Music Pirate (12-year-old girl sued for downloading music)

NY Post ^ | September 9, 2003 -- | Lorena Mongelli

[dead]

The music industry has turned its big legal guns on Internet music-swappers - including a 12-year-old Upper West Side girl who thought downloading songs was fun.

Brianna LaHara said she was frightened to learn she was among the hundreds of people sued yesterday by giant music companies in federal courts around the country.

[RobRoy]

>>Like just taking a few peanuts or grapes from the produce section isn't "really" stealing?<<

Not if after you steal them they are STILL THERE.

[RobRoy]

>>Like just taking a few peanuts or grapes from the produce section isn't "really" stealing?<<

The riaa suing DOWNLOADERS of music on Kazaa is like starbucks suing someone who comes in, smells the brewing coffee and then leaves without paying.

[RobRoy]

>>I can't comment on where the money from the sale of a CD goes, because I don't know how it's divvied up. But the cost of a CD compares very favorably with the cost of a movie or sports ticket - VERY favorably. The movie/sports event is over in a couple of hours, but the CD can be repeatedly listened to for many years.<<

You make a valid point. And I will add concerts to your list - which, by the way, is pretty much the only way musicians will make money in the future. RECORDED music will be offered for free, as a sample, or like the free toy in a happy meal - inducement to buy something tangible.

This whole copying thing may be illegal, but people are missing the point. In the early '30's, it was illegal to drink. So what.

We're looking at a similar psycholigical event. The RIAA IS going to lose this in the end.

[BigBobber]

My library lends out music CDs. Copyrighted ones. That is absolutely the same concept as what KaZaa does. It's OK for government agencies but not individuals?

[sharkhawk]

The library LENDS out music CD's. It is illegal for them to make a copy and give it to you. It is illegal for you to make a copy of the CD that you borrowed. It is legal for you to lend a friend the CD you Purchased. Same laws apply to everyone. Why is this so hard for people to understand. I think a lot of people just want to feel better about stealing someone else's material.

[HELLRAISER II]

Sure it is, but again I say this is different. There is/was no line for uploading material until they came out recently and said this is against the law and we will prosecute. Yes I know there had been rumblings about when Napster went down, but it wasn't a clear case of stealing in my opinion.