Why the RIAA Must Die vol III
“Tammy Lafky has a computer at home but said she doesn’t use it. “I don’t know how,” the 41-year-old woman said, somewhat sheepishly.
“But her 15-year-old daughter, Cassandra, does. And what Cassandra may have done, like millions of other teenagers and adults around the world, landed Lafky in legal hot water this week that could cost her thousands of dollars…..
“Lafky, a sugar mill worker and single mother in Bird Island, a farming community 90 miles west of St. Paul, became the first Minnesotan sued by name by the recording industry this week for allegedly downloading copyrighted music illegally.
“The lawsuit has stunned Lafky, who earns $12 an hour and faces penalties that top $500,000. She says she can’t even afford an offer by the record companies to settle the case for $4,000.”
For more, visit here.
May 30th, 2004 at 9:14 pm
In other news, a police officer arrested a 15 year-old kid who was caught stealing CDs from a music store.
What’s the difference?
June 21st, 2004 at 11:11 am
It’s a big difference, and you know it. First, the mother of your hypothetical shoplifter won’t be punished for her daughter’s acts, and second, you can be sure that the penalty wouldn’t be $500,000. Or even $4,000.
And that doesn’t even begin to address the other issues that have been discussed to death other places.