Most expensive song downloads ever? Be careful you US file sharers.

[mechagouki]

Not many songs I would pay $22,500 for:

US music file-sharer must pay damages

Joel Tenenbaum must pay $675,000 (£426,000) in damages awarded to the major US music labels after his request for a retrial was turned down.
Mr Tenenbaum, 25, was found guilty of illegally downloading and distributing 31 songs in 2007.
A judge in Massachusetts ruled that the damages, set by a jury in 2009, had been fair.
Mr Tenenbaum was 16 years old when a letter was sent to his parents' home accusing him of illegal file-sharing.
He was asked to pay $5,250 (£3,319) for downloading seven songs. He claims he offered $500 (£316) which was all he could afford at the time, and it was declined.
In 2007 the case went to court for the first time. On his website Joel Tenenbaum says that he counter-claimed "asserting abuse of federal power".
He refused to settle and a new trial was set for 2009. The result of that trial was the awarding of damages to the major US record labels.
In the US a jury can set a fine of up to $150,000 for every occasion of wilful copyright infringement, meaning that Mr Tenenbaum's fine is below the maximum he could have received for the 31 songs he was found guilty of illegally sharing.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) said it was "pleased" with the decision made by District Court Judge Rya Zobel in Massachusetts, reports Cnet.
In court Mr Tenenbaum had admitted to file-sharing around 800 songs.
"I used the computer. I uploaded, I downloaded music," he said.
In the past he has refused to take donations from supporters keen to help with the fine.
"This lawsuit was against me. This is my verdict," he wrote on his blog.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19370862

 

[yusuo]

Is this possible, in the eyes of the law, the time the offence was committed he would of been a minor, his parents would of taken the brunt of it

 

[Gahars]

Sad to say, this sort of story is far more common than it should be.

 

[Just Another Gamer]

I really can't believe this stuff can happen in the first place. It amazes me how greedy some industries are if they are willing to make someone who downloaded a few songs pay more than $20,000, its not like everyone is made of cash.

 

[ShadowSoldier]

I really can't believe this stuff can happen in the first place. It amazes me how greedy some industries are if they are willing to make someone who downloaded a few songs pay more than $20,000, its not like everyone is made of cash.

But everyone knows that you can get fined hefty for it, it's kind of impossible not to know. And besides, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't expect it all in one payment. He'd obviously have to pay it off as if it was a bill or something.

 

[Just Another Gamer]

I really can't believe this stuff can happen in the first place. It amazes me how greedy some industries are if they are willing to make someone who downloaded a few songs pay more than $20,000, its not like everyone is made of cash.

But everyone knows that you can get fined hefty for it, it's kind of impossible not to know. And besides, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't expect it all in one payment. He'd obviously have to pay it off as if it was a bill or something.

Everyone knows you can get fined but I still these huge amounts a little ridiculous.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

Everyone knows you can get fined but I still these huge amounts a little ridiculous.

It's a deterrent. Scary stories like these make people think a lot more about downloading an album than they normally would. If the penalty was nothing than it'd be easier to shrug off. But knowing that getting caught can end up with you basically being in the largest debt imaginable for the rest of your life makes a lot of would-be pirates quake in their boots.

 

[Die Antwoord]

I wonder how people even get caught in the first place? Scary.. i buy albums from stores and amazon a lot, and (illegally) download too.. not like it matters though but seriously you can't expect every one to buy every single song or album they would want to listen to.. can you?

 

[Thesolcity]

Instead of making people scared, I hope stories like this drive people into obfuscation/encryption methods considering most "pirates" caught are Joe-schmoes operating without so much as a blocklist. (Not that a blocklist is a cure-all, mind you).

 

[MelodieOctavia]

More often than not, people in this situation file for bankruptcy instead of being a financial slave to these mooks.

 

[Die Antwoord]

Also this is why i don't download mainstream big-name company music. They're watching YOU

 

[MelodieOctavia]

Also this is why i don't download mainstream big-name company music. They're watching YOU

With services like Spotify, there really is no reason you can't afford to listen to music, now. It's pretty much an all-you-can-eat buffet of music for $10.

 

[Just Another Gamer]

Also this is why i don't download mainstream big-name company music. They're watching YOU

With services like Spotify, there really is no reason you can't afford to listen to music, now. It's pretty much an all-you-can-eat buffet of music for $10.

That actually depends on he music, I found if you enjoy Korean and Japanese music then your really limited on Spotify.

 

[MelodieOctavia]

Also this is why i don't download mainstream big-name company music. They're watching YOU

With services like Spotify, there really is no reason you can't afford to listen to music, now. It's pretty much an all-you-can-eat buffet of music for $10.

That actually depends on he music, I found if you enjoy Korean and Japanese music then your really limited on Spotify.

Very true, although that would put you in the very small minority within English speaking countries. At least they have Melt Banana, right?

 

[Guild McCommunist]

That actually depends on he music, I found if you enjoy Korean and Japanese music then your really limited on Spotify.

Spotify tends to not have a lot of shit music so that may explain it.

 

[Just Another Gamer]

Also this is why i don't download mainstream big-name company music. They're watching YOU

With services like Spotify, there really is no reason you can't afford to listen to music, now. It's pretty much an all-you-can-eat buffet of music for $10.

That actually depends on he music, I found if you enjoy Korean and Japanese music then your really limited on Spotify.

Very true, although that would put you in the very small minority within English speaking countries. At least they have Melt Banana, right?

I'm more of a Yamai/KANAN fan myself but the problem I found even though they got some great bands an artists the more non-mainstream artists aren't there.

 

[ichidansan]

what is spotify? too lazy to google atm. anyone want to lmgtfy? or just explain here?

 

[MelodieOctavia]

what is spotify? too lazy to google atm. anyone want to lmgtfy? or just explain here?

Too lazy to google? It literally would have taken you less time to google it than to make that post.

 

[Just Another Gamer]

what is spotify? too lazy to google atm. anyone want to lmgtfy? or just explain here?

Its for buying music and stuff, it doesn't take long to find this stuff out.

 

[ichidansan]

what is spotify? too lazy to google atm. anyone want to lmgtfy? or just explain here?

Too lazy to google? It literally would have taken you less time to google it than to make that post.

I was trying to be a bit funny. but thanks.

@[member='Just Another Gamer']

thanks for telling me.