25 Apr 2006
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is suing a family for downloading music illegally, but the family is denying the charge on the grounds that it does not have internet access or a computer.
In a federal lawsuit the RIAA claimed that the Walls family from Rockmart, GA had been downloading tracks from artists including Bob Seger, TLC and Whitney Houston.
"I don't understand this," James Walls told his local paper, the Rockmart Journal. "How can they sue us when we don't even have a computer?"
The family believes that the lawsuit may apply to the previous owner of the house, as they have been there for less than a year.
This is not the first such occurrence of suspected mistaken identity. In February another recipient of a writ claimed he did not own a computer.
"Music and other copyrighted materials are some of America's most important, cherished and visible exports," said the RIAA in a statement this month. " However, pirated sales of our members' recordings topped $4.6bn in 2004."
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Do you agree?
RIAA & syphilis induced retardation
I quit buying CD's in early 90's. I don't pirate music; I just tune in one of the gazillion radio stations offering music I like. RIAA doesn't realize that people will not suddenly pay for all this music, they will just find some other low/no cost source.
Posted by: ken 27 Apr 2006
Only in the States
Welcome to DMCA, and the land of lawsuits. Send in the lawyers. Innocense?? No such thing until the lawyers say so! So much for the land of the free.
Posted by: Anonymous 25 Apr 2006