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The RIAA's ongoing campaign to stamp out file trading by suing consumers is old news. But when details of one of their latest lawsuits became public, it was too good to pass up. A suit filed recently in US District Court named 83-year-old Gertrude Walton as a defendant, accusing her of serving up over 700 songs onto peer-to-peer networks. Now, the RIAA has gone after grandmothers before. In 2003, they mistakenly targeted a 66-year-old woman for allegedly sharing gangsta rap. But this case goes a bit further, as Mrs. Walton actually passed away in December 2004.
Perhaps granny was dishing out illicit mp3s prior to her demise. Not so, says her daughter Robin Chianumba, who says her mother didn't want PCs in the house, and had absolutely zero experience operating them.
A few months after the legal campaign began, the RIAA decided to begin sending letters to suspected file traders prior to filing suit, in an attempt to get them to settle outside the legal system ("you pay us some money and we make this little problem go away"). By doing so, they hoped to avoid making stupid mistakes such as this one.
However, when Chianumba received such a letter from the trade group, she sent back a copy of her mother's death certificate in hopes of dissuading them from going ahead with the suit. The RIAA didn't heed the death certification, but it has apparently been convinced to its satisfaction that Mrs. Walton has passed beyond the earthly veil.
A Recording Industry Association of America spokesman said Thursday that Walton was likely not the smittenedkitten it's searching for.
"Our evidence gathering and our subsequent legal actions all were initiated weeks and even months ago," said RIAA spokesman Jonathan Lamy. "We will now, of course, obviously dismiss this case."
One would hope that they would be more diligent in ensuring that they have targeted the right people. Unfortunately, their history does little to inspire such hopes. Apparently the RIAA does not mind being thought of as a laughingstock.
Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3089, old post ID:25291
Honk if you love Jesus, text if you want to meet Him!
A few months after the legal campaign began, the RIAA decided to begin sending letters to suspected file traders prior to filing suit, in an attempt to get them to settle outside the legal system ("you pay us some money and we make this little problem go away").
that there is in your face racketiering just like the mob does.
and since ol' blue eyes and most of the singers in las vegas Nv. work for the mod it makes sense that the mob would be running the show with the RIAA.
R, racketiering I, In A, America A, Assocation
Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3089, old post ID:25300
First little girls, then grandma's, now dead people. What's next people that never even existed? Watch them bring a lawsuit against "Mickey Mouse" next time
Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3089, old post ID:25357
Taht's just rediculous. They're targetting everyone. I mean, if they keep targetting EVERYONE, they're just gonna lose. The RIAA is soooo stupid. Why don't they just do what Canada does and puts a tax on blank media. A percentage would go to the artists. I mean, how many people live in the US and download music on CD's? I think they can make quite a profit off the tax....then all the singers can quit whining. Well, they can quit whining anyways....they make enough. Take a trip down the streets and look at all the bums sitting there who have it WAY worse than they do....then they can see how greedy they are.
Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3089, old post ID:25366
Yeah, you know how many local bands and stuff offer their music FOR FREE ONLINE? Wow, they aren't making anything off of that. And on top of that, they don't make as much.
"Oh no! I'm making hundreds of thousands of dollars every year off of record salles but I'm losing a couple thousand because of piracy! MY LIFE HAS ENDED!"
Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3089, old post ID:25373
It's not even that simple. Only top artists actually get a decent cut of the money from record sales. Everyone else gets royally shafted. And even the little they may get in roalties usually goes directly to the record company to pay for the various fees associated with putting out an album. If you really want to support artists, buy a concert ticket. That's where bands really get their money from.
Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3089, old post ID:25376
The point is music is just not what it use to be. In these times we have 10 - 15 bands that basically play the same stuff, its not like you buy this certain musician and you can listen forever. There are many more bands out and at a price of 15-20 $ for their album its just not worth it to buy..so people just download it. IMO the RIAA should Just let people download music, it will help the music world. We will stop having these generic crappy bands/musicians and the real types will get through. Music is basically in the tubes now.
Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3089, old post ID:25377
Yeah the biggest mistake a music artist can make is go with a record company. With computers and fast CD burners and labelling devices, it's cheaper and more effective to do it all yourself. May cost lot in the long run for the mixing equipment but well worth it.
The RIAA has too much power, and they are very dangeraus. They commit lot of illegal crime but yet because they have the power, they can get away with it because the goverment gives them that power.
Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3089, old post ID:25378
Honk if you love Jesus, text if you want to meet Him!
I wouldn't say we're quite there yet, Red. Doing it all yourself is fine if you're only making a handful of cds. After that you can go to professional pressing companies yourself, but you'll have to pay for everything up front. And if you order too many you don't really know if you'll sell them all, or if you order too few and you sell out, your fans may have to wait a long time for a second pressing. All that on top of the equipment costs to record the thing. Not to mention that you'll have to do all your own marketing.
I'm not saying that people can't do it on their own right now, I'm just saying it's not going to be easy.
Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3089, old post ID:25380
It would be harder but still much more worth it then the RIAA, who not only milk their money, but control where the music can be sold, etc... But letting people download for free + make an album would be the best thing. The album has the lyrics, the actual cover/labelled cd and other stuff so some fans would still buy it just for that but at least those who just want the music can download it, and maybe even go to their concert.
And they could almways give a small discount for a concert when you buy a CD, or a chance to win free tickets. With promotions like that I'm sure it would work out, and no money would really be lost.
Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3089, old post ID:25381
Honk if you love Jesus, text if you want to meet Him!
off. That's just going overboard. 
$ for their album its just not worth it to buy..so people just download it. IMO the RIAA should Just let people download music, it will help the music world. We will stop having these generic crappy bands/musicians and the real types will get through. Music is basically in the tubes now.