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"Jammie Thomas-Rasset downloaded 24 songs then put the tracks on the file-sharing website Kazaa. But six record companies sued the 32-year-old single mother of four from Minnesota for breach of copyright.
Thomas-Rasset denied having a Kazaa account and claimed the songs were downloaded by her children or ex-husband. But her arguments didn't convince the jury and she was ordered by the court to pay $1.92 million - or $80,000 per song.
Alex Jacob from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, the record business' trade body, said it was a significant ruling.
"It's important to remind people what they're doing is illegal, and highly damaging. It threatens the whole music industry from musicians to record companies," he said.
"Worldwide it costs the industry £40 billion a year. Record sales have been falling rapidly over the last ten years as illegal file-sharing booms, and more people chose to access music for free."
This was a test case in the US. The American recording industry has sued thousands of people in the states for illegal downloading, but so far most have been settled out of court. Jammie Thomas-Rasset is the first to take her case to trial."
I'm unsure of the relevance of her parental status, other than affording a potential out - by blaming her children (nice), but I agree with the judge who described the award as "wholly disproportionate" and "oppressive."
A fresh new low for the Music industry. Talk about a lack of perspective. Lots more to be said here, but then, that's what the thread is for ...
Mum Fined $2m For Illegal Music File Sharing - Yahoo! News UK
PS, I posted this here, not in etc because I believe this is a political issue, one that goes beyond 'mere' copyright infringement.
Thomas-Rasset denied having a Kazaa account and claimed the songs were downloaded by her children or ex-husband. But her arguments didn't convince the jury and she was ordered by the court to pay $1.92 million - or $80,000 per song.
Alex Jacob from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, the record business' trade body, said it was a significant ruling.
"It's important to remind people what they're doing is illegal, and highly damaging. It threatens the whole music industry from musicians to record companies," he said.
"Worldwide it costs the industry £40 billion a year. Record sales have been falling rapidly over the last ten years as illegal file-sharing booms, and more people chose to access music for free."
This was a test case in the US. The American recording industry has sued thousands of people in the states for illegal downloading, but so far most have been settled out of court. Jammie Thomas-Rasset is the first to take her case to trial."
I'm unsure of the relevance of her parental status, other than affording a potential out - by blaming her children (nice), but I agree with the judge who described the award as "wholly disproportionate" and "oppressive."
A fresh new low for the Music industry. Talk about a lack of perspective. Lots more to be said here, but then, that's what the thread is for ...
Mum Fined $2m For Illegal Music File Sharing - Yahoo! News UK
PS, I posted this here, not in etc because I believe this is a political issue, one that goes beyond 'mere' copyright infringement.
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