If there were any humanity, rather than greed and lust for high margins at RIAA member companies, someone would have gone to this child's home, and asked permission to talk to her about why file trading, and copyright violation was wrong. They would have gently made the case, if one can be made, that it was well worth a half-day of her mother's salary for a CD, and left her, and her mother, still able to pay their rent.

Doubtless some 'lawyer' (it's hard not to write 'goon') explained to the tot's mother that they would take so much from her, either in defense lawyer fees or damages that she would lose her bare hold on a housing auhtority apartment and face the streets. That lawyer would have been housed in an uptown hotel, and probably took a limo up to deliver the news...

Can you imagine what kind of human would do that? I have to wonder: who are these RIAA people? Kin of Marie Antoinette? Marquis de Sade's drinking buddies?

The RIAA's Mitch Bainwol is one - he was formerly chief of staff for the Republican Senator who succeeded Trent Lott as house majority leader. Mitch said that parents, apparently even single mothers in housing projects, have to take responsibility for their children. Couldn't you have just asked mom to have a word with her daughter? What makes me think you will never see the likes of a Mitch Bainwol anywhere near this particular 12-year-old's domicile?

RIAA claims that this first round of law suits targeted 'egregious' file swapper trading 1000s of files. A 12-year-old with a dial-up modem is an 'egregious' user?

RIAA President Cary Sherman says that he is the voice of reggae and blues, in testimony to Congress. I gotta say, Cary, the reggae and blues musicians that I know, wouldn't let you in their house. They don't do 'limo', and you probably ought not to be posturing as their representative. There are a million great reggae and blues artists for every one that your member companies have under contract... trust me, I'm a reggae and blues fan.

I think it's time for simple justice: let's take names and publish behaviors that we find amoral and reprehensible. Millionaire white guys who crush 12-year-olds in housing projects are an embarrassment to humanity regardless of color or creed. Next up: RIAA lawyers. If RIAA and their law firms are like their predecessors - the State of Alabama in the 60s comes to mind - they probably *particularly* enjoy paying for their luxuries with an impoverished 12-year-old's lunch money - one imagines them commissioning video of her begging for food to play on their dashboard DVD players...
Comments 8:28:21 PM    

Chris Gulker's view from Silicon Valley - in words and pictures