Downloading Lawsuit

[Aprentice08]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071005/ap_on_hi_te/downloading_music


  This is crazy!!!

[Computer Hope Admin]

Yeah does seem a little crazy. But as much as I'd hate to say it she was knowingly breaking the law by sharing copyrighted music.

[Dilbert]

I only ever download music with the author's permission (hey, if there's a download link on the songwriter's site, it's OK). However, I still understand this is ludicrous. The woman needs a reprimand-ish fine, not a "debt for the rest of your life" fine!

[street1 (RIP)]

First of all,half of todays entertainers should be
paying the audience.

Well,I come from an earlier time, being an old man.
We recorded songs off the radio instead of buying
them back then and no one cared.

So,is it illegal today to record songs off the radio?

Besides,if everyone turned their back on the music
industry for 1 year those people would back off fast.

End of Rant!!! Excuse the interruption of your regular
programming.

The CH Soap Opera Now Continues on most of
your local computers.........

Robert............

[Dilbert]

Should be... but regardless of what you think of the law, she did break that law, and should be punished for it. However, this is a little on the excessive side.

[WillyW]

Should be... but regardless of what you think of the law, she did break that law, and should be punished for it.

She did?   

I know it says, "...after a jury decided she illegally shared music online." ,  but the rest of the article seems to indicate that she was not charged with anything.    In other words, this was a civil suit.

Therein lies a big difference.   With crimes, one is considered innocent until proven guilty, beyond a reasonable doubt.     If I recall correctly, in civil matters,  the measure is a preponderance of evidence,   which is a heck of a lot less.

I can't imagine how a good lawyer could not get a defendant off on one of these cases though.    I didn't see anything about the details of how they proved she did anything.    That, to me, would seem to be very, very difficult.

It is a bit scary at times.