Woman Fined $1.9 Million for Downloading 24 Songs

What is going on here? If I buy a computer,pay for a internet service, and look at all the junk, news, Ads. etc. You mean to tell me I can't copy any of this? If certain companies don't want you to see or copy their goods, Don't put them on display. This is like I cannot turn my radio to some stations because someone says I have to pay to hear their station. I should Sue them for displaying material that I don't want. The airwaves are free. All you need is a receiver (computer).

In all honesty, I don't believe anyone has the authority to pass a sentence like that. As an artist myself, I actually enjoy when someone sends me a message saying "I just downloaded your latest album...great work!" To me, that is more important than any amount of money I could possibly make from it. And, to make things worse, 99% of all people born since January 1, 1960 have "illegally" downloaded some digital item that is protected by copyright, including many workers for the RIAA, and very possibly the judge and entire jury of that trial.

Just wondering how this can be written by Tom Stevens on Sept 19, 2009 at 9:12AM when it's still Sept 18th (at least in the U.S.). Unless he's on the other side of the world??

This is ridiculous, Seriously. There are people out there uploading Millions of song,s and they are worried about her? Wtf there are Company's Scamming the Government, and we're worried about a mom who downloaded a whoopin 24 songs. I think if people don't want media to hit the internet, come up with some other way, maybe go back to Cassettes? Besides they don't lose any money. Just because a band comes out with 1 good song doesn't mean everyone is going to go buy a 15-20$ CD. I think these people should maybe invest time and money into something important, maybe Global warming, or maybe helping the needy.

I say F*** those Wankers!

For those who say artists make a lot of money, trust me, those days aren't what they were since downloading began and only those who are established are making money. Independent artists definitely aren't making any money. This goes way and beyond punishment however for this lady.

It wasn't her fault. She just didn't know it was illegal. Come on give her a break.

O.K.,...WHOEVER IS SUING THIS MOM,TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF HER NEEDS TO BE BOYCOTTED,ALONG WITH ANY OTHER PEOPLE,BUSINESSES INVOLVED. I DO NOT AGREE AT ALL WITH ILLEGAL USE OF DOWNLOADING,BUT TO LET THE YOUTH SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS WHILE SUING A MOTHERS IS UNTHINKABLE. IF THEIR TECHNOLOGY WAS UP TO DATE THEN THE THEFT OF THE MUSIC WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE. I AM NOT AGREEING WITH THE MOM FOR THEFT,...BUT IF THE US GOVERNMENT WERE ACTUALLY DOING THEIR JOB,THE DOWNLOAD THEFTS WOULD END TOMORROW.

I don't know how many CD's I've bought in my lifetime just for ONE GOOD SONG. It was nice while it lasted back in the beginning of the newly founded Napster days when everyone was innocent because we didn't know it was such a "bad" thing to do. Back in the "olden days" we would record things on cassette tapes, so it was like doing that. I will admit, I hated Metallica after the whole Napster media circus started, but soon realized there were some legitimate points to it all from the marketing/etc. point of view. It would have just been nice to say back then "I'm not paying 20.00 for the 11 crappy songs that were just thrown onto your latest CD for the one or two that were truly remarkable." We still have a long way to go with this - It will come a day where we can customize our CD's and pay a reasonable fee for what we (the public) do want. I would think that would be helpful to the artists too, so they can see what the people like. Die hard fans will ALWAYS buy the entire CD anyway...

Otherwise, maybe we are just hearing of a band for the first time. Thats where radio comes in, or other outlets like the internet, so we can hear what ELSE we like on an artists CD. It should not be a crime if we don't care for an artists whole CD and want only certain songs. Customizing is the way to go.

Someone made a joke about how she wouldn't be able to hear Rick Astley songs anymore - BUT...It's really a valid point! If not for the search and download sites, how else can we look for the older songs? This is why I say customizing is the way to go...Where we could find ANY song ever created...old and new and pay for just that. Even if the CD, or whatever new technological breakthrough- listening source they would use- could not be duplicated. I have always paid for the whole LP, cassette, CD anyway...This would just be more convenient and a "worthwhile" advancement in technology.

Out of control courts. The "crime" is this harsh penalty, waste of time and money by this court and money made by the attorneys with a license to steel. RIAA loses money from illegal downloading, but this woman did not cost them 1.9 mil. I am not arguing about the downloading issue, it's the penalty. How would the Artists or RIAA like to be fined $20,000. for a speeding ticket, or life in prison for DUI? These crimes endanger the lives of others, certainly they are worse than downloading. Where is the common sense?

A public library is the same as an internet site which distributes books, CDs, & DVDs; therefore, if you check out books, CDs, or DVDs, shouldn't you be arrested and sued like this poor woman? I get most of my music from the library since I like classical music and they have plenty of it. I also listen to free music sites like Pandora and listen to pop music in my car. Why is downloading and listening to music from the internet any different. So, let's just do away with the internet, ban all computers, libraries, TV, and all other distributors of media. Most of it is crap anyway.

whats the difference

most EVERYONE including the lawyers judges ect ect made tapes for friends and cds back in the day as gifts

how is it any different than sharing music over the net other than the fact that your sharing with strangers instead of handing a cassette tape to your friend to have

its all about the dollar nothing else

all of the sudden its SO WRONG only after the fact they start losing money ..in the 80s it wasn't an issue

Ha ha ha.
And that is what you get, when money control humanity.
Those people who think that what was done to the poor woman was legal are extremely stupid.
That is the future of any capitalist society, the bosses will controll your every move. There are plenty of examples of this, from the Patriot Act to the election of Barack Obama.
So, downloading a song is illegal? Fine.
How about innocent people being killed in Iraq?

Oh well. I can not wait to see your end, USA. Lucky me, it will happen during my life time (I am a 50 year old smoker).