# RIAA to students: 'drop out of college to pay settlement' **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [April 5, 2006, 6:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312 "2006-04-05T06:18:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Locutus](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/locutus/32/7574_2.png) [@Locutus](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Locutus)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 6:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312/1 "2006-04-05T06:18:22Z")
Link: [http://www-tech.mit.edu/V126/N15/RIAA1506.html](http://www-tech.mit.edu/V126/N15/RIAA1506.html) Cliffs: An MIT student accused of copyright infringement has been documenting her struggles with the RIAA. Upon trying to negotiate her settlement, a representative told her “the RIAA has been known to suggest that students drop out of college or go to community college in order to be able to afford settlements.” Is this justice or insanity? Article: > **Run Over by the RIAA Don…t Tap the Glass** > **By Cassi Hunt** > Either since the day I visited my first aquarium or the day Goldie came into my family’s life, our parents have told us not to tap the glass of the fish tank. It’s cruel to Goldie — I understand and respect that. I mean, heck, I am a vegetarian. But would we have many qualms over a little water perturbation if Goldie were, say, a bloodthirsty shark? I’d knock on that glass to the near-cracking point. And in that spirit, I decided to call up my new friend at the RIAA negotiation hotline again. (Hereafter I’ll refer to her as Bowie, which means “yellow haired,” as I’m pretty sure that’s the case.) > Last time I spoke with Bowie, the conversation was pretty much over after she named $3750 as the settlement amount. (I haven’t actually agreed to settle yet.) So when I called her again, I asked — again — about how to negotiate that amount. I counted on the fact that self-important types wouldn’t be inclined to remember a lowly pirate like me. Bowie didn’t disappoint. She launched into her spiel about how the RIAA doesn’t negotiate settlements. I told her that it was too much to ask for thousands of dollars from a college student who only makes just enough from term and summer employment to still come out a couple thousand in debt. > Bowie replied that the RIAA was oh-so-kind enough to offer a six month repayment plan. At this point, I was beginning to speculate on Bowie’s hair color, and decided to switch tactics. I concisely and calmly explained how the situation was ridiculous: they weren’t offering a settlement, they were issuing an ultimatum! Let us screw you over gently now, or with chains and whips in court. Surely there must be some flexibility for individual cases. > Well, she replied, they do make allowances if something like a medical emergency comes up. Now we’re getting somewhere. “And who would I talk to about a situation like that, because I’d like to talk to them now.” > “Me,” she replied. Ever feel like your nose has just been flattened by something large and solid? I mean, besides the doors at 77 Mass. Ave. “But you’re not in a situation like that.” > Oh, but I am. The Institvte has left me with severe bouts of p-set-induced insomnia and a case of stuck-to-desk-itis that recurs two to three times in a semester, then again just before break. And my wallet certainly takes a hit for it. > But as much as I tried to argue that I was in as unique a situation as someone with medical expenses, there was no getting through. Bowie even had the audacity to say, “In fact, the RIAA has been known to suggest that students drop out of college or go to community college in order to be able to afford settlements.” > Are. You. Shitting. Me. > There you have it, fellow Techsters: proof of the fantastic levels of absurdity to which the RIAA attack has sunk. The Recording Industry of America would rather see America’s youth deprived of higher education, forever marring their ability to contribute personally and financially to society — including the arts — so that they may crucify us as examples to our peers. To say nothing of wrecking our lives in the process. I finally understand what the RIAA meant when they told me “stealing music is not a victimless crime” — the victims hang for all to see. > Please, RIAA — if any competent representative happens to enjoy flipping through _The Tech_ — please tell me Bowie is a moronic tool who can’t help what the Superior Gray Coverage Golden Blonde hair dye does to her mental facilities. Please tell me you actually care about the futures of the age demographic that buys most of your music (_[http://www.riaa.com/news/marketingdata/pdf/2004consumerprofile.pdf](http://www.riaa.com/news/marketingdata/pdf/2004consumerprofile.pdf)_). Your evil pirates are people too, people who enjoy music and almost always still purchase it legitimately. Each has an individual life and circumstances that deserve consideration, if not for the sake of empathy for your fellow man, then for the sake of business sense. Sure, if you commit a crime against someone, you should be held accountable. But I find it horrifying that anyone would single-mindedly and without compassion process people like a meat grinder set to purée. So while the RIAA continues to play the part of shark, I’ll continue to stand behind the glass, tapping away, wondering which of us is on display. ---
**Author:** ![Bucker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bucker/32/7379_2.png) [@Bucker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bucker)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 6:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312/2 "2006-04-05T06:32:51Z")
So? She stole something and somehow thinks she should be treated differently? ---
**Author:** ![Zer0DazE](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zer0daze/32/7624_2.png) [@Zer0DazE](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Zer0DazE)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 6:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312/3 "2006-04-05T06:49:02Z")
> [@98 Red Ex](#): > > So? She stole something and somehow thinks she should be treated differently? that appears to be the case. ---
**Author:** ![Bucker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bucker/32/7379_2.png) [@Bucker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bucker)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 6:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312/4 "2006-04-05T06:53:45Z")
Why. Why can’t people man up and face consequences anymore? This damn country is getting so pussified. I hate that. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Stevil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dr.Stevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dr.Stevil)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:12am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312/5 "2006-04-05T07:12:11Z")
> [@98 Red Ex](#): > > So? She stole something and somehow thinks she should be treated differently? I somewhat agree… although, I think pulling the kids out of college is a little extreme, but thats not up to me. I mean, yeah… punish them, but dont kill their future and thousands and thousands of dollars they invested into school. especially for a person who’s never broken the law otherwise/has no record. However, if they were doing some real bad ish (aka, stealing pre-released stuff and SELLING it online) then I’d have a lot less sympathy then again they should be thankful that they’re not doing jail time I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Bucker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bucker/32/7379_2.png) [@Bucker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bucker)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312/6 "2006-04-05T07:14:22Z")
I agree that the punishment for this particular “crime” especially considering the ease of downloading music is extreme, but still. you need to face the consequences wen they come. All they want is $3000 from her anyway. sehs going to MIT. she can afford another $3k in debt. ---
**Author:** ![RedGoober4Life](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/redgoober4life/32/7610_2.png) [@RedGoober4Life](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RedGoober4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312/7 "2006-04-05T07:28:31Z")
She can afford to go to community college where people are allowed to use colons incorrectly (edit) and overuse hyphens. ---
**Author:** ![jeeves744](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jeeves744/32/7619_2.png) [@jeeves744](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jeeves744)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312/8 "2006-04-05T07:33:02Z")
> [@98 Red Ex](#): > > I agree that the punishment for this particular “crime” especially considering the ease of downloading music is extreme, but still. you need to face the consequences wen they come. All they want is $3000 from her anyway. sehs going to MIT. she can afford another $3k in debt. seriously, take one of those credit card offers everyone always gets and put the stupid $3k on a CC and pay it off. ---
**Author:** ![Geehee](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geehee/32/7238_2.png) [@Geehee](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geehee)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312/9 "2006-04-05T07:33:16Z")
i cant believe any of you are sticking up for the RIAA. i bet all of you have downloaded a song at one point or another. ---
**Author:** ![Bucker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bucker/32/7379_2.png) [@Bucker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bucker)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312/10 "2006-04-05T07:34:45Z")
I never said I didnt download a song. It is still illegal, and if they come after me I will face the fucking consequences for BREAKING THE LAW. ---
**Author:** ![Zer0DazE](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zer0daze/32/7624_2.png) [@Zer0DazE](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Zer0DazE)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:37am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312/11 "2006-04-05T07:37:50Z")
> [@evolve](#): > > i cant believe any of you are sticking up for the RIAA. i bet all of you have downloaded a song at one point or another. no one is sticking up for them, but its the law, just like speeding or stealing a candy bar. ---
**Author:** ![Tevenor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@Tevenor](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Tevenor)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:39am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312/12 "2006-04-05T07:39:28Z")
> [@98 Red Ex](#): > > I agree that the punishment for this particular “crime” especially considering the ease of downloading music is extreme, but still. you need to face the consequences wen they come. All they want is $3000 from her anyway. sehs going to MIT. she can afford another $3k in debt. That’s a retarded thing to assume. Not all that go to MIT are independently wealthy nor are all that go to Community college “poor”. Myself and 2 others in my class of 59 kids got accepted there. Only one of us was able to afford to go there, the “poorest” one who got tons of financial aide. Even with it, her parents had to scramble for money for living expenses, books, etc. $3k would have killed them and her. As far as the chick’s action’s go, we have a Congresswoman running around screaming racial prejudice and sexual harassment because a cop was doing his job. You have the RIAA going around financially lynching their key sales demographic. You have a president that doesn’t believe the law that he swore to enforce, applies to him. We have upper level government officials trying to entice 14 year old girls over the internet. I would say she is a prime example of the future and direction of our country. Responsibility has been thrown by the wayside along with opportunity and fair-play and rights as the American dream drives by on smog and rubber leaving the majority of middle America sitting on the side of the road smelling foreign gas fumes. Its no longer about “What I can become” its about “Who can I blame for what I am” and it sucks huge donkey dick. ---
**Author:** ![Bucker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bucker/32/7379_2.png) [@Bucker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bucker)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:42am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312/13 "2006-04-05T07:42:40Z")
> [@Tevenor](#): > > That’s a retarded thing to assume. Not all that go to MIT are independently wealthy nor are all that go to Community college “poor”. Myself and 2 others in my class of 59 kids got accepted there. Only one of us was able to afford to go there, the “poorest” one who got tons of financial aide. Even with it, her parents had to scramble for money for living expenses, books, etc. $3k would have killed them and her. > > As far as the chick’s action’s go, we have a Congresswoman running around screaming racial prejudice and sexual harassment because a cop was doing his job. You have the RIAA going around financially lynching their key sales demographic. You have a president that doesn’t believe the law that he swore to enforce, applies to him. We have upper level government officials trying to entice 14 year old girls over the internet. > > I would say she is a prime example of the future and direction of our country. Responsibility has been thrown by the wayside along with opportunity and fair-play and rights as the American dream drives by on smog and rubber leaving the majority of middle America sitting on the side of the road smelling foreign gas fumes. > > Its no longer about “What I can become” its about “Who can I blame for what I am” and it sucks huge donkey dick. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![JDMR2](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jdmr2/32/7587_2.png) [@JDMR2](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JDMR2)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:43am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312/14 "2006-04-05T07:43:07Z")
> [@Tevenor](#): > > Its no longer about “What I can become” its about “Who can I blame for what I am” and it sucks huge donkey dick. fucking :word: ---
**Author:** ![RedGoober4Life](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/redgoober4life/32/7610_2.png) [@RedGoober4Life](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RedGoober4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/riaa-to-students-drop-out-of-college-to-pay-settlement/10312/15 "2006-04-05T07:45:11Z")
“Your evil pirates are people too, people who enjoy music and almost always still purchase it legitimately.” Which means that she sometimes takes music illegitimately. Ergo, it means she sometimes steals. It’s unfortunate she was caught. I wouldn’t want to be called a thief, either. I’d probably try to reduce the terrible feelings by calling the RIAA brutal or nasty or deserving of the action! That’s it. The RIAA deserves to be stolen from!