Fergie's Tech Blog

RIAA Changing Law Firms?

Ray Beckerman writes on The Recording Industry vs. The People blog:

We have received several reports that the RIAA is changing law firms, from Kansas City, Missouri-based Shook Hardy & Bacon to Denver, Colorado-based Holme Roberts & Owen.

Ray Beckerman, the author of this blog, who is one of the attorneys representing people who have been sued by the RIAA for having internet access accounts which were allegedly used to set up peer to peer file sharing accounts, had this comment:

It remains to be seen what significance there is to this change, other than the RIAA's dissatisfaction with its previous attorneys.

If the RIAA thinks that by changing attorneys it can somehow alter the self destructive nature of this litigation onslaught, it is mistaken.

If, on the other hand, the change in attorneys signals a change in philosophy and tone, and that present lawsuits will be discontinued, and that lawsuits will only be brought where (a) there is clear evidence of an actual copyright infringement by a defendant, and (b) there has been an unsuccessful good faith attempt to obtain a cease and desist agreement, then this will be a positive development.

But if the pit bull tactics of the RIAA's predecessor counsel are continued unabated by the new counsel, this will accomplish nothing except further damage the recording industry, and wreak havoc in people's lives.

posted by Fergie @ 2/02/2006 10:40:00 AM