BenPaddon.co.uk

So the first person to be successfully sued for illegally downloading music from the Web of Intar is now planning on fighting the decision. While I feel that the RIAA’s methods of tracking the IP address are rather dubious, and that the amount of money awarded to the RIAA (about $220,000) is rather excessive considering we’re talking about 24 songs which can be downloaded from iTunes for 99 cents each, I think that she’s an idiot. She’s illegally downloaded the music and what’s more she’s been caught doing it. Now she’s being punished for that, and of course she doesn’t like it. Her argument - rather her Attorney’s argument - is that the RIAA makes these files available in the first place, so they have to prove the files did not originate from within the RIAA. Frankly, that’s a very wobbly contention and it doesn’t sit well with me.

Appeal the amount of the fine, certainly. It’s excessively high, and I doubt that the artists in question will see much of that money if at all, but appealing the actual loss of the case is markedly stupid. So you got caught illegally downloading files. Take it on the chin and move on. Don’t throw a tantrum just because you got caught.  Learn a lesson from this - if you want to listen to some music, bloody-well pay for it first. Either that or buy a radio.