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Congress steps into RIAA feud
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A congressional committee sent letters Wednesday to the University of Wisconsin and 19 other universities identified as having received the highest number of illegal-downloading infringement notices for the purpose of gathering information.
Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, and four other bipartisan representatives signed the letter aimed at determining if universities are doing enough to prevent illegal file sharing.
"Universities have a moral and legal obligation to ensure students do not use campus computers for illegal downloading," Smith said in a statement. "These schools do not give away their intellectual property for free, and they should not expect musicians to do so."
Beth McGinn, a spokesperson for Smith, said the letters were sent with economic concerns in mind. She said illegal movie downloading costs $20 billion in gross domestic product, 141,000 jobs and $841 million in lost tax revenue.
"When we sent the letters to these schools, we asked them to fill out a survey to respond to whether they're taking the right steps to stop this," McGinn said.
The 20 schools have until May 31 to respond, but if Congress does not receive "acceptable" feedback, McGinn said lawmakers will "be forced to act."
Brian Rust, spokesperson for UW's Division of Information Technology, said UW would participate in the study and provide documentation of the extensive steps taken to dissuade students from copyright infringement.
"We're glad that they're asking us before action, but I don't think we are as irresponsible as their press release and letter implies," Rust said. "UW-Madison and all of our peer institutions have gone to great lengths to notify people, warn people and post notices via e-mail."
Rust questioned whether the committee completely understands the complexity of sharing prevention without intruding on the educational initiatives that use similar technologies.
"There are many legitimate uses of file sharing," Rust said. "If we prevented anyone from sharing music files, what would happen to music appreciation classes that involve downloaded legitimate files? They'd be pretty unhappy, and we'd hear about it."
The Recording Industry Associate of America, which is taking legal action against 53 students in the UW System, supported Wednesday's congressional action.
"We recognize the many pressing issues facing administrators today, but we cannot afford to turn a blind eye to theft on such a massive scale," RIAA Chairman and CEO Mitch Bainwol said in a statement. "After extensive hearings and inquiry, members of Congress are right to expect answers. We welcome this effort to document the commitment and resources that universities are putting forth to address this problem."
McGinn said Smith and the other representatives are scrutinizing the universities independently of the RIAA.
"It's Congress' responsibility to look out for the bigger picture," McGinn said. "The RIAA has their bottom line for the industry. The [congressional] bipartisan agreement says we need to protect intellectual property on any front."
Other schools included in the Congressional action included Big Ten schools Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue, as well as UCLA, Duke, Pennsylvania, Columbia, Boston University, North Carolina State and 11 others.
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IP hash: 7c35366a
When will you arrogant students learn that the internet is only to be used for school and contributing revenue to the poor, starving executives at the RIAA to make up for their failed business model, and not for downloading music and porn? And those DoIT elitists in their ivory towers, not doing the RIAA’s work for them for free when asked nicely? Gosh! - Germain Q. Stemme
IP hash: f6283123
"These schools do not give away their intellectual property for free, and they should not expect musicians to do so."
Is that why the RIAA collects royalties for bands which it doesn’t represent and then charges a fee if those bands wish to receive any of that money?
IP hash: bc287aa6
Ahh Congress, is there anything they can’t do? - Germain E. Stemme
IP hash: 3acbebe7
bring it RIAA: you’ve lost every suit thats been taken to court, and have gained no ground in anyways to show these are legitimate cases
IP hash: d375c452
The RIAA has not lost every case that’s gone to court, and they don’t need to gain any ground to show that downloading music is an illegal violation of US copyright laws.
I know you really, really want it. But you’re grown-ups now, and that means you really, really have to pay for the stuff you want. It’s tough, I know, but it’s kind of important for our continued survival as a country.
IP hash: dce31e04
Finally, my plan is realized,
I shall bring down the country with an 300 gb hardrive and and internet connection… and maybe a pitchfork if neccisary.
Mohahhahahahaaaaahahaa
IP hash: 23d49a61
“The RIAA has not lost every case that’s gone to court, and they don’t need to gain any ground to show that downloading music is an illegal violation of US copyright laws.”
The RIAA certainly hasn’t won any cases that have gone to court. Oh, and this isn’t about “illegal violations of laws”. (As opposed to LEGAL violations of laws?!?!) It’s about not giving in to barratry and extortion, and not letting the RIAA use subterfuge and intimidation to bypass due process.
PS: Quit astroturfing, scumbag.
IP hash: 88b33f94
Feel free to correct me but the laws pointed to by the RIAA itself does not state downloading is illegal, in fact its uploaders that the RIAA chase after not downloaders as there is exceptions in the international copyright acts the US has signed up for for private and educational use of downloads. Its great to be able to seperate the facts from the hype, education is a marvelous thing.
IP hash: b697f155
RIAA is MAFIA with corrupt lawyers. Don’t let RIAA morons bang you!
IP hash: f5e973ea
Coolio
IP hash: 56e81b1e
“I know you really, really want it. But you’re grown-ups now, and that means you really, really have to pay for the stuff you want. It’s tough, I know, but it’s kind of important for our continued survival as a country.”
Survival as a country? Glad to see the MAFIAA shills have arrived.
IP hash: 017f9e1b
Why doesn’t Congress worry about our freakin’ gasoline costs rather than ENTERTAINMENT dollars? I could care less if ENTERTAINMENT studios and executives make less money due to a free enterprise system … more people need GASOLINE to survive than a movie, television show, or song on the radio. Sure, I understand those industries have artists, too … but I don’t see Congress stepping in to other industries to “save” them … ????
IP hash: 4199898c
“It’s tough, I know, but it’s kind of important for our continued survival as a country.”
Do you know how ridiculous you sound when you say that? Getting people in China to pay for our software and music might be important for our survival as a country. Work on that. (Good luck!)