Fighting RIAA Without an Attorney

2think writes "Yahoo News is reporting that Patricia Santangelo of New York will be taking on the RIAA in court without an attorney. It seems that Ms. Santangelo has committed over $24,000 due to her case and simply cannot afford to continue with the services of an attorney." From the article: "Her former lawyer, Ray Beckerman, says Santangelo doesn't really need him. 'I'm sure she's going to win,' he said. 'I don't see how they could win. They have no case. They have no evidence she ever did anything. They don't know how the files appeared on her computer or who put them there.'"

Re:Imagine if a trend started...

[xquark]

he will imply, others will infer.

Yes, that's it

[Anonymous Coward]

"What about engineers who develop weapons?"

The RIAA has no proof they downloaded any songs either.

One who represents one's self...

[dentar]

....has a fool for a client. (Attorneys excepted.)

Re:We already know that shoplifting is illegal!

[n0dalus]

If I had the time, I would make a parody of their anti-piracy ads.

Something like this:

• "You wouldn't steal a car!"
• [forboding music] Guy walks up to car, looks around conspicuously and puts hand inside his jacket.
• [music stops] Or would you?
• Guy pulls out a device, points it at the car, presses a button and points it at an empty space of street.
• [nice music starts] A new car materializes.
• "Copying. It's not Stealing."

Re:Well...

[coolGuyZak]

You need to get real.

We don't want any of your proprietary codecs here.

oh, wait...

Re:Imagine if a trend started...

[ultranova]

That's the pickle the RIAA has gotten themselves into -- you should never start a fight with someone who has nothing to lose.

Actually, the real lesson is: Don't try to get justice in America. You can't afford to. Just pay the extortion fee, at least you can walk away afterwards.

I wonder why Mafia still bothers with its own-fashioned "fire insurance" type rackets, when this kind of blackmail is not only more efficient, but perfectly legal too. Why haven't they started their own "settlement" racket ? Or... maybe they have ? Maybe that's why RIAA has been so succesfull with this scene - they're getting guidance from the experts of protection rackets ?

Remember, when you buy legal DVDs, you support organized crime ! Don't finance Mafia, download your movies from the Internet for free !

Re:This case is important

[ClamIAm]

I'd pledge 50 just get the satisfaction of kicking the RIAA in the nuts.

The EFF would probably get a lot more donations if they just ran the tagline "Donate to EFF and help kick the RIAA in the nuts". Hell yeah, I'd donate.