Daily Nonsense

Ray Beckerman, well known for his selfless defense of individuals sued by the Music And Film Industry Association of America otherwise known as the MAFIAA (doesn’t that seem fitting??), has published a paper in the American Bar Association’s Judge’s Journal that describes how the RIAA intimidates pursues it’s questionable legal actions against supposed file sharers.

Intended to educate, Beckerman discusses the legal and technical challenges in dealing with this type of suit.  I think that there are going to be tougher venues in the very near future where the RIAA will not be allowed the same kind of free rein and classic strong-arm tactics it has become vilified for in the past.

Judges warned about RIAA antics
The jaws that bite the teeth that gnash

By Nick Farrell: Wednesday, 30 July 2008, 8:33 AM

AMERICA’S TOP JUDGES have been briefed on the antics of the Recording Industry Association of America.

New York attorney Ray Beckerman has written a paper for the American Bar Association’s Judge’s Journal’s bumper summer issue.

Beckerman, who defends people sued by the MAFIAA, told judges about the finer points of case law relating to the wave of P2P cases.

Called Large Recording Companies v The Defenseless, the article explains RIAA lawyers’ method of working, which he thinks are getting dodgier as time wears on.

The bulk of the article looks at legal matters concerning venue, jurisdiction, dismissal, discovery, confidentiality, legal fees and default judgments.

One of the central issues which judges have faced in deciding on P2P cases are the huge amounts of case law and a lack of knowledge of the technical problems.

If the robed but not wigged ones read the missive they are certainly going to get a perspective that the music industry would not like.

L’Inq
Beckermanlegal.com

That link above leads to a copy of the article.

[Thanks, The Inquirer]