The RIAA has finally seen the light with regard to its "Clean Slate" program, which offered false amnesty, or shamnesty, to people who admitted to file sharing. Citing the success of its "education" campaign, the group has abruptly cancelled the program.

"Clean Slate" promised that in exchange for a confession, you could gain meaningful protection from lawsuits for copyright infringement. In fact, the program left you vulnerable to lawsuits by record companies and music publishers, as well as bands like Metallica that retain independent control of music rights.

Eric Parke, represented by Ira Rothken, brought suit, charging fraudulent business practices -- and here, perhaps, we can glean the true reason for the RIAA's change of heart. Its attorneys announced during a recent court proceeding that the group had discontinued "Clean Slate" -- and that therefore the case was moot. The announcement took Mr. Parke, his attorney and the judge by surprise.

These kinds of machinations are a terrible waste of time and money. If the RIAA is sincere about helping music fans come in from the cold, it should turn its considerable energies toward offering a true "amnesty" program -- say, by adopting a voluntary collective licensing plan that would turn millions of people from criminals seeking shelter from the law into legitimate paying customers.

More relevant information about this story at EFF.

they knew they were gonna loose and couldn't buy their way out of it

The RIAA should have been heavily penalized.

They weren't. Our government is a sham.

We have the best government that money can buy.

As usual, they changed their game, making their own rules up as they go along. Someday, somehow, this game will end, and THEY will be the losers! Heck, they've already lost, they just don't know how to bow out gracefully without embarassment. ~pepe~

I wouldn't think discontunuing the program would be enough to automatically satisfy a court that there was no wrong done.

Also, what happens with the people who took part in the "Clean Slate" program. Will the RIAA expunge their information from their systems? Will they still honor their promise not to sue any of these individuals? Will they ever get their heads out of their...never mind...I know the answer to this one.

I think we should run contests here, EVERYTIME the riaa does some goofy thing. We'll call the contest Who can make up the best "this is like ... (add comparison here)" . I go first...

This is like.... my dog bit someone and that someone is suing me, but it's all ok now, cause I shot my dog this morning and I'LL drop the lawsuit now thank you very much. HA?????

Next? and what do we give away for prizes? ~pepe~

Okay, I'll play.

This is like....I shot someone who is now suing me, but it's okay because I sold my gun yesterday, so the case is now moot.

What was the name of that guy in that tower in Texas with the rifle again? Nevermind......'whistle'............

And we all know how great that "education" program was...

hold up a second, gotta check my downloads