Not content with the current (and already massive) statutory damages allowed under copyright law, the RIAA is pushing to expand the provision. The issue is compilations, which now are treated as a single work. In the RIAA’s perfect world, each copied track would count as a separate act of infringement, meaning that a copying a ten-song CD even
one time could end up costing a defendant $1.5 million if done willfully. Sound fair? Proportional? Necessary? Not really, but that doesn’t mean it won’t become law.
The change to statutory damages is contained in the PRO-IP Act that is currently up for consideration in Congress. We’ve reported on the bill before, noting that Google’s top copyright lawyer (and the man who wrote a seven-volume treatise on the subject of copyright law), William Patry, called the bill the most “outrageously gluttonous IP bill ever introduced in the US.”
Out. Of. Control.
Should we be doing something?
Originally posted 2015-06-12 09:15:13. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
It really is ridiculous. I’m looking forward to taking some IP classes to figure out what kind of policy goes into allowing a $20 loss to incur thousands of dollars of damages. I can think of a few — none of which I like.
“Should we be doing something? ”
Do you mean: do you want to help me get paid for doing something?
Just teasing. I love your blog, and I agree with the ludicrous-ness of the subject. By the way, should “ludicrous-ness” become a legally defensable term, I want my cut.
I believe music is art and it should be public domain.
I believe Pittsburgh images are art and they should be public domain.