RIAA Is Countersued

Okay, okay, I promise I'm not going to spend the rest of my life picking anti-RIAA sites. However, this story broke this week, and it's too good to pass up:

It seems a couple in Michigan, sued by the RIAA for allegedly downloading copyrighted music, is now countersuing the record companies' champion. Why? Because it has recently come to light that the testimony obtained that was used to justify the lawsuit against the couple (Mr. And Mrs. Nelson) was obtained from some witnesses through coercion and/or extortion.

A witness came forth (involved in this case) and gave a deposition stating that an RIAA attorney told her to lie about the Nelsons, otherwise he wouldn't have a case.

Very nice. Not only are we going to sue wheelchair-bound grandmothers and children, we just might have to make up a few stories to make the charges stick.

Check out these snippets of the deposition:

Q. What other areas do you feel that Mr. Krichbaum put words in your mouth? 
A. I don't remember any specifically. Just trying to get me to say that Angie and Jim or I had ripped the music off. 
[...] 
Q. It wasn't true. And you felt that Mr. Krichbaum was trying to get you to say something that wasn't true? 
A. Yes. 
Q. And did he get you to say something that wasn't true? 
A. From the statement I read, yes.
Ms. Granado went on to testify that Mr. Krichbaum had urged her to provide false and inaccurate testimony with 
regard to the entire portion of her original testimony implicating the Nelsons. 
Q. Did he tell you why he needed you to stick with your original false story? 
A. Because he said he didn't have a case unless I did. 
Q. So, he told you that he didn't have a case unless you stuck with the original false story? 
A. Yes.

The featured site has the entire deposition. Much of it is legalese, but you'll enjoy the juicy testimony. Then, click on the blog's homepage and check the rest of it out. It's presented by a couple of lawyers in New York who have undertaken defending those who are being sued by the RIAA. It's good stuff.

Enjoy the site, and remember: you don't have to put up with intimidation by bullies, whether humans or organizations.

Click here for the story

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