Technology RIAA spends thousands to obtain $300 judgment

[The Helper]

What's the cost of file-sharing? For Terri Frye of Hickory, NC, it was $300. That's the amount she'll have to pay the RIAA after agreeing to a judgment in a file-sharing case. Frye is a single mother living in state-supported housing who received one of the RIAA's settlement letters in November 2005. Wanting to defend her innocence, she immediately contacted a lawyer. "She did a good thing, finding a lawyer as soon as she found out [the RIAA] was pursuing her," Joey Long, one of her attorneys, told Ars Technica. "It's what every person should do when they receive a settlement letter."

Despite contacting Frye in late 2005, the RIAA did not actually file suit until March of this year. In the intervening period, Frye repeatedly informed the RIAA that they had the wrong person. Even if she was guilty of infringement, another of Frye's attorneys, Matthew K. Rodgers, told the labels that she couldn't afford to pay damages of up to $750 per song due to her financial situation.

RIAA spends thousands to obtain $300 judgment

The RIAA agrees to a judgment of $300 after suing a single mother in state- …

arstechnica.com

 

[enouwee]

What's the cost of file-sharing? For Terri Frye of Hickory, NC, it was $300.

After reading the article, I'd rephrase the above:
What's the revenue of suing someone you think was sharing a few songs? Even after being told he's / she's (probably) innocent: $300.

So:

1. Sue many random individuals
2. Win a ridiculous low fee and make them sign the famous future non-infringement agreements
3. ... ?
4. Sue them again, with real proof
5. Profit!

It's not the fee that matters, but the agreement she signed.

 

[sqrage]

What's the revenue of suing someone you think was sharing a few songs? Even after being told he's / she's (probably) innocent: $300.

What's the profit of suing someone suspected of illegally sharing music? For the RIAA, -$2700.

That's more like it.

 

[enouwee]

What's the profit of suing someone suspected of illegally sharing music? For the RIAA, -$2700.

That's more like it.

Not quite, as long as the RIAA doesn't lose the case it's a win for them. Not on the short term, but on the long term.

As soon as you settle, you have to sign an agreement to never ever illegally download or share any songs for the rest of your life. The next time they catch you, the situation is comparable to a being busted while on parole.

Kind of default judgment. You pay all the money and/or go to jail.

EDIT: top spot on /. right now:
RIAA Directed To Pay $68K In Attorneys Fees. That's a loss for them, as no agreement has been extorked.

 

[sqrage]

>>As soon as you settle, you have to sign an agreement to never ever illegally download or share any songs for the rest of your life.

There's no way to get out of this? Does it stay with you forever?

How about moving to Sweden?

[Not mocking, simply curious.]

 

[The Helper]

In the US.

 

[sqrage]

In the US.

I mean, if you move to Sweden, is the agreement void?

 

[enouwee]

I mean, if you move to Sweden, is the agreement void?

You'd have to read the document/formulation to answer that question. IANAL, but I'd say that once you signed it, you're liable, even if you're infriging that agreement in another country.

A while ago, and on a not too different issue, DoD's Griffiths has been extradited to the US and convicted. The charges (or economical interests) are much more important though.