Music Settlement

Aired May 6, 2003 - 08:38 ET



BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A story we talked about yesterday want to pick up
again today. The recording industry opening up a new front in its fight against
file sharing over the Internet. For the very first time, individuals are paying
damages for the very first time over accusations of music downloading. Four
college students have agreed to pay between $12,000 and $17,000 to settle a
lawsuit. None has admitted to any wrongdoing. On Sunday, students at Rensaleer
(ph) Polytech Institute in upstate New York showed their support for one of the
students, Jesse Jordan. Jesse's an RPI freshman. He'll pay $12,000 in that
settlement.
Jesse Jordan is live with us today from Albany, New York, along with his
fasic Settlement

Aired May 6, 2003 - 08:38 ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE
UPDATED.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A story we talked about yesterday want to pick up
again today. The recording industry opening up a new front in its fight against
file sharing over the Internet. For the very first time, individuals are paying
damages for the very first time over accusations of music downloading. Four
college students have agreed to pay between $12,000 and $17,000 to settle a
lawsuit. None has admitted to any wrongdoing. On Sunday, students at Rensaleer
(ph) Polytech Institute in upstate New York showed their support for one of the
students, Jesse Jordan. Jesse's an RPI freshman. He'll pay $12,000 in that
settlement.
Jesse Jordan is live with us today from Albany, New York, along with his
father, Andy Jordan, who's live in New York City.

Good morning to both of you.

Hey, Jesse, why do you think the government came after you?

JESSE JORDAN, SETTLED LAWSUIT WITH RECORDING INDUSTRY: Well, actually it was
the recording industry association. I believe they came after me to make an
example, because they are trying to fight piracy at college campuses.

HEMMER: You run a search engine at your campus, right?

JORDAN: Yes, my search engine is much like Google. You can pretty much use it
to search for any type of file.

HEMMER: Jesse, could I access music on that search engine?

JORDAN: You could search for music, you could search for any other type of file
as well.

HEMMER: So If I found music, could I download it to my computer?

JORDAN: Yes, you could download music. You can do that from any search engine
as well. Actually, Alta Vista has their own MP3 search engine which you can use
to download music.

HEMMER: So if that's the case then, what did the government -- or I'm sorry, I
apologize again -- what did the RIAA, the recording industry, come after you
and say that you were guilty of?

JORDAN: They said I'm guilty of contributory copyright infringement, which
would mean that I assist people in downloading copyrighted material and direct
infringement.

HEMMER: So you agreed to pay $12,000. You're not admitting any guilt here. Why
pay the money, Jesse?

JORDAN: I don't really have the resources to defend this case in court, so I
don't really have much of a choice. I also don't have the time, because I'm
very busy in college.

HEMMER: Andy, do you think, with the case of your son right now, how do you
categorize this? A case of intimidation?

ANDY JORDAN, JESSE'S FATHER: Well, it's -- I categorize it as an elaborate
publicity stunt. Nothing more, nothing less.

HEMMER: How so?

A. JORDAN: This entire episode was concocted, it was really staged. You showed
a clip of the rally that was held for Jesse the other day. This is at RPI, at
Rentlier (ph) Polytechnic. It's not a hotbed of piracy; it's a hotbed of
technological innovation. You have me on screen now singing. And if you were
behind me or if you were looking at what I was looking at that day, I thought
the kids were coming over to the rally. We weren't through the second song yet.
A few freshman machine came out of one their dorms, and they said, could you
turn the volume down, we're trying to study for finals?

HEMMER: You know, Andy, I think a lot people -- and I asked your son this; I'll
ask you it as well, if you weren't guilty, why pay the cash? It's a lot of
money, especially for a college student.

A. JORDAN: We didn't have any choice. The RIAA had a deadline. What they didn't
tell the press, when they first hit Jesse with the papers, is while they were
serving the papers on him, they also had a letter that they didn't give to the
press and they told us that, oh, that was supposed to be the cover letter to
the papers that he received, gee, we'll get it to right away. It was an offer
to settle.

HEMMER: Jesse, now this has been settled, I'm assuming you're able to go back
to your studies and find some work as to make up for the lost cause here. Can
the record industry, do you believe right now, knowing the efforts with Napster
going back a few years ago, can the RIAA shut down search engines and prevent
them from sharing music at any point, whether it takes a month, a year, or five
years down the road?

J. JORDAN: I don't believe so. I don't believe that their intimidation really
is going to work, just like the recent rulings about Grokster (ph) and
Morpheus. I think that the search engine that I ran is legal. I did plan to
bring it back up in the next day or two.

HEMMER: You used the word intimidation. Do you believe that's what it is?

J. JORDAN: Yes, basically. I don't think it's going to work either. People are
still sharing the same amount of files. There's still actually a search engine
available right now at RPI.

HEMMER: Jesse, thanks for talking. Jesse Jordan, Andy Jordan. Jesse's up in
Albany. His father Andy's here in New York City.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE
ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





__________________________________

I read this a long time ago... this isn't new...

Oh, and why does this site have problems with posting the same news articles? I barely come here anymore because of crap like this. Shape up or get lost.

This story is pertinent today because the RIAA is going after Jesse Jordan again.

http://slashdot.org/articles/03/06/22/146210.shtml?tid=123&tid=99

Yeah, lighten up. ===================

Slashdot coverage: http://slashdot.org/articles/03/06/22/146210.shtml?tid=123&tid=99
from Jesse Jordan's site http://www.chewplastic.com/ (currently unreachable due to slashdotting)

Legal Issues: Order of Dismissal
Saturday, June 21 @ 01:46:07 EDT by chew (96 reads)
I have posted my Order of Dismissal (settlement) to the lawsuit filed against me by the RIAA. As stated in the settlement, I settled solely to avoid the costs of litigation. There is a very long story behind my settlement.

I am truly appalled by the RIAA's unprofessional conduct in dealing with my case. A very well-known top lawyer at the RIAA, while making threats of further legal actions, referred to himself as a "dentist" that I would not want to "have another visit with". I will not be intimidated by the RIAA - they're just going to have to put up with me.

The RIAA started yelling and tried to rescind my order of dismissal after they signed it because of comments that I made on CNN. Despite the $12,000 figure in my settlement, the other terms of the settlement were carefully negotiated over the course of several weeks.

"My fundamental view is that people should not be able to walk away from a deal they've made.", says RIAA CEO Hilary Rosen in response to California issues over artist contracts. It would seem to follow that the RIAA should understand the concept of a legally binding agreement. If an artist signs a contract and then later decides that they don't like the terms of that contract, the labels should understand now because that is exactly what they did with my dismissal (my dismissal is a legally binding agreement).

It is time to call the RIAA to task on their clear hypocrisy on many issues. I am legally allowed to run my search engine - it is not forbidden by my dismissal. I have a first amendment right to free speech. On the surface, the RIAA claims to support the right to free speech - but only when it benefits their bottom line. When their victim speaks out against them, they step up the intimidation.

They were so desperate to undo my dismissal that they were resorting to blatant lies. I have even been accused of tricking the RIAA into signing my dismissal.

Unfortunately for the RIAA, their basis for undoing the dismissal was so ridiculous that the judge didn't even take up my offer to mediate with the RIAA over their issues with the dismissal - he decided to enter the agreement.

A number of documents surrounding this issue will soon be published. For now, read my order of dismissal.

http://jessej.chewplastic.com/dismissal.pdf

Jesse is not taking any of the Wicked Witch's crap and I applaud his courage and bravery under direct fire, which is the only time the chicken-shit bastards at the RIAA even respond to anyone.

They think thay are above the law. They think they ARE the law.

So what are we going to do to stop it? It's time to stop talking about how shitty the entire music business is and actively begin to change it.

I'm not going to lighten up. I've seen this place post the same articles over and over again, and post plaigarized material.

As far as pertienence goes, it could have been cross referenced with the article of them going after Jesse again. Gee, what a grand idea huh?

When makeing an example of someone, it is not enough to simpley punish them fairly. The RIAA knows that to scare people away from any kind of online music they need to ruin a few people. Take all their money and more, get them kicked out if possible, try to ruin any employment prospects, if possible make their friends and family suffer as well. The $12,000 settlement was a start, but it didn't get enough publicity for the RIAA.

Sigh...Not only is the RIAA wasting its time, but it's ruining lives in its wake. Suing people silly isn't gonna stop people from sharing music, no matter how many are victimized. But the person who got sued just got screwed at the same time. And it's not even gonna benefit the RIAA. Pointlessly taking away peoples' futures. What a great organization.

good point golden.. This Jordan guy isn't going to be one of those tho. I bet he puts this behind him and goes on to become whatever he was starting in the first place. He's got legal protection on his stuff (1st Ammendment and all that) which btw he had before this happened, but now everyone knows about.
12K is a lot of money for a college student, that's true. I know, I was one and am going to be one yet again in a few months. However, 12K isn't going to get anyone killed here. I'ts just going to line some pockets, and the sum itself will get lost in the cries of "he settled" and other bullshit statements by jagoffs that don't really understand the logic ( yes, there is logic here, at least on the side of Jordan) and who only read half the story.
ttmmm

kneo: if ya don't like the music, don't buy the record. nuff said?
ttmmm

Thanks for the random statement, Remye.

kneo24,
This site ain't perfect, but it does keep current, this is only a transcript of an old issue, of which i am glad i read. I heard about this interview, but never got to read it.
Thanks

George,
Thanks for your update on your site, sure do enjoy what your doing.
Thanks

kneo - if you don't like our news, don't read it. If you don't like our music, don't listen to it. Since there's not much left here for you - fuck off.

"This is one of the few times I'll ever in my entire write something in here. Basically, if you want to see me ranting or talking about my life for whatever reason (after all isn't that what these things are for?) visit my website at: http://www.snakebyte.biz/kneo24"

ps:

I think I am an agnostic, but I'm not sure. - ed.

Not once have I said I disliked the music here. You are a complete asshat for putting that in my mouth. Why don't you do me a favor and fuck off.

I cannot believe my poor virgin eyes

" Oh, and why does this site have problems with posting the same news articles? I barely come here anymore because of crap like this. Shape up or get lost."

No you get lost. Give me one reason why I shouldn't delete your account forth with, and maybe I won't.

I don't have to give you reasons. It was constructive criticism. This site has posted plagiarized material and the same news articles many times. Shape up or get lost puts it very blutnly. News sites that make as many mistakes as this one need to shape up. Duh. But go ahead and delete my account. I could care less at this point. It would just prove abuse of power and that you don't like freedom of speech. Good job of making this place look bad, leflaw.

leflaw,
I had talked to Bill a month ago about putting your RIAA stickers on ebay. Can u please go onto your ebay account and post an auction with the stickers in bundles of 100 for either 12.99 or less at a fix priced listing. If you do not know ebay, please learn or allow me to host the auctions. I only wish you or bill would of atleast tested this idea, you never know who might help or join our side.

kneo, can't you just appreciate the effort put forth here without being a total asshole about it ?

Constructive criticism and deliberate antagonism are different things, and your comments really do ride that line pretty close, so don't be surprised if some folks think you're a troll and wanna put the boot to you.

That's not about 'free speech' cause trolling is as much about 'free speech' as vandalising someone else's garage with spray paint is, you see.

So, while constructive criticism is helpful at times, would it kill you not to be an asshole about the way you deliver it ?

Just a thought.

-User

kneo24, I assume you put all that drivel at your website for a reason. After all, it was you who said you like to "piss people off". I don't. In the spirit of cooperation, I'll let it slide.

If I didn't believe in freedom of speech, I would have deleted your post. I also believe in freedom of MY speech.

leflaw,
did u read my last post in this article?
Thanks

I've said the same stuff in other articles that pertain to what I'm complaining about. Why you just now chose to read it is beyond me.

And just because I like to 'piss people off' doesn't mean I will do it all the time. People always take things to the extreme.

ok. truce.

leflaw, can u please check out my post about ebay and stickers.
thanks,
directive