posted on Jul, 3 2009 @ 12:38 AM
I personally think these fines are ridiculous. Most downloads are $1 if you get them from iTunes and whatnot, so if she downloaded 24 songs it should
be $24 right? I think someone mentioned if you shoplift you don't get fined this much. I mean, what is the max you can get, say if I shoplifted a CD
and got caught? No where near 1.9 million. So how do they prove she even downloaded them?
Only your ISP provider has the info linked to your IP address. You cannot get individual information from an IP address alone. Try it yourself. At
best you will get your ISP provider information, but not your personal info. I guess your ISP provider can give the government that info, but they
would need a warrant correct?
Also, can they prove she doesn't already have the music on CD/tape/record/whatever?? I thought you were allowed an "archival" copy for backup
purposes. Another thing, can they prove she has the file? So they say she downloaded it, ok...where is it?? Again, they would need a warrant to
search here computer for said file. What if they cannot find it. Would they not need this evidence to prove she downloaded it?
Again, we are going by what is on record at an ISP, what if a hacker somehow used the same IP and downloaded said files? Can this be proven?
Why is this person being singled out?? I'm pretty sure she isn't the only one, yet she is getting media coverage? Why? This practice isn't new,
why aren't all the others getting media attention. I often think these are just scare tactics put out by the media. Remember the "Pepsi girl"? I
want to say she was one of the first cases where she was fined a huge amount of money for downloading music...oh, and then she was put in a pepsi
commercial saying to download legally or something. I'm just going of of memory right now...I could be wrong.
I find so many things wrong downloading music and record companies trying to prove if it's legal or illegal. What if my download is damaged, what if
some bytes are lost in transmission...do I get a re-download. Do you even get a receipt?? What if my hard drive crashes? My ipod gets stolen?
Can I insure my legally downloaded music collection in case something like this happens?
I read an article that says the RIAA wont let me sell my used mp3's! Why not?? I mean I can buy CD's and sell them if I want right? I have resale
shops in my area that specialize in selling and buying used CD's/Records, and even video games. If downloading is the same as buying (leagally)
then why am I not able to re-sell my mp3 at a discounted price? The article says there is no way to prove if the music was obtained legally by the
seller.
The article states "Unlike CDs — physical products you hand over to a record store clerk — digital files can be replicated ad infinitum with
negligible expense". So, is it about the physical media, or the song itself?? Basically I can legally buy an intangible object (mp3 file) but
cannot sell it because it CAN NOT BE PROVEN it was obtained legally. On the other hand I can buy a tangible object (music CD) and sell it because the
CD cannot be replicated (actual pressings...I could make a CDR) and the contents are verified as legitimiate. Fine, but who is to say the physical CD
was obtained legally? The number one place stolen CD's go to are pawn shops and resell shops. Who verifies if those were obtained legally??
If the RIAA says songs were downloaded illegally, they should have the proof without a shadow of a doubt, other than and IP address saying you were at
a certain place at a certain time with a certain file. Can they prove the mp3 is actually an mp3 and not a renamed file?? There are so many ways to
look at this.
sorry for the rant and the long post, but I'm a thinker.