Guilty Verdict In Criminal Copyright Case

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»Guilty Verdict In Criminal Copyright Case

You've read right... <a href="http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/05/guilty-verdict.html">A guilty verdict has been rendered on the first online music copyright case with criminal charges</a>. I agree that copyright infringement is wrong, I don't agree that it should be a criminal matter nor do I believe the damages being sought fit what was done. This isn't stealing.

Quote

According to the RIAA, evidence presented in the case showed that he received payment from the leader of the group in return for this work. "For the first time ever, a criminal online music piracy case went to trial, and the jury rendered a swift and unanimous verdict," said Brad Buckles, executive vice president of the RIAA's anti-piracy division. "The crimes committed here -- as well as the harm to the music community -- are severe, and so are the consequences.

This case is different in that this guy received payment for copyright infringement and found media that were trade secrets (pre-released). It still shows that the media cartels control the law and normal people like you and me are really screwed when it comes to rights.

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I see nothing wrong with the verdict of this case. This wasn't some Limewire using schmuck who got sued over grabbing Stairway to Heaven. This was some guy selling music over a server he hosted for personal profit before it was released (meaning he never owned it in the first place), which is a potpourri of laws broken. Stuff like file sharing is illegal by itself, but this guy wasn't just doing that.