Hi there. My name is Amy Latten, and I'm a second year architecture student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. When I'm not busy with school, which is an incredibly rare occasion, I'm playing the cello, hanging out with my friends, watching movies, or relaxing and listening to music. And unfortunately, that's where my problem comes into play. RPI is a school that is privileged enough to have Internet2, a form of internet which many are calling the "express route" to the web. Along with Internet2 come some privileges, which include the optional use of a file-sharing program called i2Hub. This program works just like any other file-sharing program, but the downloads go a lot faster. Periodically, I would download music using this tool, and I would listen to it for my own personal use on my own personal leisure time.

Fairly recently, I received an e-mail in my mailbox from the Dean of Students here which stated the following (ver batum):

Amy -

Unfortunately, your IP addr matches one submitted for civil action by the RIAA. It appears that the number of MP3's and shared files exceeds 1,000 and 2,000 respectively. Your Case ID is 481***94. I would suggest you discuss this situation with your parents and seek legal counsel. I do not know the timeline for addressing your case as of today. No information has been submitted to the RIAA, but will once RPI is court ordered to do so.


After meeting with the Dean and discussing the issue with a lawyer, I decided that the best idea in this case is to settle with the RIAA. They had me listed for sharing just under 2000 songs, and if I were ti take the issue to federal court, not only would I really not have a case, but I would have to pay 750 dollars for each song in my library, which would come up just shy of 1.4 million dollars, and I would need to pay for a ton of lawyer's fees. My settlement is for $3750. So, I guess I can just say, "you do the math;" $3750 or $1.5 million; I think the question really doesn't need an answer.

So, here is where my real problem comes in. I am already involved in an extremely confusing and very involved lawsuit at home. Here's the story with that: When I was learning how to drive with my driver's ed instructor on a practice drive one day, I was making a turn and was struck by a woman driving another vehicle. The police came and said that it wasn't my fault, and I assumed everything would be okay as far as the driver's ed company's insurance to cover what needed to be covered if need be. So the woman decides to sue the driver's ed company for an unbelievably high amount of money for problems ranging from "marital distress" to medical bills and the like. Unfortunately, the driver's ed company's policy only covers up to 2 million dollars, and the suit called for more. So now my family was involved. I've had to sign dispositions and all kinds of other legal papers in defense of myself, and now they're saying that the settlement will most likely be $250,000. But I honestly don't know what will be asked from the company which I took driving lessons from and what will be asked of me and my family.

A second simultaneous lawsuit is never good, especially when you've worried yourself sick over one already. When it comes down to it, I'm still just a college kid, and I do not have the money to pay for this right now; nor will I after an entire summer's worth of work. Not to mention the fact that I have to get through the entire next school year with the money I make over the summer, and that would be impossible if I put 100% of my funds into this mess.

The bottom line is that I am looking for donations from anyone, anywhere. I'm looking for anyone who feels like they can help to do just that. I'll take donations as low as one cent to as high as you're willing to go. But my goal is to eventually make back the $3750 that I am required to pay the RIAA. You can view the four files which I am being sued for here. I am Doe #13 on RPI Exhibit A. So please, if you have a few extra dollars, and you're willing to help a college girl out, you can donate in one of two ways:

The first is to e-mail me at lattea@rpi.edu and just tell me your intentions. I will e-mail you back as soon as I get your message with my full address for your donation, which can be paid any way you feel comfortable.

The second method is to use Paypal. Just click the first link below this text (the donation banner), and you can donate however much or little you want to via an online secure shopping cart with any major credit card or instantly through any bank account. A Paypal account is not necessary!

Thank you in advance for your understanding, compassion, sympathy, and maybe even empathy in some cases. I look forward to talking to all who feel a donation is the right thing to do.

Amy's site, click HERE

Boycott-Riaa hates the fact that the content cartel sues folk like you. We think it morally wrong and that it is nothing short of extortion.

I can not personally condone anyone sending you money so you can just fork it over to the RIAA. (Not only do you have to pay the money, but there are certainly many other unfair conditions you would be ordered to abide by. Please read the settlement offer they give you!) Bailing you out in this way only sends the message that the RIAA is "right" to act the way they do.

Sorry Amy, but you need to take responsibility for your own actions.

Were you to FIGHT this injustice, I would be first in line to help any way I could...

...but I will not donate money to the RIAA. (That's really what you are asking when it all boils down to it!)

there sure are a lot of question marks here. I hate to sound like mroop but it sounds like your in a position where you're just going to have to suck it up and cope.

Unfortuantely, I can't condone giving money to the riaa either. I've paid them enough over the last 3 decades that I just can't see giving them another nickle. Worse than that if you have even one song from assly simpson, nelly, $0.49 (that's 50 cents for most people), madonna, sheryl crow's feet or nsuck the harsh reality of the day is you deserve to be sued.

sorry, I can't stomach those so called artists or the so called business executives at the riaa. I won't be giving them any money.

if donations to such persons became more common place, I could see this becoming a swindler's scheme to phish for donations for fictional lawsuits. I'm too lazy to check her site to see if it looks legit, but I'm also not inclined to donate to the RIAA anyway.

I will donate for legal fees to fight the power, make them prove their case -- make them prove they own the copyrights! Not a penny for "tribute" though.

I did send a donation to one of the earliest people sued, a college kid, because all he did was write a program and operate a network, he was not actually sharing files. I felt sorry for those kids. The extortion fee was bigger than this case, too.

I've had enough of supporting victims like this, cause from what I've already read, the RIAA has been using this as another form of "generating" income.

Time to take the stand folks. Quit feeding the greed machine and haul your butts to the judge. You people should obviously know by now you can settle there for FAR less then what those fags are asking for.

p.s. Yes I called you RIAA punks FAGS, eat me!

I'd certainly pony up money for a defence, but not for extortion. I hven't given the cartel any money for years and I've just stopped buying Anything from the MPAA too.

If she decides to fight, then I'm there.

Can you imagine losing and having to pay a 1.5 million dollar fine. What would the public outcry be like? Would she get jail time too? Maybe she'd win.

"I hate to sound like mroop but it sounds like your in a position where you're just going to have to suck it up and cope."

Heh heh. Sometimes the truth hurts.

"Yes I called you RIAA punks FAGS, eat me!"

I don't know why you have to go insulting fags. Maybe you were raped in prison?

She's kinda cute. I'll donate 5 bucks if she takes her top off. : ) And is that a cello and harmonica combo she's got going on? That's pretty freaky in and of itself.

I am currently sharing over 6000 tracks just to bother the RIAA Ha Ha Ha! And to make thing worst I email them to let them know about it! I wish they had sued me instead of this guys because I will have a case to satisfy my own law that unfortunately for the RIAA differs. I concluded that they are probably affraid of me.

Fuck the laws fuck the lawyers and fuck the judges when big parasitic corporations corrupt our government no longer serving our societies. Since any little money they could still manage to rob from us will be use to sue another citizen, I swear that the RIAA will never get any penny from me after I have feed these tap-worms for so many year buying their CDs. No more RIAA CD no for pay download no free promotional offer nothing! I will never settle! Even if the ""Justice""" (What justice?) condanned me to $100 billions I will never pay!
For the record I never compromise on anything and trying to make me do so is dangerous.

If at least half of us were like me they would be no bullies in our society.

I don't need excuse for what I am doing or what I will be doing but the only thing I have to say is that for them it will be vastly better to lose in court and refund the money they extorted to the citizen of this country! They are not invincible you know and lawyers and corrupted congressmen and judges or cops are poor protections. By keeping bending the law it will snap bringing to an end the domination of the master of BS and other parasites. All this RIAA/MPAA Terrorists can burn in hell with Ben Laden! I am not affraid!

MajorTreat - You are nothing but a pussy running scared from the RIAA. You are not sharing any RIAA music because you are afraid. Your babbling and blustering does not fool anyone! You are cowering in the corner crying like a little baby because you cannot get your RIAA music for free anymore. That is why you are so angry.

I'l donate to a defense, not a payment.

Treat, If you e-mailed them, they'd be there. I too think you may be full of it.

On a normal day I hate the RIAA as much as anyone else, I really started hating it when naspter got shutdown, For no reason, except corp greed.

This girl is having a very hard time, I mean getting sued for drivers Ed, she is really seeing the worst of american corp justice system.

As long as she wasn't downloading any copyrighted or illegal file i support her,

But being a software developer and "hobby" music producer myself, I glad people that download illegal files don't get off scott free,

there has to be some kind of Incentive to stop people from downloading files, if that means being sued than so be it, and 3000$ probably doesn't even cover the damange she has done If she downloaded illegal files.

artist and record companies pay million for a album sometimes that much on a single track

I don't belive people should be able to just steal a artist hardwork and sometimes life savings and share it with the world with no Consequences

As I said if she wasn't doing anything illegal than I support her and the p2p movement.

Of course if she was doing something illegal I just support the p2p movement.

RPI received at least one of the original four lawsuits that started this. If you're going to school there and are still sharing music on the school's Internet connection, you are too stupid to go to a college with Polytechnic in its name.

Poor Amy. She hasn't made it out of college and she's screwed. If only she'd listened to DMusic instead.

Maybe she should contact a ripping group.

i would love to donate to her cause. oh yeah...dance for me. dance

What a shitty feeling that must have been to get that email from the dean. I pretty much feel the same way as the rest of you though, I would help her fight the case, but not settle and fork over a bunch of money to the RIAA. Also I think this is a valuable lesson learned the hard way, dont download mainstream cookie cutter bull shit music from major labels. Listen to indie bands that are actually good for free on Dmusic or elsewhere.
You have to admit though, being essentially sued for over a million bucks is about enough to make you shit your pants right there. Its mafia tactics no doubt. Fuck the RIAA.

It is without a doubt wrong for our cause to not promote donating to help her.

1. The more donations a victim gets, the less fear and regret the RIAA extortion campaign causes. In fact, enough donations effectively destroy the RIAA's motivation altogether and ruins their campaign.

2. Not promoting donating to help her puts our cause above her college education. Apparently none of you were Architecture majors. She'd be lucky if she even had enough spare time to sign the check, much less have a job that makes her enough money to pay it off.

I've been around this site long enough to know there's enough bleeding hearts that don't want anyone to suffer if it's not necessary. Apparently I was wrong though. If their suffering benefits your cause, you're all for it. At least, if you THINK it benefits your cause.

"and 3000$ probably doesn't even cover the damange she has done If she downloaded illegal files."

Probably? So in other words, you have no fucking clue. You're guessing. Yeah I'm with you. She can go to hell.

Come on Sherm. She's a cute architecture student - so that means she also probably smart. Soon she's going to be a cute, smart, rich architect! So she has to fork over a few grand when she can't afford it. BFD. She's got it made. Plus, she plays the cello! So she is going to be a cute, smart, musician and rich architect! Amy Latten has got it goin' on! She doesn't need our pity or our money.

"ver batum"

Except she spelled verbatim wrong and as two words. I'm starting to lose respect for Amy. She had me under her spell, but the spell is broken and I am left disenchanted and weeping.

I'm glad that it seems no one here is falling for this. I really think this is a fraud... she saw an opportunity and went for it. All those people out there who are so sympathic to grandma and a little 8 year old girl who got sued by the big bad wolf. Maybe they will be sympathic towards a college student who doesn't spend a single moment working at a job like most back busting college students do, and oh, boo hoo, this would just add to all the law suits she's already buried in. Um... HELLO???
I feel like turning her pathetic little earth mother yuppy idiot backside into the school for using their server for solicitation.

Hey Sherm, normally I agree with you, but I have to respectfully disagree with you on this one...

"Apparently none of you were Architecture majors. She'd be lucky if she even had enough spare time to sign the check, much less have a job that makes her enough money to pay it off."




In her own words...

"When I'm not busy with school, which is an incredibly rare occasion, I'm playing the cello, hanging out with my friends, watching movies, or relaxing and listening to music. "


Sorry, but my personal interpretation of this is that she would rather f**k around than get even a part time job. Not to mention there's nothing in regards to studying... every student I know bitches about how much time they have to spend studying and doing homework.


My brother majored in architecture, and you're right, he had no spare time to play... "the cello, hanging out with my friends, watching movies, or relaxing and listening to music." What little time he had he worked.

"2. Not promoting donating to help her puts our cause above her college education."

Back up the bus, Sherm. She put her need for RIAA music above her college education. She's got a boycott-RIAA logo on her page NOW, but she wouldn't be in trouble if she had listened to us in the first place.

Is our cause to warn people not to do something and then bail them out if they ignore us?

I'm not giving money to the RIAA.

"MajorTreat - You are nothing but a pussy running scared from the RIAA. You are not sharing any RIAA music because you are afraid. Your babbling and blustering does not fool anyone! You are cowering in the corner crying like a little baby because you cannot get your RIAA music for free anymore. That is why you are so angry."


Mropinette!

If your are serious about this give me your address if you dare! May be you will be the first parasites to go!

Dare you?

My f'in gawd ....
What medication did you forget to take Treat ?

Mulloa256@mchsi.com

I'm not totally "cold-hearted" to Amy's plight. (Heck, I even linked to her page and featured this story, didn't I?)

...but, George said it right:

"she wouldn't be in trouble if she had listened to us in the first place."

Even if we condoned the file-sharing of RIAA tunes, and if anyone who did so could rest assured that the public would pitch in for the settlement money each and every time without fail, does anyone seriously think the RIAA would quit the lawsuit rampage? Hell no they wouldn't. In fact, they would then REALLY turn it into a revenue source.

Besides, not only do the victems have to pay the extortion money, these folks have to admit to "wrong-doing" and sign binding legal agreements that limit their behavior. (Agreements dictated by the RIAA ...much worse a thing than having to pay the fee itself.)

It is your personal choice to help Amy or not. I can only put forth that it is not in our best interest to do so, ...but as with all things, Boycott-Riaa does not pretend to dictate a course of action to be taken by our participants, by our nature, we can only urge, cajole, and suggest. (And, we don't even always agree in the first place!)

But as for me, I vote NO! (Sorry Amy, it goes against our effort to feed the beast.)

...and folks, try not to be so harsh with her. As far as I can tell, Amy is a real person.

(I don't think this is a phishing scam. But we DO need to keep an eye out for such things to appear in the future.)

"1. The more donations a victim gets, the less fear and regret the RIAA extortion campaign causes. In fact, enough donations effectively destroy the RIAA's motivation altogether and ruins their campaign. "

In a real, reasonable situation. this might be true.
However, the most likely scenario ???

The RIAA, seeing that lawsuits are being
paid off, funded, by P2P supporters,
simply start increasing the amounts
required to settle.
These sham suits ARE a cash cow for them.
Settling without a fight is all the motivation they need to continue,
It is simply ANOTHER way of feeding the pig.

I don't like it either Sherm, and I AM
a compassionate person. But I honestly
believe that by simply paying settlements
we will make it worse, and further strenghthen their position.

Once again,
I'll donate to a fight, not a flight.

"Sorry, but my personal interpretation of this is that she would rather f**k around than get even a part time job."

Good enough point. Maybe she's a freshman. In fact, she must be if she can do all of that.

"If your are serious about this give me your address if you dare! May be you will be the first parasites to go!"

wtf

George,

May I claim that we are not proactive enough to make a difference, so she had nothing to listen to? Granted, she took the risk by doing it, but we know the RIAA's goal and how they are going about achieving it. And we also know the punishment doesn't fit the crime. I doubt she had heard of us before she got sued. Correct me if I am wrong.

"May I claim that we are not proactive enough to make a difference, so she had nothing to listen to? "

You can claim it, and be pretty correct
( IMHO ). We are not very proactive.

I honestly don't know what the f to do
to be proactive, without falling outside
their version of law.
The best I know to do is to not buy
their crap ( I don't ), Don't DL their crap
( I don't ), and don't share out what I
already have ( I don't ).
Most of here do that as well.
They STILL have managed to drive
software AND hardware mfg's with products that have LEGITIMATE LEGAL uses out of business.
Our boycott efforts mean nothing to them, since they can simply spin it off.
We can get no media, or voice other than what is provided here.
I WANT us to be proactive.
I'd LOVE IT if we were more proactive.
But, being a pretty simple guy, I don't have any ideas.

We need a battle plan ??
YES ABSOLUTELY.

Please, suggest, I'm tapped out.

did I miss something or did she specifically say she wanted to accept their settlement offer? screw that. pay them to extort more? I don't think so. if she wanted to fight them that 's one thing but pay them off? no thanks.

We used to encourage handing out/posting flyers. Writing letters to elected officials. Requesting that the RIAA's non-profit status be investigated, etc etc.

It's a bitchfest now. I get a lot of great info here.. it's a great site for news about the RIAA and their methods, lawsuits, insights, etc. But all it amounts to is people that are regulars here learn more, and the odd person who stumbles upon the site learns something hopefully.

directive stood in front of a studio with a boycott sign.

"I doubt she had heard of us before she got sued. Correct me if I am wrong."

Possible. But we are the #1 google search result if you seek "boycott" and #2 if you seek "riaa". We are not invisible.

Sure we'd love more coverage by the traditional media, but it costs too much $$$ to enter that arena effectively. (Sad, but true.)

If only we had a rich benefactor or 2...

"directive stood in front of a studio with a boycott sign."

Actually, I believe it was the Tower Records store in Torrance, CA. Along with some dude named Clyde. Just the two of them. Educating people about the RIAA as they entered and exited the store.

I myself have walked up and down "the Strip" (Cumberland Avenue) in front of UT Knoxville wearing my T-shirt, carrying signs, handing out pamphlets. (And may do it again soon.)

Getting out the message is not an easy task. Anything you do to promote awareness is welcome. Realistically though, the most "bang for the buck" has come from simply keeping this site alive and active (...and by simply talking to people about it whenever/wherever you meet them.)

I feel sorry for Amy, but I'd respect her more if she had some pricipals. She should go to court. If she loses and cannot pay, file for bankruptcy!

Gdziemann,

"Maybe she should contact a ripping group."

Overly petty wouldn't you say George?
But then, after reading many comments here; What should I expect right? Hah.

With all due respect, that is the worst idea I've ever heard.

As a college student, instead of settling, she should "go to court and if she loses just file for bankruptcy". You even put an exclamation point at the end like it'd be exciting.

Well, think about it. If she were to lose, who could realistically pay $1.5M? If she had any chance of winning, she'd be doing everyone a favor, plus she probably wouldn't owe anything. If she lost, it would then be one more count against file sharers and she'd only have bad credit for 7 years. My point was, if people don't stand up for themselves and their actions, then they're all "losers" in my book.

Capt,

"I feel sorry for Amy, but I'd respect her more if she had some pricipals. She should go to court. If she loses and cannot pay, file for bankruptcy!"

I don't think hiding under the bankruptcy cloud protects you from a civil settlement against you. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong?

Dreddsnik :
"Treat, If you e-mailed them, they'd be there. I too think you may be full of it."

Oh Yea? I am also faxing them with a huge black skull on it 100 of time to try to empty their fax machine for the case they are retarded enought to sitll use old faxe machine. I am on Edonkey/Emule, Bearshare most of the time user name: MajorThreat! Notice the "H" this time!

Dreddsnik :

"What medication did you forget to take Treat ?"

Not very smart Dreddsnik! I though this one was obvious.

mroop!

"MajorTreat - You are nothing but a pussy running scared from the RIAA. "

Where is your address you dirty old fat bag?

Their has been alot of talk about how she should stand up for herself, and if it was me, I would have fought the RIAA.

But the RIAA never bothers me, mainly because I don't *cough cough* download and share files copyrighted files


Mybe she made a Mistake, and sees
3000$ a easy way out, I mean what chance does she have against a already unfair system that attacks innocent people and when your actully guilty

Mroop has other reasons for keeping his addy private.

Hiding from trolls isn't one of them.

I gave you mine.

opcodevoid,

" But the RIAA never bothers me, mainly because I don't *cough cough* download and share files copyrighted files"

Avoiding p2p clients, using ftp/irc only would allow you to download and "share" anything you wanted. No realistic fear of anybody providing you setup correctly. your statement is a bit misleading. the RIAA targets what they can get, a poorly compiled POS distributed OPEN network.

Mroop is a lil bitch that gets his jollies talkin shit behind computer screens

While it seems strange for me to defend him ....
I am not really defending HIM per se.

I defend WHOLEHEARTEDLY his right to
believe as he does, and speak it for all
to hear.
A little less "vitriol" would be nice, but
people ARE who they are, whether we
like it or not.
Truth is we NEED more from the other
side to come here AND stick around.
This promotes REAL debate and REAL
education for BOTH sides.
Pouncing on them, threatening them,
crass language, and baseless insults
( yes I know, Mroop does that, so have I )
do nothing constructive.

When the other side visits, let THEM take the "low road" if they choose. The other side LOOOVES to see the kind of
things you are promoting, Treat.
It proves to them that we are thugs and crooks of the same ( or worse ) level as them.

Mroop's right to take the other side.
My right to disagree.

Can't have the one without the other.

As far as hiding behind computer screens ...

A very conincidentally new name there
eh "Skimaskway" LOL

"Maybe she should contact a ripping group."

"Overly petty wouldn't you say George?"

Not at all. You guys support this type of behavior. We don't. It would simply seem that Amy would find much more sympathy with you than us.

And again we have the annual summer call to "do something proactive."

Sadly, we can't even convince people to uncheck the "share" option and they don't even have to get off their ass to do it.

You expect them to get up to march in a parade or something? It's already 110 degrees in Phoenix.

Boycott-Riaa certainly does NOT support that type of behavior.

And a word of warning...

You can disagree with others in our forums all you wish.

You can even call each other names if you think you need to stoop so low.

...But do NOT make threats against other persons here in our boards. THAT kind of behavior will ultimately get you banned! (Possibly thrown in jail.)

Play NICE, or go somewhere else!

"Mroop is a lil bitch that gets his jollies talkin shit behind computer screens"

No. Mroop is a lil bitch who gets his "jollies" by debunking stupid claims. Probably why he's a lawyer.

"Oh Yea? I am also faxing them with a huge black skull on it 100 of time to try to empty their fax machine for the case they are retarded enought to sitll use old faxe machine."

LOL. ah, you're stupid. but it's funny, so i won't complain.

i can't stop laughing. what's wrong with you.

http://www.prozac.com/

"I don't think hiding under the bankruptcy cloud protects you from a civil settlement against you. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong?"

Nope, you're not wrong. Bankrupcy doesn't make it so you don't have to pay, bankrupcy makes it so you don't have to lose your house, etc. to pay people off. You still have to pay, generally through a court appointed whatever they call themselves. That person and the court agree on a payment plan and that person monitors it for awhile.


Okay, you really wanna f**k with the these bastards? Here's what you do. You incorportate yourself. Get another phone line added with that Inc name, a PO Box with that Inc. name, a different computer with the all the info, etc. listed under that Inc. name. DL to hell and back only on that computer. They can come after the Inc all they want, but I believe you are protected as a private citizen.


"Sadly, we can't even convince people to uncheck the "share" option and they don't even have to get off their ass to do it. "
Sad is an understatement. Two things that are easy to do, turn off the share option and move all DL from any file called shared or music to another file folder. Even if the pigs hack into your system, they are only supposed to look in music or shared folders. Anywhere else you can hose them.

But then this discussion started regarding someone who doesn't listen... she used the college server to do this, and for the last two or three years they've been talking about colleges co-opperating with the drones.

lol, Skippy, that "incorporation" route might actually work if the attemptee didn't get caught up under "money laundrying" laws.

(But it seems like a lot of work if one wanted to simply download/share RIAA mp3's with impunity.)

I hope this doesn't seem to harsh, but...
"It appears that someone who looks just like you was playing Russian roulette and put 2 (two) BULLETS into the cylinder, thinking that it was a fairly safe bet. You happened to spin the cylinder and pulled the trigger when the bullet was loaded in that cylinder. GAME OVER. Thank you for playing."

"So it goes."
~Vonnegut

You guys are funny! Schmoo and gdz.. you TELL 'em, guys! No money for RIAA-crack-music! And as for mroop.. that is an acquired taste, fo' sho' (excuse my dialectic ideosycracies, mroop! ) I, too, misunderstood, but I'm glad mroop is here, and all you new posters, too!

Let's do the TIME WARP "yeah"!

Whooooah !

// takes a Dramamine //

"If your are serious about this give me your address if you dare!"

Now you really got me mad! Give me your fax number unless you are afraid! I am going to fax you a picture of my penis! Please put legal size paper in your fax machine so the picture will fit on one page. You are in trouble now!

shred the harddrive, then tell the Dean & the RIAA, "it wasn't me." put the burden on them to prove their case more so than just an IP address & list of songs or some files.

I used to know a cop who loved to screw with people. the high point of his day was seeing just how pissed off he could make someone. He once pulled a guy over who was doing 4 miles over the speed limit and by the time he was done the poor guy had 3 felonies and 4 misdemeanors stacked on him. One day he stopped a 15 year old kid on a motorcycle. during the course of his interrogation he found a crack pipe on the boy. The kid freaked out and stomped him to death in the middle of a busy public street. (he's out of prison now by the way, they tried him as a juvenile).

Quite often on this site I read the crap that people post and wonder if they ever have to back that s*** up. what I'm saying is a little civility will go a long way.

just because you can doesn't always mean you should.

mroop - that cracked me up for about five minutes.

Sadly, I'm too trusting and take people at face value. And I would hope people would do the same for me if I was in that type of situation.

Plus, I'm a sucker for a pretty girl.

"Please put legal size paper in your fax machine so the picture will fit on one page."

So you did go ahead and buy that new Kodak digital with the 30x zoom, after all.

I'm sorry, but mroop is on fire with this thread.

Amy, write a letter to the judge explaining your position. Then tell the judge that you have no intention on fighting becuase you have no resopurces to do so. Having said that you feel the record companies should be estopped from complaining becuase they waited roughly five years to do anything about this matter and that when they started suing they have only sued 10 or 11 thousand out of 60 million. Use the quote "too many boats in the water." Don't worry about what it means and then throw yourself on the mercy of the Court. You'll be fine.

raoulduke -- Is that a secret code or something?

would that work for an armed robbery charge as well?

The dolphins are in the jacuzzi.

"I am going to fax you a picture of my penis! Please put legal size paper in your fax machine so the picture will fit on one page. You are in trouble now!"

He Mroopenis! Fine but do you have a microscope?

We might need a microscope and an electronic one to find your brain too!

So who is scare?

No wonder the majors are going down! With a crew like that!

Assholes on every side. Amy, please don't pay much credence into anything any of us say. We are too diverse as a group to be of any help.

(We banter ideas/opinions around but never come together solid enough to be of any use! Think of us as a "Brainstorming" session or a "think-tank" instead of a "decided solution" to any problem.)

...guess what, I call that our STRENGTH.

Question, I'm going to play devils advocate here. We all hate what the RIAA is doing right?

Ok so those who think what she did is illegal and she should pay the piper for getting caught, why do you hate the RIAA. they're stopping something that's illegal. Why Hate a cop for catching a burgler? maybe their methods are a bit off but they are trying to stop illegal activity.

Now for those who don't think it's illegal and she's been a victim of extortion, why are you cutting her loose to fend for herself?? If it isn't illegal it needs to be challanged in court and supporting her in that cause or trying to get her to take that approach instead of paying off the industry should be focused on.

I do agree with everyone on the one point that we should not donate to pay off the RIAA. But if she (and other file sharers) are wrong and conduct illegal activity you should be cheering the RIAA instead of trashing them. And if she is right and has done nothing illegal and needs her day in court she should be supported. we can't have our cake and eat it too.

Amy, talk to your ombudsman about considering fighting this thing. Do you use a wireless router? Consider sending a letter to David Boies, I believe he still has a house in Troy.

If you were fighting instead of caving I would be glad to help out but like most here I'll be dipped in sh*t before another dime of mine goes to the RIAA.

Fight. And good luck.

RPI EE '82

"Now for those who don't think it's illegal and she's been a victim of extortion, why are you cutting her loose to fend for herself?? If it isn't illegal it needs to be challanged in court and supporting her in that cause or trying to get her to take that approach instead of paying off the industry should be focused on. "

That is precisely what I am saying comp
I will help pay for her to fght,
to HAVE that day in court.
I WON'T help pay for her to cave.

"Please put legal size paper in your fax machine so the picture will fit on one page."

Yep, I'm sure mroop will have zoom set for 400%.

How much would you pay for her to fight?

Given the enourmous cost and your willingness to let the RIAA bankrupt her, I expect that if she did decide to fight it, all of you would put your money where your mouth is and empty your life savings into a donation fund.

oh, and remember, the "she got herself into this mess" idea still holds. You can't just change your perspective on the issue if she decided to fight.

After all, if she decided to fight them, it would be because she was sharing and listening to RIAA music. The same reason that you are all content to abandon her right now.

Like I said before: the bleeding hearts on this site don't want anyone to suffer unless it benefits their cause.

"If it isn't illegal it needs to be challanged in court and supporting her in that cause or trying to get her to take that approach instead of paying off the industry should be focused on."

"if I were ti take the issue to federal court, not only would I really not have a case, but I would have to pay..."

She was sharing 2000 songs and has no intention whatsoever of fighting this. She thinks she is guilty of something.

My money will go to the person that tells the RIAA, "Prove it."

Raolduke,

"Having said that you feel the record companies should be estopped from complaining becuase they waited roughly five years to do anything about this matter and that when they started suing they have only sued 10 or 11 thousand out of 60 million. Use the quote "too many boats in the water." Don't worry about what it means and then throw yourself on the mercy of the Court. You'll be fine."

Wowa. Wait a minute. simply because it's been 5 years, it shouldn't goto court now? She should be forgiven because it took them so long? LoL! I'm sorry. But, last time I checked, the statute of limitations wasn't 5 years on this. I'm not even sure there is one.

That kid was caught, plain and simple. She was sharing tunes she had no legal right to share. I don't understand why any of you are sympathetic to her. I don't see anyone sympathetic to the robber of a liquor store.

The robber takes something and the liquor store no longer has it. This is the opposite of that.

"But, last time I checked, the statute of limitations wasn't 5 years on this."

Statute of limitations on what?

When the Sony Betamax case happened, some guy served as a defendant with the guarantee that no matter the outcome of the case, he wouldn't really have to pay anything. They just wanted to put forth both sides of the argument over whether or not the guy was infringing on copyrights by making a copy of a movie.

They could have done the same thing with the first college kid they caught sharing. For some reason, this time around both the music and movie industries have chosen to sue individual consumers one by one until someone forces them to present actual evidence and get a binding court decision.

The Grokster case will actually take us no closer to resolving the underlying issue. No matter what the outcome, the lawsuits will continue to provide income for the RIAA and MPAA.

"I don't see anyone sympathetic to the robber of a liquor store."

What does stealing have to do with file sharing?

"I don't understand why any of you are sympathetic to her."

Is my earlier post really that hard to understand?

TheSherminator,

"What does stealing have to do with file sharing?"

If you don't own the copyright to the file (and we probably don't) then what gives you the legal right to share (ie: distribute) it? That's reserved for the author and/or copyright holder, not you.

TheSherminator,

"Is my earlier post really that hard to understand?"

yes for me it is. She got caught sharing files she had no business sharing. If she was sharing Autocad 2006; I don't think anybody here would be sympathetic to her spoiled brat cause. But, since it's music and you feel you should be able to steal all you like, that makes it okay?

If it's not yours, and you know the author doesn't approve of how you obtained it, then it's morally? wrong at the least.

"But, since it's music and you feel you should be able to steal all you like"

Answer the question asshole. What does stealing have to do with file sharing?