2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
Fight the RIAA
Issue date: 4/13/07 Section: Viewpoint
- Page 1 of 1
OUR OPINION: Student Legal Services is willing to battle in the trenches for students slapped with RIAA lawsuits regarding music piracy, and those students should take full advantage of this resource to beat the charges.
The Recording Industry Association of America has upped its campaign against N.C. State students downloading music with 23 lawsuits.
Originally, the RIAA was only sending letters regarding a settlement students could pay to avoid legal action. However, the organization has now sent lawsuits to 23 who elected not to settle.
Student Legal Services, led by Pam Gerace, can't stress enough that students who are caught up with the RIAA have support and can fight the charges.
It's apparent, based on the amount of attention the University gets from the RIAA, that we are one of its main targets, and this is something we all must fight.
We realize that students who engage in music piracy have done something illegal, and neither Student Legal Services nor the Technician advocates for it.
However, Student Legal Services does want to make sure students are treated fairly.
We applaud it for stepping up and taking charge of this situation, because many students are uneducated when it comes to legal rights and courses of action when dealing with legal accusations.
It is imperative that the University community makes it clear that the RIAA can't shove us around with its deep pockets, and the opposition starts with the accused -- students.
If you are one of the targets of the RIAA, contact Student Legal Services immediately. Do not settle and do not attack this by yourself.
The more money and victories the RIAA scrapes up from NCSU, the more it will continue to come after us.
Student Legal Services has really stepped up to the plate this year, because in the midst of this piracy mess, it still managed to help students muddled up in the Lake Johnson Mews towing situation, among the typical issues students face year in and year out. It is a valuable resource.
This is an uplifting example of how our University can reach out and help students, especially with such a challenging situation dealing with big money and big companies.
As students, we should continue to work with Student Legal Services to take the RIAA microscope off our campus and help the recording industry realize the solution to music piracy is not in the form of individual lawsuits aimed at college students with light wallets.
The Recording Industry Association of America has upped its campaign against N.C. State students downloading music with 23 lawsuits.
Originally, the RIAA was only sending letters regarding a settlement students could pay to avoid legal action. However, the organization has now sent lawsuits to 23 who elected not to settle.
Student Legal Services, led by Pam Gerace, can't stress enough that students who are caught up with the RIAA have support and can fight the charges.
It's apparent, based on the amount of attention the University gets from the RIAA, that we are one of its main targets, and this is something we all must fight.
We realize that students who engage in music piracy have done something illegal, and neither Student Legal Services nor the Technician advocates for it.
However, Student Legal Services does want to make sure students are treated fairly.
We applaud it for stepping up and taking charge of this situation, because many students are uneducated when it comes to legal rights and courses of action when dealing with legal accusations.
It is imperative that the University community makes it clear that the RIAA can't shove us around with its deep pockets, and the opposition starts with the accused -- students.
If you are one of the targets of the RIAA, contact Student Legal Services immediately. Do not settle and do not attack this by yourself.
The more money and victories the RIAA scrapes up from NCSU, the more it will continue to come after us.
Student Legal Services has really stepped up to the plate this year, because in the midst of this piracy mess, it still managed to help students muddled up in the Lake Johnson Mews towing situation, among the typical issues students face year in and year out. It is a valuable resource.
This is an uplifting example of how our University can reach out and help students, especially with such a challenging situation dealing with big money and big companies.
As students, we should continue to work with Student Legal Services to take the RIAA microscope off our campus and help the recording industry realize the solution to music piracy is not in the form of individual lawsuits aimed at college students with light wallets.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Ray Beckerman
Ray Beckerman
posted 4/15/07 @ 6:38 PM EST
I want to commend you on the excellent editorial "Fight the RIAA", I want to commend Josh on his excellent coverage of Ms. Gerace's statements, and I want to commend Ms. (Continued…)
John Church
posted 4/16/07 @ 10:43 AM EST
This is great news.
John
posted 4/16/07 @ 11:54 AM EST
From another community online that has been watching the RIAA file ridiculous lawsuit after ridiculous lawsuit, thank you for standing up to them.
Their tagged as mafia on our discussion forum, and organized crime takes organization to beat. (Continued…)
Katie
posted 6/28/07 @ 2:57 PM EST
What has happened as backlash of not settling? Any success or does the "not settle" tactic end poorly?
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