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RIAA sues 'pirate outfit' for $1.6 trillion

Daniel Fleshbourne   on 02 January 2007 - 14:30 · 134 comments & 22684 views

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THE Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has said that it is suing a Russian online music outfit for $1.6 trillion. Although it has been known that the RIAA intended to sue Mediaservices, which owns AllofMP3.com and allTunes.com, for illegally flogging copyrighted music, it was not clear how much or how the recording industry lobby group intended to do it.

Now, according to Zeropaid.com, it seems that the RIAA want $150,000 for each of the 11 million songs allegedly pirated. No one knows how much cash the site has made, but it is certainly not in trillions of dollars. The other thing that the RIAA seems to be doing is taking its court action in New York and not in Russia where AllofMP3 operates

View: The full story
News source: The Inq

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(3 replies) #1 Sheppard on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:34
How does the RIAA come up with such stupid numbers, does it pull them out of its collective ass?

Wouldnt it make sense to sue them for the retail amount per song and then a fine on top of that instead of suing for such pathetic and unrealistic amounts of money?
#1.1 +TCLN Ryster on 02 Jan 2007 - 19:12
Don't forget that they are not actually suing to get them to pay the cost of each song. They are suing to cover the "alleged" loss of sales from each and every person who might otherwise have purchased the songs. I think its fair to conclude that each song would have been downloaded more than 150 thousand times at a potential loss $1 per song.

Still I hate the RIAA just as much as the next man and I hope the Russians fight this and win.
#1.2 QUINTIX256 on 02 Jan 2007 - 21:33
I'm not a big fan of the russian government, especial after Putin's "kitten pet" (EWWW!!! PEDOPHILE!!! ), and the recent assination of a former spy. I'll have to agree that the RIAA is obnoxious. But still, how can artist be protected from pirates and malicious recording contracts? I heard that there essentialy is no music industry in china, becuase once someone gets popular, there music gets pirated, and the artists can no longer make a living. I doubt russia is much different, especially considering we haven't exported capitalism as agressively to russia as we have with china (which has done much to improve the quality of life for the chinese.)

All that said, art is international, it is not simply american. If people can't make a living off of it, I can't see how art in any form, be it paintings, music, or movies, how art can continue to thrive. Our constitution specificly gives congress the responsiblity to protect content creators. However, considering recents acts that treat everyone like a potential theives, artist that sell there lives away to production companies, making stuff they created the sole property of the company, not the artists, and a bunch of other things, I'm afraid that the arts will soon be an isolated hobby rather than a livelyhood.
#1.3 NightmarE D on 03 Jan 2007 - 02:01
Most of the money any musician makes comes from ticket sales of their concerts and anything sold at their concerts (t-shirts, hats...etc). They don't make huge amounts on record sales. Why do you think most bands that make it big go on tours that last for like a year straight and sometimes even longer? That's where they make the real money. They'll get maybe a million dollars in a contract with most of that money going back into the recording of the album. Most record companies don't pay everything to get the albums recorded.

You'll notice that most of the bands that don't really care about their music being downloaded are bands that have been out a while and know they won't make much off cd sales to begin with because the record company keeps most of it and the bands only get a small fraction of that.

Quote - (QUINTIX256 said @ #1.2)
All that said, art is international, it is not simply american. If people can't make a living off of it, I can't see how art in any form, be it paintings, music, or movies, how art can continue to thrive. Our constitution specificly gives congress the responsiblity to protect content creators. However, considering recents acts that treat everyone like a potential theives, artist that sell there lives away to production companies, making stuff they created the sole property of the company, not the artists, and a bunch of other things, I'm afraid that the arts will soon be an isolated hobby rather than a livelyhood.
(3 replies) #2 +Harlem39s Finest on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:35
$1.6 trillion lmfao
#2.1 Xeta on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:39


Bwwaaaahahahahaahahhaa!!

...

My thoughts exactly.
#2.2 Ideas Man on 03 Jan 2007 - 02:31
Haha, I knew it, Dr Evil IS running the RIAA!
#2.3 PatrynXX on 04 Jan 2007 - 04:33
yep thats a $trillion more than what Bush is asking to help extend funding of the Iraq war. My with that money one could bring Africa out of the stone age. Alas it's a frivolous lawsuit and I doubt they ever intended to see any of whatever money they are looking for. Besides.... the ROM's has the royalties, but the RIAA has refused to collect it. They set themselves up.
#3 Munkyman on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:35
RIAA's odds of a success seem very low. Russia is behind AllofMP3.com from what I see and how are they going to be able to sue them if thats the case?

And this is going to blow up in their face when they realise how little they are capable of doing. Lot of press I'm guessing.
#4 [f] on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:36
All I can think is "what a bunch of idiots" in reference to the RIAA, this is overkill, if there ever was overkill. I'm all for them representing the artists, I just don't think thats what this is all about so it's difficult to get behind them.
(3 replies) #5 +troist on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:42
surely if allofmp3.com don't turn up to court then the new york court has absolutely no power over them anyway? the RIAA would lose the case in russia even if they had the best lawyers, and they can only get away with suing for $1,600,000,000,000 in the US...

if $1.6 trillion is true then has allofmp3 been stealing off the RIAA for over 500 years? to quote the RIAA themselves:

Quote -
Each year, the industry loses about $4.2 billion to piracy worldwide -- "we estimate we lose millions of dollars a day to all forms of piracy."

http://www.riaa.com/issues/piracy/default.asp
#5.1 XerXis on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:50
1.6 trillion divided by 4.2 billion would make 380 (give or take some)
#5.2 +Lexcyn on 02 Jan 2007 - 16:19
The stupid thing about the RIAA is they like to make things up and force everyone else to believe them. There have been studies of piracy in other countries (the big one I'm referring to was in Canada), that have actually shown piracy isn't hurting the industry as much as the RIAA would like us to believe.

When it comes down to it, they're an organization who just wants more money by any means necessary.
#5.3 8-n-1 on 02 Jan 2007 - 18:29
Quote - (Lexcyn said @ #5.2)
The stupid thing about the RIAA is they like to make things up and force everyone else to believe them.


This is called truthiness. By definition, it doesn't have to have any basis in fact; just saying it is so makes it so.
(4 replies) #6 kravex on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:42
"1.6 TRILLION DOLLARS!!"

Who the hell's running the RIAA now? Dr Evil?

We need Austin Powers to crush the RIAA.

Oh, behave...
#6.1 Ghostdraconi on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:46
Given how the RIAA operates I wouldn't be surprised if Dr. Evil was in charge.
#6.2 Unplugged on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:49
[size=4][color=#000099]ONE HUNDRED MILLION GAZILLION DOLLARS
#6.3 +guylaroche on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:53
Quote - (kravex said @ #1)
"1.6 TRILLION DOLLARS!!"

Who the hell's running the RIAA now? Dr Evil?

We need Austin Powers to crush the RIAA.

Oh, behave...
LOL
#6.4 Arcticflare on 02 Jan 2007 - 19:48
Quote - (kravex said @ #7)
"1.6 TRILLION DOLLARS!!"

Who the hell's running the RIAA now? Dr Evil?


Ahahaha! Oh, man... thanks.
(1 reply) #7 +guylaroche on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:43
LOL $1.6 trillion.... Even if they win in a US court, what are they going to do?
#7.1 Jugalator on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:46
Maybe they plan on getting enough money to purchase Russia...
Because that is more than Russia's yearly GDP.
#8 mko on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:46
Dr. Evil voice: "WE WANT............ ONE TRILLION DOLLARS!"
(1 reply) #9 adversedeviant on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:46
of course they're gonna sue in American courts cause if it was in Russia they'd be like wtf are you stupid and throw this **** out.
#9.1 +TCLN Ryster on 02 Jan 2007 - 19:18
Quote - (adversedeviant said @ #9)
of course they're gonna sue in American courts cause if it was in Russia they'd be like wtf are you stupid and throw this **** out.

Who exactly are they going to sue in the USA? Does AllOfMP3 actually have any offices or staff in America?

RIAA: We would like to sue AllOfMP3 for $1.6 Trillion.. can we please?
US Courts: Hahahaha... good luck.
(2 replies) #10 b0m8er on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:50
One hundred billion dollars! LOL. 1.6 trillion - ok, let's presume they win. AllofMP3 is not Microsoft where whe hell they're gonna get that much money? I want some of the crack they're smoking.
#10.1 devster on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:54
does it matter? US courts cant affect a Russian business :p
#10.2 PatrynXX on 04 Jan 2007 - 04:36
I'd be thinking can Russia afford to lose allofmp3 as a business? I'm sure Russia has it's on financial problems, so probably relies on mediaservices and others to make some money. Worst case scenerio.... RIAA creates cold war part 2.
(4 replies) #11 Ajapi on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:51
This is more than Russia's GDP
#11.1 b0m8er on 02 Jan 2007 - 14:54
Quote - (Ajapi said @ #11)
This is more than Russia's GDP
LOL.. you're actually correct. Russia's GDP in 2005 accounted to 766 billion dollars.

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%B0%...%83%D0%BA%D1%82
#11.2 +nezermundy on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:26
Well actually according to en.wikipedia.org it is $1.576 trillion - so the RIAA are suing the whole of Russia's gross domestic product.
#11.3 +Zhivago on 02 Jan 2007 - 16:51
Just for reference, US nominal GPD is US12.5 trillion.
#11.4 Vexed on 02 Jan 2007 - 23:21
Probably more if the Krasnayans didn't have such a strong grasp through Eastern Europe.
Edit this comment #12 Guest on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:01
wow! this is crazy!
#13 bucko on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:01
It's lame as well because all that money could go to charity or something more worth while.
(3 replies) #14 Netrack on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:06
"Hey you...mr. russian come over to NY so we can Sue you...yes get on you boat and come over here...now!"


Id love to see the RIAA goto russia to sue them...i bet the RIAA would "disappear"
#14.1 b0m8er on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:13
Quote -
Id love to see the RIAA goto russia to sue them...i bet the RIAA would "disappear"
LOl.. is that "pollonium" you're reffering to...
#14.2 Netrack on 02 Jan 2007 - 19:17
Quote - (b0m8er said @ #14.1)
Quote -
Id love to see the RIAA goto russia to sue them...i bet the RIAA would "disappear"
LOl.. is that "pollonium" you're reffering to...



dont expose my secerts please...
#14.3 zeke009 on 02 Jan 2007 - 19:21
Quote - (Netrack said @ #1)
Id love to see the RIAA goto russia to sue them...i bet the RIAA would "disappear"

If only we could be that lucky!

What a way for the RIAA to start the new year off, reminding the world how pathetic they are. Now we just need them to ask the artist(s) to take a lesser cut again...
#15 bush on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:11
they're mad! they're mad. they're madder than Mad Jack McMad, the winner of this year's Mr Madman competition.
#16 Rudi A.K on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:14
mwahahahahaha! Just when I thought the RIAA couldnot get any stupider!!! 1.6 trillion LOL! These people are out of control!
#17 Colin-uk on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:14
ROFL! Thats hilarious, hah!
#18 creamhackered on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:15
Haha and filed in New York....as if this is ever gonna happen.
(2 replies) #19 So-Unreal on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:16
why did i even click this link?
#19.1 macrosslover on 02 Jan 2007 - 16:01
so me and you both could laugh together at the comments calling the RIAA stupid lol.
#19.2 chisss on 02 Jan 2007 - 16:16
Quote - (So-Unreal said @ #19)
why did i even click this link?


I dunno... why did you even post if you have nothing to say?

BTW someone has to stop RIAA... it is getting stupid now...
#20 +Ghost96 on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:17
Pulls out wallet...Yeah, I'm gonna need to go ahead and setup a payment plan over the next trillion years, m'kay?
#21 ThePitt on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:18
**** RIAA
#22 +Smigit on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:19
Maybe they should counter sue for the same amount...
(4 replies) #23 SwankyPimp on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:25
Smells like a scare tactic to me. "Hey if we sue these guys for a retarded amount of money, get a lot of press and have millions of people hear about it... Maybe they will stop paying 10 cents a song and go to the iTunes store".

I think a scare tactic is fine and all, but when you drop a number like 1.6 trillion you just make people laugh.
#23.1 b0m8er on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:31
Quote -
10 cents a song and go to the iTunes store".
BTW, iTunes is not available in Russia.
#23.2 _dandy_ on 02 Jan 2007 - 19:54
Quote - (SwankyPimp said @ #23)
Smells like a scare tactic to me. "Hey if we sue these guys for a retarded amount of money, get a lot of press and have millions of people hear about it... Maybe they will stop paying 10 cents a song and go to the iTunes store".

I think a scare tactic is fine and all, but when you drop a number like 1.6 trillion you just make people laugh.


No doubt this is nothing more than a scare tactic, but I'm still curious to see how this will backfire on them. This seriously needs to hit mainstream news (and not just geek sites), if only to expose the RIAA to Joe SixPack for what it really is.
#23.3 wicker_man on 03 Jan 2007 - 09:42
Quote - (_dandy_ said @ #23.2)
No doubt this is nothing more than a scare tactic, but I'm still curious to see how this will backfire on them. This seriously needs to hit mainstream news (and not just geek sites), if only to expose the RIAA to Joe SixPack for what it really is.

Except for it would be nicely paraphrased into something like this:
RIAA: This evil Russian communist corporation is stealing YOUR, Joe SixPack's money! YOU have the right to stand up for your American values and taxes! God bless America and our fight against the evil communist bastards!
Joe SixPack: Hell yeah! Where do I sugn up? And gimme some more of that 'Milwaukee's best'!
#23.4 _dandy_ on 04 Jan 2007 - 01:10
Quote - (wicker_man said @ #23.3)
Quote - (_dandy_ said @ #23.2)
No doubt this is nothing more than a scare tactic, but I'm still curious to see how this will backfire on them. This seriously needs to hit mainstream news (and not just geek sites), if only to expose the RIAA to Joe SixPack for what it really is.

Except for it would be nicely paraphrased into something like this:
RIAA: This evil Russian communist corporation is stealing YOUR, Joe SixPack's money! YOU have the right to stand up for your American values and taxes! God bless America and our fight against the evil communist bastards!
Joe SixPack: Hell yeah! Where do I sugn up? And gimme some more of that 'Milwaukee's best'!


Y'know, you're probably right. I always forget that Joe SixPack takes any media spin at face value.
(4 replies) #24 yizuman on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:25
Once again RIAA is showing their greedy ugly head.

Not one single Artist benefits from the payouts that the RIAA receives from each and every one of the lawsuits that they create. RIAA keeps all of the profits to themselves. (they claim to protect the Artists)

I must reiterate that we must continue to boycott RIAA by not buying one single CD. As long as we discontinue to buy CDs, the Artist themselves will take notice.

Happy 2007 everyone!

Last edited by yizuman on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:37
#24.1 C_Guy on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:51
Well, in a roundabout way, the artists do benefit. If the RIAA successfully stopped a majority of pirating (not likely but I am just saying *if*) then most people would have no choice but to buy their music. And when they buy their music, the artists make money.

It's too bad because the RIAA's mission is one that really needs to be addressed. But they're doing it all wrong.
#24.2 ThaCrip on 02 Jan 2007 - 17:12
the artist do make money but it's a small percentage, right? ... cause i heard the artist make most of there money touring etc if thats true then the hell with the RIAA.

when i buy a cd i would want majority of the money to goto the artist and NOT the greedy record lables.

---------------

besides there aint much music worth buying nowadays anyways... theres some but not much and the stuff i do like i just W***z it anyways ... screw the RIAA they aint worth a damn, it's obvious from the many many news reports that there just trying to line there own pockets and they really dont give a damn about the artists.... they just use the "where trying to protect the artists" crap to make it look good for the public etc.... when in reality there bottom line is "let line out pockets and sue everyone for there life savings".
#24.3 yizuman on 02 Jan 2007 - 17:19
Quote - (C_Guy said @ #24.1)
Well, in a roundabout way, the artists do benefit. If the RIAA successfully stopped a majority of pirating (not likely but I am just saying *if*) then most people would have no choice but to buy their music. And when they buy their music, the artists make money.

It's too bad because the RIAA's mission is one that really needs to be addressed. But they're doing it all wrong.


How do they benefit? Say if RIAA sues for an entire album of Boston's first album which contains 8 songs at a lawsuit of $150,000 each. That's a total of $1,200,000.00!

So how much of that ends up in the hands of the Boston group?

So you say that artists do benefit, may I please ask by what source that says that they do and by how much?

In retrospects, artists make very little income on albums alone, but the majority of the money that they make is from tours, i.e. ticket sales and table sales (such as t-shirts, albums, etc.).

Do please pray tell what exactly RIAA should be doing rather than committing themselves to lawsuits?
#24.4 +TCLN Ryster on 02 Jan 2007 - 19:24
Quote - (yizuman said @ #24.3)
So you say that artists do benefit, may I please ask by what source that says that they do and by how much?

The point he was making, which you seem to have missed, is not that artists benefit directly from the lawsuits... they dont. What they benefit from is an increased level of fear from the public who think twice about piracy and are much more likely to purchase the music in future.
#25 hotdog963al on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:48
The fate of Mediaservices: Total Annihilation by RIAA's Giant Moon "Laser"...
#26 lexp on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:51
RIAA is absolutely crazy.

I don't understand why they did not sue allofmp3 for 1.6 quadrillion or even quintillion?
Even 1.6 trillion is 40 times bigger than annual revenue of Microsoft!

In fact RIAA will never get even $1.6 from allofmp3!
#27 Mystnight on 02 Jan 2007 - 15:57
The funny thing is that the RIAA will probably expect payment too.
#28 bidz on 02 Jan 2007 - 16:07
Lol this is just hilarous..

RIAA just made a fool of themselfs... Again!
(1 reply) #29 chicken-royal on 02 Jan 2007 - 16:10
Wonder if they (RIAA) will take a cheque...
#29.1 wicker_man on 03 Jan 2007 - 09:45
Quote - (chicken-royal said @ #29)
Wonder if they (RIAA) will take a cheque...

A cheque like this?
#30 PureLegend on 02 Jan 2007 - 16:11
Thing is, is that they've always used that philosophy of $150,000 per song. I can see their logic, but damn... :|

An even bigger issue is the news source!
#31 +Lexcyn on 02 Jan 2007 - 16:13
I call shenanigans on the RIAA!
#32 caerma on 02 Jan 2007 - 16:27
(2 replies) #33 treemonster on 02 Jan 2007 - 16:59
i got served a summons for listening to my radio in a public place.


then my neighbor got served for playing his music loud.
in both cases the RIAA are claiming public broadcast in violation of copyright.


XD
#33.1 excalpius on 02 Jan 2007 - 17:40
I'll assume you are being sarcastic...
#33.2 chopyaedoff on 02 Jan 2007 - 19:52
Listening to a radio in a public place is allowed as the radio station own the licence to publicly broadcast the music.

I know you were being sarcastic, but I though I might just point this out to you.
#34 yanowhiz on 02 Jan 2007 - 17:10
In other news today.... the RIAA is suing Russia.

I wonder if this will bring back the Cold War in the form of the Internet? Who can sue and monitor the other quicker?
(1 reply) #35 ozyborn on 02 Jan 2007 - 17:12
RIAA is the biggest thief of them all. They have consistanty raped the artists for years. Thye are bigger crooks than most politicians.
#35.1 Esvandiary on 03 Jan 2007 - 14:55
Quote - (ozyborn said @ #1)
Thye are bigger crooks than most politicians.

And the sad part? Despite the fact that's really saying something, it's true...
#36 Skerit on 02 Jan 2007 - 17:24
What a load of crap, the problem is they keep repeating themselves over and over again, some people must believe what they're telling, that they really *are* losing money ... Which is a bunch of crap, if I wouldn't download songs, I wouldn't buy them... Like when I was an 8-year old kid, or like my parents back in the days, I would probably "tape" them from the radio or something cheap
#37 Athernar on 02 Jan 2007 - 17:37
RIAA's Stupidity = Over nine thousaaaaand (internet meme)
(3 replies) #38 excalpius on 02 Jan 2007 - 17:38
Isn't this story like two weeks old? Way to keep on top of tech news, Neowin.
#38.1 yizuman on 02 Jan 2007 - 17:45
Quote - (excalpius said @ #3
Isn't this story like two weeks old? Way to keep on top of tech news, Neowin.


I'm getting sick and tired of this juvenile "OMGZ, it's a 2 week oldz newz!" complaints. To me, it shows very little intellegence and maturity on your part.

A lot of people may have not heard of this news, just because you heard it already doesn't mean it's old for others.

You're just a 2 year old troll, my advice to you is to say off the internet until you reach a reasonable mature and intellegent age, even it means at the age of 65, so be it.

#38.2 +TCLN Ryster on 02 Jan 2007 - 19:29
Quote - (yizuman said @ #38.1)
I'm getting sick and tired of this juvenile "OMGZ, it's a 2 week oldz newz!" complaints. To me, it shows very little intellegence and maturity on your part.

A lot of people may have not heard of this news, just because you heard it already doesn't mean it's old for others.

You're just a 2 year old troll, my advice to you is to say off the internet until you reach a reasonable mature and intellegent age, even it means at the age of 65, so be it.

And calling someone a "2 year old troll" is your definition of intelligence and maturity huh?
#38.3 excalpius on 02 Jan 2007 - 22:35
Agreed, TLCN.

And I am only pointing this out here because it has been all over DIGG (multiple front page articles) and every major technology and gaming site for the past two weeks. If I had only seen it once on say Guru3d.com (awesome site), I wouldn't have said anything. Fair enough?

Regardless, if it is news to you, great!

PS If you want to quote me, go ahead, but in the future you might be better received if you didn't cross translate someone's adult post into juvenile leet speak, and then complain that your own quoted version is, um, juvenile.