Fine for illegally downloading music

skullnrose · 06-18-2009, 10:45 PM

Just saw this story on CNN. Pretty crazy!

(CNN) -- A federal jury Thursday found a 32-year-old Minnesota woman guilty of illegally downloading music from the Internet and fined her $80,000 each -- a total of $1.9 million -- for 24 songs.
Illegal downloads of musical files will cost a Minnesota woman $1.9 million, a jury has decided.

Illegal downloads of musical files will cost a Minnesota woman $1.9 million, a jury has decided.

Jammie Thomas-Rasset's case was the first such copyright infringement case to go to trial in the United States, her attorney said.

Attorney Joe Sibley said that his client was shocked at fine, noting that the price tag on the songs she downloaded was 99 cents.

She plans to appeal, he said.

Cara Duckworth, a spokeswoman for the Recording Industry Association of America, said the RIIA was "pleased that the jury agreed with the evidence and found the defendant liable."

"We appreciate the jury's service and that they take this as seriously as we do," she said.

Thomas-Rasset downloaded work by artists such as No Doubt, Linkin Park, Gloria Estefan and Sheryl Crow.
Don't Miss

* Steven Van Zandt on music and technology
* France gets tough on illegal downloading

This was the second trial for Thomas-Rasset. The judge ordered a retrial in 2007 after there was an error in the wording of jury instructions.

The fines jumped considerably from the first trial, which granted just $220,000 to the recording companies.

Thomas-Rasset is married with four children and works for an Indian tribe in Minnesota.

Bruzee · 06-18-2009, 10:48 PM

Wow, crazy. I just pay the 99 cents.

icehog3 · 06-18-2009, 11:40 PM

Most civil juries and the award amounts they give are absolutely ridiculous.

SeanGAR · 06-19-2009, 02:28 AM

I wonder what the fine would have been if she had stolen $24 worth of pepperoni from Piggly WIgly.

Idiots on the jury.

Starscream · 06-19-2009, 11:26 AM

Kinda scary after all of the music that I've downloaded for free over the years.

trader1974 · 06-19-2009, 11:35 AM

Crazy!

cricky101 · 06-19-2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

I wonder what the fine would have been if she had stolen $24 worth of pepperoni from Piggly WIgly.

Idiots on the jury.

She may have broken the law but this whole trial has made a mockery of it.

pnoon · 06-19-2009, 01:23 PM

This is why it bugs me that intelligent, fair-minded people piss and moan about jury duty and do anything to get out of it. Sure the process can be tedious. But I sure hope if I ever need a jury that they will be fair. I sure wish I had a clue as to what those knuckleheads on the jury were thinking.

TheTraveler · 06-19-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnoon

This is why it bugs me that intelligent, fair-minded people piss and moan about jury duty and do anything to get out of it. Sure the process can be tedious. But I sure hope if I ever need a jury that they will be fair. I sure wish I had a clue as to what those knuckleheads on the jury were thinking.

Well said.

kelmac07 · 06-19-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnoon

This is why it bugs me that intelligent, fair-minded people piss and moan about jury duty and do anything to get out of it. Sure the process can be tedious. But I sure hope if I ever need a jury that they will be fair. I sure wish I had a clue as to what those knuckleheads on the jury were thinking.

Wanna know???.........

I'm thinking Arby's!!!! That's what they were thinking.

BigFrank · 06-20-2009, 01:36 PM

i will continue to DL illegally.

The Poet · 06-20-2009, 01:49 PM

Hey, if you can't do the time . . . .

Anybody know where I can cop some Cubans?

06-18-2009, 10:45 PM	#1
skullnrose Ashes,ashes,all fall down Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Scott Posts: 799 Trading: (16)	Fine for illegally downloading music Just saw this story on CNN. Pretty crazy! (CNN) -- A federal jury Thursday found a 32-year-old Minnesota woman guilty of illegally downloading music from the Internet and fined her $80,000 each -- a total of $1.9 million -- for 24 songs. Illegal downloads of musical files will cost a Minnesota woman $1.9 million, a jury has decided. Illegal downloads of musical files will cost a Minnesota woman $1.9 million, a jury has decided. Jammie Thomas-Rasset's case was the first such copyright infringement case to go to trial in the United States, her attorney said. Attorney Joe Sibley said that his client was shocked at fine, noting that the price tag on the songs she downloaded was 99 cents. She plans to appeal, he said. Cara Duckworth, a spokeswoman for the Recording Industry Association of America, said the RIIA was "pleased that the jury agreed with the evidence and found the defendant liable." "We appreciate the jury's service and that they take this as seriously as we do," she said. Thomas-Rasset downloaded work by artists such as No Doubt, Linkin Park, Gloria Estefan and Sheryl Crow. Don't Miss * Steven Van Zandt on music and technology * France gets tough on illegal downloading This was the second trial for Thomas-Rasset. The judge ordered a retrial in 2007 after there was an error in the wording of jury instructions. The fines jumped considerably from the first trial, which granted just $220,000 to the recording companies. Thomas-Rasset is married with four children and works for an Indian tribe in Minnesota. __________________

06-18-2009, 10:48 PM	#2
Bruzee Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: D Location: San Diego Posts: 1,508 Trading: (30)	Re: Fine for illegally downloading music Wow, crazy. I just pay the 99 cents. __________________

06-18-2009, 11:40 PM	#3
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,223 Trading: (60)	Re: Fine for illegally downloading music Most civil juries and the award amounts they give are absolutely ridiculous. __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

06-19-2009, 02:28 AM	#4
SeanGAR Crotchety Geezer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Radford VA Posts: 911 Trading: (3)	Re: Fine for illegally downloading music I wonder what the fine would have been if she had stolen $24 worth of pepperoni from Piggly WIgly. Idiots on the jury. __________________ How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?

06-19-2009, 11:26 AM	#5
Starscream Knowhutimean, Vern? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Andy Location: In a little town somewhere in the USA Posts: 10,237 Trading: (4)	Re: Fine for illegally downloading music Kinda scary after all of the music that I've downloaded for free over the years. __________________ Insert quote here.

06-19-2009, 11:35 AM	#6
trader1974 Still Watching My Back Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Austin Location: Kentucky Posts: 193 Trading: (4)	Re: Fine for illegally downloading music Crazy!

06-19-2009, 01:23 PM	#8
pnoon YNWA Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Peter Location: San Diego Posts: 29,919 Trading: (20)	Re: Fine for illegally downloading music This is why it bugs me that intelligent, fair-minded people piss and moan about jury duty and do anything to get out of it. Sure the process can be tedious. But I sure hope if I ever need a jury that they will be fair. I sure wish I had a clue as to what those knuckleheads on the jury were thinking. __________________ Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. -John Wooden

06-20-2009, 01:36 PM	#11
BigFrank 5 3 1 Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Frank Location: Gym or Sofa. Posts: 1,896 Trading: (25)	Re: Fine for illegally downloading music i will continue to DL illegally. __________________ " Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment. "

06-20-2009, 01:49 PM	#12
The Poet Il megglior fabbro Join Date: Jun 2009 First Name: Thomas Location: Hickory, NC Posts: 8,420 Trading: (2)	Re: Fine for illegally downloading music Hey, if you can't do the time . . . . Anybody know where I can cop some Cubans?