Since the Recording Industry Association of America stopped announcing lawsuits against people suspected of pirating music on campus networks (The Chronicle, January 31), college officials may have been able to take their minds off of the trade group’s aggressive legal campaign. But the Electronic Frontier Foundation—which has consistently opposed the RIAA in court and in public debate—continues to hammer at the recording industry’s legal tactics.
During a conference call yesterday, Ray Beckerman—a lawyer for the foundation who runs a blog called Recording Industry vs. the People—accused the RIAA of waging "a reign of terror" against innocent consumers. Mr. Beckerman argues that the recording industry routinely files suit against suspected pirates without accumulating much evidence or giving potential defendants ample notice about forthcoming subpoenas.
The conference call was organized by Defective By Design, a group that seeks to liberalize digital-copyright regulations. The group is attempting to create a defense fund for people sued by the RIAA, reports NewsForge. —Brock Read
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