Following up on Solveig's post on the recent class action law suit brought against Kazaa for consumer fraud, I am certain that I once saw a complaint about the same practices that was filed with the FTC, I think by the RIAA. Obviously, nothing ever happened with it, but -- speaking as a former Assistant Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection -- I thought it made a slam dunk case. I would have told my staff to go get 'em so we could rack up an easy win for our "accomplishment" sheets.

Thus, I think the plaintiffs win this one. But they might be helped out if someone started a legal defense fund, so I suggest the RIAA do this. After all, the RIAA does not like suing individuals, even if it must do so to keep the system from collapsing. It would far rather that no one used the illicit P2P sites because these had big notices on them pointing all the risks and traps involved.

So I think RIAA should help out the plaintiffs. Maybe even intervene -- "yes, we collected money from the plaintiffs, but we did it reluctantly and we would like to help them get it back from the people who are really responsible."

posted by James DeLong @ 12:50 PM | Internet: P2P, Search Engines...

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