CORPORADOS

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LICENSE DOWNLOADING INSTEAD OF SUING OVER IT

FRED VON LOHMANN, WASHINGTON POST OP ED - The House committees
responsible for copyright and education wrote a joint letter May 1
scolding the presidents of 19 major American universities, demanding
that each school respond to a six-page questionnaire detailing steps it
has taken to curtail illegal music and movie file-sharing on campus. One
of the questions -- "Does your institution expel violating students?" --
shows just how out-of-control the futile battle against campus
downloading has become. . .

History is sure to judge harshly everyone responsible for this absurd
state of affairs. Our universities have far better things to spend money
on than bullying students. Artists deserve to be fairly compensated, but
are we really prepared to sue and expel every college student who has
made an illegal copy? . . .


It's not an effective solution, either. Short of appointing a copyright
hall monitor for every dorm room, there is no way digital copying will
be meaningfully reduced. . . Even if students were completely cut off
from the Internet, they would continue to copy CDs, swap hard drives and
pool their laptops. . .

The only solution is a blanket license that permits students to get
unrestricted music and movies from sources of their choosing.

At its heart, this is a fight about money, not about morality. We should
have the universities collect the cash, pay it to the entertainment
industry and let the students do what they are going to do anyway

[Von Lohmann] is a senior staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier
Foundation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/05/
AR2007060501761.html


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FLORIDA CASE ACCUSES RIAA OF CONSPIRACY AND EXTORTION

RECORDING INDUSTRY VS. THE PEOPLE - In a new Tampa, Florida, case, UMG
v. Del Cid, the defendant has filed the following five counterclaims
against the RIAA, under Florida, federal, and California law:

1. Trespass

2. Computer Fraud and Abuse

3. Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices

4. Civil Extortion

5. Civil Conspiracy involving (a) use of private investigators without
license; (b) unauthorized access to a protected computer system, in
interstate commerce, for the purpose of obtaining information; (c)
extortion in violation of Ca. Penal Code; and (d) knowingly collecting
an unlawful consumer debt, and using abus[ive] means to do so, in
violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2007/06/riaa-accused-
of-extortion-and.html


NY LAWYER - After 2 years, the RIAA has finally dropped its longstanding
case against disabled single mother Tanya Andersen in Oregon, Atlantic
v. Andersen. The dismissal relates merely to the RIAA's claims against
Ms. Andersen, and does not relate to her (a) claim for attorneys fees or
(b) counterclaims against the RIAA, which are presently before the court
on a motion to dismiss. This is the same case in which the RIAA insisted
on taking a face to face deposition of a 10 year old girl. Prior to the
case, neither the mother nor the child had ever even heard of file
sharing.

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/06/05/1233253&from=rss
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CULTURAL ENTROPY UPDATE: TOWN'S JULY 4TH PARADE THREATENED BY INSURANCE
BILL
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD, ME - Freeport's Fourth of July parade -- a
decades-long tradition that is in danger of being canceled this year --
may have a savior. A group of residents is volunteering to organize the
event if the town will sponsor it and provide insurance. . .
The event, which features creative homemade floats and events like a
fireman's muster, draws good-sized crowds. However, no parade has been
scheduled this year. White said he has heard that private groups don't
want to sponsor the event because of insurance concerns. On Dec. 1, a
3-year-old girl was seriously injured when she fell from a float in a
parade in town. It was unclear on Monday who sponsored that parade. . .
But Town Manager Dale Olmstead said there might be an additional cost to
the town. He said the insurance carrier has sent the town a lengthy
questionnaire, asking such questions as whether everyone who
participates in the parade would sign a liability waiver and if horses
or live circus acts would be involved. He said extra costs could result.

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=110708&ac=PHnws

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