Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Litigation documents from Capitol v. Thomas available online at Justia

Thanks to Keith Henning of the copywrite.org intellectual property law blog for pointing out that a full set of the filed litigation documents in Capitol v. Thomas is being maintained online by the Justia.com legal research web site at the following URL:

http://news.justia.com/cases/239134/




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Contributions to Ms. Thomas's defense can be made via PayPal at freejammie.com or by check, payable to "Jammie Thomas Defense Fund", and mailed to

Jammie Thomas Defense Fund
c/o Chestnut & Cambronne
Suite 3700, 222 South Ninth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402.





Wife of Fort Benning Soldier Vows to Fight On Against RIAA Until she wins or is "dead and gone"

In this television piece on Georgia defendant Laura Beer, the wife of a U.S.. Army soldier, Ms. Beer vows that she will fight until she wins, or is "dead and gone":

"Wife of Fort Benning Soldier Does Battle with the Record Industries" (WTVM 9)

The name of the case is Priority v. Beer.

Ms. Beer is represented by Michael Caldwell of Delong, Caldwell & Bridgers in Atlanta.


Commentary & discussion:

p2pnet.net





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Ohio University Pays Dr. Doug Jacobson's company $60,000 Plus $16,000 a year in "maintenance"; suddenly RIAA letters stop!

It was reported in Ohio University's online publication, "thepost", that after Ohio University paid $60,000 for Dr. Doug Jacobson's "copySense" software by "Audible Magic", and an additional $16,000-per-year in "maintenance", the RIAA's "settlement" letters stopped:

Today, the university uses a nearly $60,000 software and hardware package from Audible Magic to stop file sharing on its network and pays about $16,000 for support, maintenance and regular database updates that allow the system, called CopySense, to detect newly released music.

CopySense compares small portions of copyrighted music files to network traffic. If a match is found, an information technology employee reviews the information and decides whether to deny Internet access to the computer.

The RIAA is still sending DMCA notices, but has received more attention for its monthly waves of about 400 pre-litigation settlement letters, which allege that computers on college campuses nationwide are sharing music. Those letters demanded recipients pay an average of $3,500 to settle a potential copyright infringement lawsuit by multiple record companies.

OU received 100 such letters by mid-April, but has received none since it began using CopySense.
Complete article

Dr. Jacobson is the RIAA's all-purpose, "disinterested" expert witness. For details about Dr. Jacobson's financial interest in Audible Magic, see Dr. Jacobson's deposition testimony and related exhibits in UMG v. Lindor.


Commentary & discussion:

p2pnet.net






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To contribute to Marie Lindor's legal defense, see below.

















The above donation button links to a PayPal account established by Marie Lindor's family for people who may wish to make financial contributions to Ms. Lindor's legal defense in UMG v. Lindor. Contributions are not tax deductible.





Sunday, October 28, 2007

Important Discussion on Groklaw: What Documents and Things to Request from MediaSentry

Groklaw has initiated an important discussion of what documents, data, & things should be requested, by defendants' lawyers, from MediaSentry.

Please take a look at the discussion:

"A Lawyer Wishes to Pick Your Brain- Re Media Sentry"

Commentary & discussion:

p2pnet.net
p2pnet.net





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Saturday, October 27, 2007

Judge Holds RIAA Evidence Insufficient in Rochester, NY, default judgment case, Atlantic v. Dangler; No ID; No details...No Judgment

In a Rochester, New York, case, Atlantic v. Dangler, Judge David G. Larimer has denied the RIAA's request for a default judgment, on the ground that the evidence the RIAA presented (a) failed to include any details of any distribution or downloading, and (b) failed to prove that the defendant was properly identified as the individual who had operated the file sharing program:

[T]here are significant issues of fact regarding the identification of the defendant from his alleged “online media distribution system” username, an issue not addressed by the record. See Van Limburg Stirum v. Whalen, 1993 WL 241464, at *4 (N.D.N.Y.1993)(“A ‘default is not treated as an absolute confession by the defendant of his liability and of the plaintiff’s right to recover.’”)(quoting Nishimatsu Const. Co., Ltd. v. Houston Nat’l. Bank, 515 F.2d 1200, 1206 (5th Cir.1975)).

Clearly, plaintiffs are entitled to relief if Dangler downloaded and distributed the Copyrighted Recordings without plaintiffs’ consent. The question this Court must decide is whether plaintiffs have proven that those circumstances exist here. Although the complaint establishes that someone using the “KaZaA” online peer-to-peer file sharing service uploaded the Copyrighted Recordings, or otherwise offered them for distribution, the complaint does not identify details such as the time period during which the violations allegedly took place, or explain how that user, dentified only by the username heavyjeffmc@KaZaA, was determined to be the defendant.
Two months earlier a similar RIAA default judgment application was rejected by Judge Rudi Brewster in San Diego, California, in Interscope v. Rodriguez, on the ground that the complaint failed to allege specific factual details of the type whose absence was noted here by Judge Larimer.

October 23, 2007, Decision, Denying RIAA Motion for Default Judgment* (--- F.Supp.2d ----, 2007 WL 3084728)

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Commentary & discussion:


Slashdot
Slyck
Groklaw
Hard OCP
p2pnet.net
Ars Technica




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RIAA Opposes Amicus Brief in College of William & Mary case, Interscope v. Does 1-7

In Interscope v. Does 1-7, the RIAA's ex parte case against students at College of William & Mary in Virginia, where the Judge had sua sponte rejected the RIAA's ex parte discovery application, the RIAA has filed a brief opposing the amicus curiae brief submitted by North Carolina State University students.

Meanwhile, the court records suggest that neither the College of William & Mary nor the defendants are even aware of the proceedings, never having been served by the RIAA.

[Ed. Note: It is incredible to me that the RIAA thinks it's okay to bring a lawsuit against people without giving notice, and then objects to an amicus curiae trying to come into the case to point out to the judge that there might be another side to the case. These are the worst bullies, and the most unethical lawyers, I have ever seen. - R.B.]

RIAA Opposition to Motion to File Amicus Brief*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

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Atlantic v. Howell adjourned, Mr. Howell getting out of town lawyer to represent him

In Atlantic v. Howell, the Arizona case in which a pro se defendant obtained an order vacating the Court's prior order, the Court has adjourned the RIAA's summary judgment motion because Mr. Howell has succeeded in obtaining legal representation from out of town.

Defendant's Motion to Continue*
Order Scheduling Oral Argument for November 30th*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

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Thursday, October 25, 2007

New contested case in Upstate New York, UMG v. Landau; RIAA does not claim "making available"

A new contested case is being fought in upstate New York, UMG v. Landau.

The complaint in Landau is the new-style complaint which the RIAA first used in Interscope v. Rodriguez after Judge Brewster, in that case, dismissed the RIAA's boilerplate "making available" complaint as "boilerplate" "conclusory" "speculation".

The defendant is represented by Paul Rapp of Housatonic, Massachusetts.

Complaint*
Answer*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

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RIAA Opposes Defendants' Motion to Strike in Oklahoma State University Case, Arista v. Does 1-11

In Arista v. Does 1-11, the RIAA's ex parte discovery suit against Oklahoma State University students, the RIAA has filed papers opposing the students' motion to strike.

RIAA's Opposition to Motion to Strike*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

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Marie Lindor's Son Moves for Reconsideration of the Order Denying His Motion for Attorneys Fees

In UMG v. Lindor, the defendant's son has moved for reconsideration of Judge Trager's order affirming the Magistrate Judge's denial of his request for attorneys fees.

Motion of Non-party Woody Raymond for Reconsideration*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

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To contribute to Marie Lindor's legal defense, use this button:








The above donation button links to a PayPal account established by Marie Lindor's family for people who may wish to make financial contributions to Ms. Lindor's legal defense in UMG v. Lindor. Contributions are not tax deductible.





Wednesday, October 24, 2007

University of Tennessee Student's Motion to Quash Denied

Knoxville News Sentinel reports:

The motion by a University of Tennessee student to quash the subpoena served at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville has been denied, in Virgin v. Does 1-33.

Order denying motion to quash subpoena
(Alternate link)*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Commentary & discussion:

Knoxville News Sentinel
MediaPost



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Streamcast will be ordered to 'use most effective means available to reduce infringing capabilities of Morpheus', in MGM v. Grokester

In MGM v. Grokster, the Court has decided, in an 83-page decision, that an injunction should be issued against Streamcast (owner of Morpheus), and that a permanent "Special Master" should be appointed to supervise compliance with the injunction.

The injunction, once it is issued, will require Streamcast "to use the most effective means available to reduce the infringing capabilities of the Morpheus System and Software, while preserving its noninfringing uses as feasible".

October 16, 2007, Granting in Part Plaintiffs' Motion for Permanent Injunction*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

RIAA Lawyers Try to Defend Against Accusation of Misstatement, say Judge Brieant's remarks on the record weren't really "analysis"

In Elektra v. Santangelo II, in response to Bobby and Michelle Santangelo's lawyer's accusation of having made a misstatement to Magistrate Fox when they said Judge Brieant had arrived at his conclusion in Lava v. Amurao without any analysis, the RIAA's attorneys have written a letter taking the position that Judge Brieant's remarks on the record as to the reasons for his decision did not qualify as "analysis".

In another development, Magistrate Fox issued an order setting the procedures for determination of discovery disputes.

October 23, 2007, Letter of Richard L. Gabriel to Hon. Mark D. Fox (Re Misstatement)*
October 23, 2007, Order of Hon. Mark D. Fox, Magistrate Judge, Establishing Discovery Dispute Procedures for the Case*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

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Saturday, October 20, 2007

Santangelo Lawyer Accuses RIAA Lawyer of Misstatement

In Elektra v. Santangelo II, the defendants' lawyer has written to the Magistrate Judge claiming that the RIAA lawyer made a misstatement to the Court.

October 19, 2007, Letter of Jordan D. Glass to Hon. Mark D. Fox*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation



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RIAA's Matthew Oppenheim representing RIAA in court in District of Columbia

You may recall that someone identifying himself as Matthew Oppenheim called during the Capitol v. Thomas trial and complained that he had been incorrectly identified by Ars Technica as being associated with the RIAA.

According to court records he is an attorney representing the RIAA as a sole practitioner in a District of Columbia case, Arista v. Does 1-19.

Arista v. Does 1-19 is a case in which Mr. Oppenheim obtained, on behalf of the RIAA, an ex parte discovery order pertaining to students at George Washington University.

October 20, 2007, Docket Report, Arista v. Does 1-19, District of Columbia*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

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Catherine Njuguna Moves to Dismiss Complaint for Legal Insufficiency and on Constitutional Grounds in Atlantic v. Njuguna

In Atlantic v. Njuguna, in Charleston, South Carolina, the defendant has filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, both for failure to state a claim for relief, and on constitutional grounds based on the RIAA's pursuit of excessive damages.

Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Complaint For Failure to State Claim and Violation of Due Process*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

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Friday, October 19, 2007

Battle Continues to Rage in Charleston, South Carolina, over Counterclaims in Atlantic v. Njuguna

The battle over the defendant's counterclaims continues to rage in South Carolina in Atlantic v. Njuguna, where the RIAA moved to dismiss Ms. Njuguna's counterclaims, Ms. Njuguna opposed, Ms. Njuguna submitted supplemental authorities in opposition, and the RIAA filed reply papers.

Defendant's Supplemental Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss Counterclaims*
RIAA Reply Memorandum of Law in Support of its Motion to Dismiss Counterclaims*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation




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