"The music industry plans to sue another 204 file sharers. The suspects will first have the chance for an amicable settlement.
The first wave of lawsuits by the music industry, represented by the trade association RIAA, against music sharers on the internet is still fresh in memory. Now, the RIAA is preparing another flood of lawsuits. The trade association has changed its tactics, U.S. newspapers report. The next 204 file sharers that the RIAA intends to take to court have received a letter in advance informing them of this upcoming step. The letter urges the file sharers to admit their guilt and seek an amicable settlement with the RIAA. If this does not happen, the music industry association plans to demand damages of at least $750 for each shared song. At the same time, potential defendants are warned against destroying evidence, for example by deleting MP3 files from their computers. The RIAA has not changed its litigation tactics entirely voluntarily, U.S. media report. Politicians heavily criticized the first wave of lawsuits. As it later turned out, schoolgirls and elderly women who allegedly shared rap music were among the defendants. The concerns of politicians are taken seriously, and therefore the RIAA wants to give potential defendants the chance to respond before filing a lawsuit. At the same time, it became known from RIAA circles that the trade association intends to organize its litigation activities differently in the future. There will no longer be waves of lawsuits, but rather regular and weekly new lawsuits against identified file sharers."
Source: PC-Magazin Newsletter
The extortionate methods of the music industry continue. One should calculate the damages. For an average CD with 12 tracks * $750, that would already be $9,000, which at the current exchange rate corresponds to about €7,733. Assuming that MP3s are more likely to be shared by individuals whose wallets are not sufficiently filled, the demand to constantly purchase overpriced original CDs is immense.
Anyone who, with the intent of unjustly enriching themselves or a third party, unlawfully coerces another into an act, tolerance, or omission and thereby causes a financial disadvantage to that person or a third party is punished as an extortionist (§§ 253ff. StGB).
The music industry clearly wants to enrich itself after the declining profits at the expense of the evil file sharers. There is still no conviction that their actions are unlawful; the RIAA merely claims that this is the case. Thus, the sharer of a few MP3s is initially criminalized without a court ruling, extorted for an amount that is in no way justified. If he does not immediately submit to the overpowering music industry, he will be overwhelmed by their legal department. Will there ever be an insight into the inappropriate measures being taken against their own customers, who are certainly not encouraged to buy original CDs?
The first wave of lawsuits by the music industry, represented by the trade association RIAA, against music sharers on the internet is still fresh in memory. Now, the RIAA is preparing another flood of lawsuits. The trade association has changed its tactics, U.S. newspapers report. The next 204 file sharers that the RIAA intends to take to court have received a letter in advance informing them of this upcoming step. The letter urges the file sharers to admit their guilt and seek an amicable settlement with the RIAA. If this does not happen, the music industry association plans to demand damages of at least $750 for each shared song. At the same time, potential defendants are warned against destroying evidence, for example by deleting MP3 files from their computers. The RIAA has not changed its litigation tactics entirely voluntarily, U.S. media report. Politicians heavily criticized the first wave of lawsuits. As it later turned out, schoolgirls and elderly women who allegedly shared rap music were among the defendants. The concerns of politicians are taken seriously, and therefore the RIAA wants to give potential defendants the chance to respond before filing a lawsuit. At the same time, it became known from RIAA circles that the trade association intends to organize its litigation activities differently in the future. There will no longer be waves of lawsuits, but rather regular and weekly new lawsuits against identified file sharers."
Source: PC-Magazin Newsletter
The extortionate methods of the music industry continue. One should calculate the damages. For an average CD with 12 tracks * $750, that would already be $9,000, which at the current exchange rate corresponds to about €7,733. Assuming that MP3s are more likely to be shared by individuals whose wallets are not sufficiently filled, the demand to constantly purchase overpriced original CDs is immense.
Anyone who, with the intent of unjustly enriching themselves or a third party, unlawfully coerces another into an act, tolerance, or omission and thereby causes a financial disadvantage to that person or a third party is punished as an extortionist (§§ 253ff. StGB).
The music industry clearly wants to enrich itself after the declining profits at the expense of the evil file sharers. There is still no conviction that their actions are unlawful; the RIAA merely claims that this is the case. Thus, the sharer of a few MP3s is initially criminalized without a court ruling, extorted for an amount that is in no way justified. If he does not immediately submit to the overpowering music industry, he will be overwhelmed by their legal department. Will there ever be an insight into the inappropriate measures being taken against their own customers, who are certainly not encouraged to buy original CDs?
