Hey RIAA, Merry Fricken' Christmas!
Published December 19, 2003
Today, a U.S. appeals court told the RIAA that it's subpoena-rama is not lawful:
- A U.S. appeals court said Friday the recording industry's methods for tracking down those who copy its music over the Internet are not authorized by law.
The Recording Industry Association of America, a trade group, has sought to force Verizon Communications and other Internet service providers to reveal the names of customers it suspects may be copying music without permission.
Verizon has argued that existing copyright law does not give the recording industry such authority.
"In sum, we agree with Verizon that (the law) does not by its terms authorize the subpoenas issued here," Chief Judge Douglas Ginsburg wrote.
I can't wait to see what comes next.
(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)
Mark Saleski is a writer and music obsessive based out of the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. On his best day, he hopes to channel the ghosts of Lester Bangs and Jack Kerouac. He spends the hours of 9:32PM to 1:37AM carving out music reviews and essays for Jazz.com, Blogcritics.org and other publications.
- Hey RIAA, Merry Fricken' Christmas!
- Published: December 19, 2003
- Type:
- Section: Culture
- Writer: Mark Saleski
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And the Netherlands just ruled Kazaa not responsible for illegal file trading using its software.
My hope is that these rulings, and similar ones to follow, will reduce the RIAA to insignificance. Nothing better could happen for the art of music.
Put me in the camp that would like to see more self/direct artist promotion.
I have to look into it more but this sounds like an absolute vindication of those who have been saying the unreviewed subpoena process is unconstitutional. The more of these kinds of rulings we get, the more the recording industry is going to have to work with the P2P biz. Big day.
It amounts to cyber-stalking which is an invasion of privacy. I can't believe it took this long for the so-called authorities to figure that out. It would appear that the Canadians are ahead of the game. Merry Fricken' Christmas indeed!
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Although I have supported the RIAA's right to sue downloaders for copyright infringement, I wholeheartedly applaud this decision! The right to sue doesn't equate to the right to violate privacy. If I'm a downloader, find out who I am without violating my privacy, and then sue me.