$1.9 million -- for 24 songs. Please call Congress

David Traver

(CNN) -- A federal jury Thursday found a 32-year-old Minnesota woman guilty of illegally downloading music from the Internet and fined her $80,000 each -- a total of $1.9 million -- for 24 songs. Elianne Friend CNN, Woman fined to tune of $1.9 million for illegal downloads - CNN.com, at http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/06/18/minnesota.music.download.fine/index.html (last visited June 19, 2009).

The jury found Thomas-Rasset's conduct to be willful, which means that statutory damages under the Copyright Act can range from $750 per infringement up to $150,000. In his closing statement, defense lawyer Joe Sibley made clear that even the minimum award would run $18,000 (24 songs x $750 = $18,000), an amount that he said was unfair and crippling to Thomas-Rasset. The jury decided that the per-song penalty would be $80,000, for a total damage award of $1.92 million, over $1.7 million more than the award in her first trial. Thomas verdict: willful infringement, $1.92 million penalty - Ars Technica, at http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/06/jammie-thomas-retrial-verdict.ars (last visited June 19, 2009).

What does this mean to you? Well, if you have music CDs and you have been copying them on to your computer or your Iphone, or anywhere else, you are violating the law. Do you move software from one computer to another? Violation. Do you download music? Each song is a violation.

If you think this is an asinine verdict and an improper burden you may wish to do several things. (or not)

First, erase every violating electronic object from your electronic systems and shred all your MP3s

Second boycott music, DVDs and BluRay., Never buy another RIAA protected piece of work, ever. Get a banjo or something and start making your own music. Boycott all movies, concerts, and other commercial performances that are affiliated with this kind of litigation. That is, send a message to the industry that they suck. If you want a CD or something, go to a garage sale and buy an original used copy. (I prefer this option. Piss-off, music industry.)

Third, call your Congressional delegation and complain about this bad law, the Digital Music Copyright Act (DMCA). (Possible waste of time?)

But see: http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6534542.ece

So, most people will ignore this awful case and keep copying CDs on to their iPods, etc. I say go for option two and boycott the jerks who would pursue such a ridiculous action.

Guest · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 06:03 am Post subject:

99 cents per song plus a late fee would have been more appropriate.