My encounter with the RIAA
 

This actually got me pretty nervous. I'm going to change my ip also.

RIAA BOT 52 (1:16:23 PM): Hello, sir or ma'am, I am a Steve Jones, a representative of the Record Industry Association of America. We here at the RIAA are enforcing the copyright laws to protect the rights of the artists that we have signed. We have found you to be in posession of multiple files, illegally downloaded using a file-sharing program. I am here to give you a courtesy warning to stop these illegal activites, or we will be forced to subpoena your ISP so that we may take further actions against you.


Anyone else get this?

how did you get that message? via windows messenger or though the p2p program?

to bad there is not some sort of a proxy setting for P2P programs

If you're using AIM, simply disable IM's from people not on your buddy list. Then you have to accept it from anyone that IMs you. Technically, if the RIAA were to IM you and you never got the IM because you never accepted it, they can't do shit against you.

-Lasereth

well, thats scary as hell. I haven't heard about anyone else getting one of these. If I were you I would
a) switch file-sharing networks and *NOW*
I think that MLdonkey is still clear from the sweeps, and I know that free-net is.
b) see if you can trace any information about the sender. You didn't specify how it came to you, so I'm assuming some sort of internal kazza message. Almost any other channel would scream bullshit.

I received a similiar message through my P2P program (Kazaa) but from the CRIA. (Canadian version of the RRIA) No threats of supeonas, just a warning that sharing music files could result in trouble.

I don't think they have to warn you before they sue you.

I've never had any problems or heard about anyone who had problems with eMule. It's a little slower than most but far fewer fakes.

Obviously not in most cases, but since they DID give him a warning, maybe it would be different in other cases.

-Lasereth

propaganda Try getting a modem that converts public IP's to private ones.

However it has the smell of the pasture about it...

If the RIAA sues all of us we won't have the $'s to buy their fuckin' music. :)

They won't sue me I had only one illegal song on my who computer. And Mad_Gecko you make quite a good point. And another thing this was through AIM.

if it was aim, it was probably someone you know pulling a prank on you.

also: http://techcentralstation.com/081803C.html

How exactly would they know your AIM address when you're file sharing?

It could just be someone randomly IMing people trying to scare them for the hell of it.

And since he didn't specify how he got the message, we can't do much more than speculate.

Hey prop, thanks for posting that. Now I can use the text to scare random people with WinPopup!!!

Yeah I think that was the cause of this.

interesting. those guys at the RIAA are scared shitless. we ned to start a CD buying boycott

The CRIA? But I thought us canucks were immune to to the subpoenas of the south because file-sharing *is* legal here.

Yeah I wouldn't take it seriously, it's like those e-mail that say "Hotmail is suffering from Server strains. Forward this e-mail onto 100 people or your Hotmail account will be disconnected"

Re: My encounter with the RIAA
 

A paragraph with obvious grammatical and spelling errors would point to someone trying to scare gullible people.

What does "I am a Steve Jones" mean?

It's fake, its either a friend being a dumbass, or some board guy laughing his ass off.

What the hell is the RIAA going to do when they find News Groups. No stopping that.

Freenet doesnt work. I ran it on my linux box for days and days trying to use it, and it never did a damn thing. I found shit porn before I found an mp3.

Yes I think it was the second one and now I regret losing my files...

its most likely bullshit man.. especcially if it came through aim..

one of your buddies pulling a prank...

you know how it goes...

Reasons to dispute this so-called message coming from the RIAA:

1. Steve Jones is just too common of a name.

2. I don't believe the RIAA stands for "Record Industry Association of America", it stands for "Recording Industry Association of America."

3. I don't think that the RIAA would sent out warnings like this.

Hey guys, I got this mail from some guy in Nigeria who claims he needs my help transferring 200 million dollars! What do you think?

Seriously. It's a H-O-A-X.