Have you downloaded music/software from..

[shep]

Kazaa or anyone else??

Is there a link to ask them not to sue you if you delete all the free music you downloaded off the internet and promise not to do it again??

Do you think they will just get the 'big' downloaders?

How much have you downloaded?

 

[lsyorke]

My question too Shep. I checked the RIAA site and they have this very official form to print,have notarized and send in. I don't know who there targeting. Everyone I know was under the impression that if you were downloading for personal use it was OK (this after the whole Napster thing). The RIAA site isn't specific regarding who they will be sueing. DS has deleted the Kazaa program recently since he wasn't using it, but I still have to wonder. I wouldn't want a surprise down the line!!

Anyone else have any information?

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

Did I miss something?

 

[SuiteDisney]

Why don't you just empty out your Shared folder and put those files someplace else? Dump them into you documents and your Kazaa folder will be empty.

 

[SuiteDisney]

And it sounds more like they're targeting the distributors. The best thing you can do is to delete Kazaa.

 

[lsyorke]

"Why don't you just empty out your Shared folder and put those files someplace else? "

Its not having them on your computer thats triggering the lawsuits, its Kazaa releasing the names of those that download alot of songs. One article I found has them targeting people who have downloaded 1000 songs or more. I guess this makes RIAA think that these people are distributing this music commercially.
Interesting thought from some attorney on the "amnesty forms". He said that this opens you up to other copyright infringement problems and recommends that you not send it in.

How confusing is all this!!!

 

[katerkat]

Do old songs count? DH downloaded tons back in college in the Napster days, and we have them burned on CDs. Bad for the envirnoment to toss out those CDs, you know!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by lsyorke
Everyone I know was under the impression that if you were downloading for personal use it was OK (this after the whole Napster thing).

I agree with this. I mean I am NOT a big buyer of cds or dvds. Frankly, I hate them. I want my music to either go back to 8-trak, cassette, vinyl, or just give me the digital.

In fact in Japan you can buy a digital handheld movie tv. I hear that we are unable to receive this technology in the states for fear of pirated movies just like the music industry.
Unfortuately I believe that this will catch up with the movie industry and they are going to be in the same boat.

I do not understand why for the life of me that they have not embraced the future and begun making money on it.

 

[wovenwonder]

CNN's - "Who's Targeted by music swapping suits?"

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The targets of the first lawsuits against music fans who share songs on the Internet include an elderly man in Texas who rarely uses his computer, a Yale University professor and an unemployed woman in New York who says she didn't know she was breaking the law.

Each faces potentially devastating civil penalties or settlements that could cost them tens of thousands of dollars.

Durwood Pickle, 71, of Richardson, Texas, said his teenage grandchildren downloaded music onto his computer during their visits to his home. He said his grown son had explained the situation in an earlier e-mail to the recording industry association.

"I didn't do it, and I don't feel like I'm responsible," Pickle said in an interview. "It's been stopped now, I guarantee you that."

Pickle, who was unaware he was being sued until contacted by The Associated Press, said he rarely uses the computer in his home.

"I'm not a computer-type person," Pickle said. "They come in and get on the computer. How do I get out of this?"

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

The only problem with them accusing those who downloaded many songs and sueing them is, I download some songs that I used to have a CD that I lost or scratched or something...something I already purchased. How would they know if I didn't download songs I previously bought the "rights" to?

I'll be a bit disappointed to see this feature of downloading software and music go away...BUT what the record labels should do is sell each song for like a dollar per song, or a discount on software if you just download it rather than buy it at the store. It's the convenience that I like about it all...that and I wouldn't want to pay $17 for a dang CD I only like for 2 or 3 songs.

This is 2003...the recording companies and other businesses as well, need to take advantage of computers and internet.

Funny (or is it just plain sad?) thing is, this isn't the first time this has been brought up to companies, yet, where is the way to keep those customers?

I did download some software (purchased it, mind you) and saved $10.00 for not having to worry about a box or CD or anything. So, not only did I save money, but I saved time by being able to get it instantly. I loved it and would definitely purchase more programs like that...

 

[issa]

qoute "Interesting thought from some attorney on the "amnesty forms". He said that this opens you up to other copyright infringement problems and recommends that you not send it in. "

this is true..it will only protect you from 4-5 major music companies...BUT it can be used in court by other companies as evidence to pursue you.

I dont think its wise to sign the form

 

[phamton]

If you're really worried you can go here to check to see if you are on the subpena list:
http://www.eff.org/IP/P2P/riaasubpoenas/

Concerned that information about your file-sharing username may have been subpoenaed by the RIAA? Check here to see if your username or IP address is on one of the subpoenas filed with the D.C. District Court. This information is drawn from the court's publicly available PACER database and will be updated when that system is updated. The data base currently has 1,300 subpoenas

Or to read how not to get sued go to:
http://www.eff.org/IP/P2P/howto-notgetsued.php

While there is no way to know exactly what the RIAA is going to do, who it is going to sue, or even how much music qualifies as a "substantial" amount, users of P2P networks can take the following steps to reduce their chances of being sued:

1. Either:
1. Make sure there are no potentially infringing files in your shared folder. This would ordinarily mean that your shared folder contains only files 1) that are in the public domain, 2) for which you have permission to share, or 3) that are made available under pro-sharing licenses, such as the Creative Commons license or other open media licenses, and
2.

Remove all potentially misleading file names that might be confused with the name of an RIAA artist or song (e.g., "Usher" or "Madonna") from your shared folder.

Or:
3. Disable the "sharing" or "uploading" features on your P2P application that allow other users on the network to get copies of files from your computer or scan any of your music directories. We hate this option, but it does appear that it will reduce your chances of becoming an RIAA target right now.

2.

The RIAA appears to be targeting subpoenas at users who allow their computers to be "Supernodes" on the FastTrack P2P System (used, for instance, by KaZaA and Morpheus). In order to further reduce the risk of having your ISP subpoenaed or of being sued yourself, we recommend that you make sure your computer is not being used as a Supernode. To learn more about Supernodes and how to make sure your computer is not one, look here: http://www.whtvcable.com/fasttrack and http://helpdesk.princeton.edu/kb/display.plx?ID=9245. See also Disabling the Supernode function with KaZaA (PDF 331k).
3.

If you receive notice that your ISP has been subpoenaed for your name and address, consider contacting www.subpoenadefense.org, where you can find information about how to defend your privacy and a list of attorneys willing to help. Contact your ISP and ask the people there to notify you immediately if they receive a subpoena seeking your identity.
4.

If you receive a cease and desist letter from the RIAA, consider contacting Chilling Effects, where EFF and several law school clinics are creating a gallery of cease and desist letters along with basic information about the claims being made and your rights online.

 

[Evil Princess]

Is it just me, or is this going a little overboard?

I have more than 1000 songs. Am I nervous? nah...

I know it's not the same, but this whole situation reminds me of the red scare. It's a witch hunt, they're just going to sue everyone. What is it going to accomplish? I don't think that any teenagers are going to stop downloading music because of these lawsuits.

They are targeting college students though. My school gives us many lectures on downloading music. The RA's just tell us not to download more than 5 at once, because if you do the school has a reason to be suspicious for such a large download and calls you in.

So everyone just downloads at less than 5 at a time.

 

[shep]

I've gotten rid of kazaa a while ago, but as Flyfly said I do OWN quite a few cassettes and cd's and it is a lot easier to download them then to copy a cd to your hard drive...

Now I did some downloading with dial-up and thats punishment enough...