RIAA Attempts To Outlaw Shared Folders
Just when you think the RIAA’s war on common sense can’t possibly get any more absurd they somehow manage to top themselves. The trade organization’s latest battle with the 21st century comes in the case of Elektra vs. Barker where the RIAA’s attorneys have been arguing that the defendant violated copyright laws by storing music files in a shared folder on her computer.
According to the RIAA, it doesn’t matter if the digital music files were obtained legally, the fact that they were stored in a shared folder that might allow others to access them constitutes “distribution” and is therefore in violation of copyright laws.
Since the RIAA seems to be waging a war on shared folders shouldn’t they really be suing Microsoft for making shared folders possible?
If the RIAA’s argument prevails it won’t be long before the publishing industry goes after shared printers. After all, someone could easily use a shared printer to print copyrighted material. It’s just too risky to have shared printers available, tempting potential pirates. Again, Microsoft is clearly to blame. After all, the Windows OS ties file and print sharing together. Bill Gates’ evil plan to enable a worldwide wave of piracy is suddenly becoming more clear.
Although I probably shouldn’t admit this, here at Medialoper HQ we have a WIRELESS shared printer. That can’t possibly be good.
Technorati Tags: Copyright, RIAA, Piracy, Common Sense, Microsoft
RSS
2 Comment(s) so far
1. Jim wrote on April 19th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
This seems like it’s some kind sick, sad, late April Fools joke.
Only, we don’t believe in April Fools jokes here, so I guess that it’s just sick and sad.
2. John wrote on April 20th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
Wow. Those guys are really just brain-dead, aren’t they. Its hard to imagine how the world looks through the eyes of the RIAA.