Three quarters of students ignore RIAA threats

THE RIAA CLAIMS that its policy of threatening students who it thinks are pirates is a great success even though three quarters of those targeted ignore its demands for cash.

The RIAA has been offering discounted settlements to 400 students at 13 universities. Basically it tells them that if they pay about $3000 they will not take them to court and save them from a criminal record that will blight their entire existence.

The cunning plan required the letters to be forwarded from the University IT department to the students as the RIAA had not got court orders demanding that the names be identified. Because the RIAA did not have to give anyone any proof, it could also up the ante and really scare people.

One Ohio University student was told that she distributed 787 audio files, putting her total minimum potential liability at more than $590,000. No proof was offered.

To some extent, the scheme worked. For the cost of a letter, the RIAA managed to collect a huge amount of cash. However it seems that the majority of the students told the RIAA to go forth and multiply. µ