$675,000 for illegally downloading and sharing 30 songs upheld ~

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Mon May 21, 2012 11:11 pm

Supreme Court's refusal Monday to hear his appeal.
A former Boston University student who was ordered to pay $675,000 for illegally downloading and sharing 30 songs on the Internet says he will continue fighting the penalty.
I can't believe the system would uphold a six-figure damages amount for downloading 30 songs on a file-sharing system that everybody used," Tenenbaum said. "I can't believe the court would uphold something that ludicrous."

A jury in 2009 ordered Tenenbaum to pay $675,000, or $22,500 per song, after the Recording Industry Association of America sued him on behalf of four record labels, including Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Warner Brothers Records Inc. A federal judge called the penalty unconstitutionally excessive and reduced the award to $67,500, but the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later reinstated it.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/201205 ... ADT82.html

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Tue May 22, 2012 12:12 am

I see another appeal coming.

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Tue May 22, 2012 9:33 am

That's insane.. I understand punishing people for doing things like this, but that's an obscene amount of money.. I can see making him pay back the cost of the songs, or even twice the cost.. But that.....

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Tue May 22, 2012 1:09 pm

Its to pay for attorney fees.

But really, what an outrages amount. It should be a simple fine and maybe some community service. I guess these idiots figure everyone makes millions so paying this should not be an issue.

Those kinds of fines should hit the guys in China and other countries that actually profit from this.

b-man1 · Post by **b-man1** » Tue May 22, 2012 3:56 pm

Err · Post by **Err** » Tue May 22, 2012 6:16 pm

This is insane. That's an amount that many will never earn in their lifetime. What do you do in this case? Refuse to pay and go to jail?

I think I'd flee the country. Else, I'd kill a bunch of lawyers to make my going to prison worthwhile.

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Tue May 22, 2012 8:15 pm

come on be real. Tenenbaum will just apply for a Master Card at 29% annual Interest rate plus $79.00 a year annual fee . with a 1% percent cash back on all purchases .
i do think that the $675,000 for illegally downloading and sharing 30 songs on the Internet. if he uses the card to pay the fine. this will qualify for the CASH BACK rewards. he make money that way a whopping $675.00 less the $79 yearly card use fee. and he could spread his payments over 12 year.