(no subject)

[jebbypal]

RIAA gives defendant's heirs 60 days to mourn before taking depositions

Wow, the balls for that. I'm just beyond speechless.

Comments

[arthurfrdent.livejournal.com]

[friendsurfin']

the article talks about PR blunders... but they aren't. For them, there is no downside to pulling this sort of crap, because no-one really calls them on it. The RIAA don't sell anything themselves, and in most peoples minds the record labels are somewhat insulated from the fray because they are members but not directly involved. Beside that, your favorite Lawrence Welk's Greatest Hits are only going to be released on the label that fronts him. If you want your music, you can't really go against the record company itself. This is the dilemma for the consumer... So until someone like the heirs of this guy turns around and sues the RIAA for emotional distress, there is no downside to the RIAA. It's an ugly truth...

[verrucaria.livejournal.com]

I don't think they can sue for emotional distress really. Going after the estate of a deceased defendant isn't unheard of in civil litigation. What they can do is not to settle, and to try to prove that the deceased was the only person on the IP address who downloaded music illegally (if illegal downloading is proven to begin with). Of course blaming a recently deceased family member for something isn't exactly fun...

My guess of course is that the RIAA will try to convince them that they have no legal recourse, and that their only option is to settle out of court...

I wish we could boycott the RIAA, but that's not feasible.