Following a judge's ruling to drop 33 lawsuits filed by the Recording Industry Association of America against eight N.C. State students on Feb. 27, Greensboro attorney Stephen Robertson has filed another motion to quash for four new students in the hope that they too will have their cases dismissed. This initial judicial nullification is a good sign for students resisting the legal intimidation practices of the RIAA and will hopefully act as a precedent for future lawsuits.
The RIAA started filing copyright infringement lawsuits in September 2003, and individuals at our University have been targeted at a higher rate than most other institutions across the country. These recently dismissed cases were handed out about two years ago. February's ruling marked the first public fight against the RIAA in that period. Student Legal Services officials predict that upcoming motions to dismiss these kinds of lawsuits will move along much more quickly given the judges ruling.
Although this is a refreshing victory, as a part of this difficult struggle, students should not view this case as a free ticket. While the bulling tactics of the RIAA are not acceptable, that does not, by any means, justify the piracy of copyrighted music. New solutions need to be developed that don't place constituents from either side of this dilemma at an unfair disadvantage. The quality of the music should be protected above all else.
For now, defendants in RIAA lawsuits should continue to resist the trade group's unfair pressure and use whatever resources they can to fight for dismissal. The only way the RIAA will stop its unfair tirade is if it loses enough cases. If a plethora of motions to quash are successfully passed, the RIAA will be forced to reassess its tactics. Establishing an environment where the RIAA cannot successfully use lawsuits to scare music downloaders is the first step toward improving the system.
Students need to work with the University to develop alternatives to illegal music downloads. If we expect the RIAA to act reasonably, we need to meet them in the middle. In lieu of maintaining unjust practices on both sides of the issue, all involved parties need to come together and establish a compromise.
