RIAA Sued for Amnesty OfferMusic

[Shannon]

A new legal complaint filed in California takes aim at the RIAA's latest tactic in the file sharing battle. The lawsuit focus is on the RIAA's "Clean Slate" program, claiming the offer amounts to "Deceptive Business Practices" on the part of the RIAA.

The program has been announced as an "olive branch to file traders" by the RIAA. The offer is that, in exchange for consumers deleting and or destroying all copies of the digital music in question on CD's, portable music devices, hard drives, ect., and signing a contract that they will discontinue in obtaining music via file sharing services the RIAA would assist in sheilding them from future litigation.

The suit claims that the offer does not shield participants from legal liability but in fact simply puts them at an even great risk for future liability for their actions.

The program includes "deceptive and misleading representations by the RIAA including a 'guarantee not to sue' file sharers designed to induce members of the general public" and in effect puts consumers in a position "to incriminate themselves and provide the RIAA and others with actionable admissions of wrong-doing under penalty of perjury while members of the general public actually receive ... no legally binding release of claims and no actual 'amnesty' from litigation in return", as quoted from the legal documents filed in the case.

The lawsuit was filed in Marin County Superior Court in San Rafael by Ira B. Rothken, representing Eric Parke, who is a mortgage broker.

 

[the_cobbinator]

Wierd stuff. I don't see why anyone would fall for that in the first place. It's not like the RIAA has been merciful with it's attacks. I'm starting to like Apple's scheme where you pay-per-track.

 

[Inexorable]

Am I the only one who feels the RIAA has a right to sue anyone illegally downloading music?

-Inexorable

 

[mayorbill11]

yes.

the RIAA *****ing about lost revenue over music downloads is like the post office *****ing about lost revenue over low stamp sales due to email usage.

 

[xAkirax2004]

So what your saying is that the RIAA is bad?

Just want to clarify that.