action against the RIAA. In her opinion, it is unlawful for the RIAA to offer defendants an out-of-court settlement in exchange for payment of correspondingly high fees.
A large portion of the recent lawsuits initiated by the RIAA has already been settled out of court, with defendants typically having to pay sums of several thousand US dollars. Scimeca views this as a mafia-like approach — first, users are threatened, and then they are extorted into paying fines. Since most individuals are too afraid to confront such a large organization as the RIAA, this tactic has been successful in most cases so far.
Scimeca's lawsuit is now set to be heard in a federal court in New Jersey.
Source: golem.de
