CNN Breaking News

[assorted]

On the top of CNN right now is the "Breaking News" headline:

"Recording industry files 261 lawsuits against Internet music file sharers, announces amnesty program for individuals. Details soon."

Whoohoo! The fun just got started!!!

[RDixon]

Those arrogant stupid bastards.
Think music sales have been declining?
Watch what happens to their crippled cash cow now.
This just may be the straw that causes the collapse of the entire industry.
I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of songs that are traded online would be in the public domain now anyway had it not been for the "Bought n paid for " new copyright laws of the past 75 years. I know the majority of my collection would have been.
I say fuck em.
I'll be sharing more now and hope they decide to sue me.
And fuck their price cut.
Let em bleed to death on their own ignorance.

[assorted]

full article is on CNN now:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/interne...ing/index.html

but here's the whole article if yer curious:

261 music file swappers sued; amnesty program unveiled

By Jeordan Legon
CNN
Monday, September 8, 2003 Posted: 1:47 PM EDT (1747 GMT)

(CNN) -- The recording industry filed 261 lawsuits against individual Internet music file sharers Monday and announced an amnesty program for people who admit they illegally share music files across the Internet.

The federal lawsuits and amnesty program are the lastest moves by the Recording Industry Association of America in its fight against illegal trading of music files on the Internet, which record companies blame for declining sales.

Cary Sherman, president of the RIAA, said the civil lawsuits filed were against "major offenders" who made available an average of 1,000 copyrighted song files.

Sherman also announced the Clean Slate Program that grants amnesty to users who voluntarily identify themselves and promise not to share music on the Internet. The RIAA says it will not sue users who sign and have notarized a Clean Slate Program affidavit.

"We're willing to hold out our version of an olive branch," Sherman said.

"For those who want to wipe the slate clean and to avoid a potential lawsuit, this is the way to go," added Mitch Bainwol, RIAA Chairman and CEO. "We want to send a strong message that the illegal distribution of copyrighted works has consequences, but if individuals are willing to step forward on their own, we want to go the extra step and extend them this option."

The offer of amnesty will not apply to about 1,600 people targeted by copyright subpoenas from the RIAA. More information about RIAA's amnesty program is available at www.musicunited.org.

[JackSpratts]

if a "major" offender shares 1000 songs then i must be a "major general". hell, i might even be secretary of the army! thanks for the promotion riaa dudes!

- js.

[assorted]

Sarcastic online responses to the RIAA suits has made the cover of Drudge Report, at least for this 15 minutes...

http://www.drudgereport.com/

here is the article drudge is linking to:

http://netscape5.marketwatch.com/new...0FA7C27920B%7D