No Computer? Don't Worry, the RIAA Will Get You Too

December 3, 2003 4:35 PM

RIAA Targets Computer-Less Elderly Couple
The RIAA levels its pack of rabid lawyers at an older couple who don't own a computer. Not without any cause but they're pursuing the wrong "criminals".
posted by fenriq (33 comments total)

Brenot was accused of illegally offering for download 774 songs by artists including Vanilla Ice, U2, Creed, Linkin Park and Guns N' Roses.

Yeah, that SHOULD be illegal.
posted by machaus at 4:42 PM on December 3, 2003

"Brenot's wife, Dorothy, said she and her husband were stunned by the claims, offended at the suggestion they listened to such music."

Hang those elitist jibber-jabberers! (" ,)
posted by The God Complex at 4:43 PM on December 3, 2003

Music is the healing force of the world
posted by Satapher at 5:14 PM on December 3, 2003

We are at war people, and if some suspected terrorist gets his hair mussed, it's a small price to pay for preserving our way of life.
posted by 2sheets at 5:57 PM on December 3, 2003

The real terrorists are the ones who play Christmas Carols in department stores. Bastards.
posted by homunculus at 6:15 PM on December 3, 2003

From the linked article: "Brenot and her husband said their son-in-law briefly added Internet service to their own cable television account while living with the couple because Comcast Cable Communications Inc. said it would add a surcharge to send separate bills to the same mailing address"

Regardless of how one feels about the RIAA tactics, it would seem to me that their problem is with their son-in-law. If the account is in their name I would imagine that they are responsible for it's use.

Bet that surcharge is looking like a bargain now.
posted by cedar at 6:44 PM on December 3, 2003

This is why I steal all my music from Usenet.
posted by five fresh fish at 8:37 PM on December 3, 2003

They should countersue for 100 trillion.
posted by HTuttle at 9:03 PM on December 3, 2003

who wrote in a handwritten note to a federal judge that he does not own a computer nor can he operate one

Yeah, right, uh-huh, sure.
posted by mischief at 9:32 PM on December 3, 2003

(From homunculus's link)

The criticism was rejected by employers' spokesman Franz Penz. He said modern CD players enabled department stores to play a large number of tunes. "It practically doesn't happen that the same Christmas tune is played over and over again."

Bull. Fucking. Shit. Do you know how many times I had to listen to Long December when I worked in a movie theater?
posted by Tlogmer at 1:10 AM on December 4, 2003

This is why I steal all my music from Usenet.

and that new ROT13 mode really protects me from the man!
posted by quonsar at 1:33 AM on December 4, 2003

What a lovely bit of prejudicial language.

Fuck off.
posted by ed\26h at 2:14 AM on December 4, 2003

ed\26th: Just out of curiousity, who exactly do you want to fuck off?

The RIAA, the nice old folks, the author of the linked article, a particular poster in this thread? Or is it just a general 'fuck off' to cover the bases?
posted by cedar at 5:55 AM on December 4, 2003

ceddar:

The person employing the prejudicial language, funnily enough.
posted by ed\26h at 7:31 AM on December 4, 2003

ed\26th: This is meant in the kindliest way, but nobody except you has the faintest idea of what you're talking about or who you think is "employing the prejudicial language."
posted by languagehat at 7:37 AM on December 4, 2003

luggagehands:

Well, I see you've spoken on behalf of everyone.

I didn't realise I was the only one on the outside of some kind of hive mind.

Also, please don't appeal to the crowd, it's just undignified.
posted by ed\26h at 8:56 AM on December 4, 2003

What languagehat said.
posted by elwoodwiles at 9:01 AM on December 4, 2003

ed\26h, for the love of God, tell us what you're on about. The hive mind demands an explanation.
posted by furiousthought at 9:46 AM on December 4, 2003

How many of us highly individualized, non-hive mind members have to tell you we have no idea what the hell you're talking about before you clarify your remarks?
posted by jacquilynne at 10:01 AM on December 4, 2003

unit 17135 is confused.
posted by COBRA! at 10:12 AM on December 4, 2003

I know what he was talking about, but my hive mind doesn't want to tell your hive mind. Neener!
posted by five fresh fish at 10:14 AM on December 4, 2003

Hey, Fuck all you guys and your despicable lasagna hats!
posted by BobFrapples at 12:24 PM on December 4, 2003

I've read enough "RIAA bad" threads here. Yawn.
posted by tranquileye at 1:06 PM on December 4, 2003

Hey Tranquileye, why don't you, Axl, and Hilary Rosen go dance with Mr. Brownstone for a while?
posted by COBRA! at 1:08 PM on December 4, 2003

I'm too busy yawning, COBRA.
posted by tranquileye at 1:17 PM on December 4, 2003

Yawning because you slept out in the cold November rain, right? Welcome to the jungle.
posted by COBRA! at 1:23 PM on December 4, 2003

Gotta love a rambling MeFi thread.

ed\26h, I'm part of the every one who has no idea what you're talking about, nor do I really care since you're likely just another troll.

Tranquileye, if you've read enough RIAA threads then why would you click on this one to read? Or did you just want to register your effete boredom with the concept of standing up against an overgreedy wanker association? Hey thanks for sharing.

And Corba!, nicely put!
posted by fenriq at 2:01 PM on December 4, 2003

Show some patience, fenriq. You don't need to get all live-and-let-die on us. If we could all just love each other, this place could be a real paradise city.

jesus, I need to get a hobby.
posted by COBRA! at 2:07 PM on December 4, 2003

Cobra, you need to get in on this week's , its all about answering questions with song titles from your favorite bands and you're already well warmed up.

Of course, it'll be pretty easy to guess the band but that's alright, its about fun.
posted by fenriq at 2:40 PM on December 4, 2003

Wow, that site is one in a million.
posted by COBRA! at 2:45 PM on December 4, 2003

fenriq:

Fuck off!
posted by ed\26h at 2:32 AM on December 5, 2003

Ahh, there ya go now, ed\26h, see? You're making progress and directing your tiny little anger at something.

Troll on, lepton.
posted by fenriq at 1:54 PM on December 5, 2003

By the way, I'd like to nominate 26h.net as the most boring weblog ever.

But at least Ed swears less there than he does here.
posted by fenriq at 1:57 PM on December 5, 2003