Weekly Music News

In lieu of the usual weekly music news fare, I want to just share some links to the coverage of the RIAA/Jammie Thomas verdict. I can't think of anything more important for us to be talking about. If you haven't heard about the case yet, check out the blog post below this one to learn more about the $1.92 million verdict. And now, here is my recommended reading covering the fallout from the case:

1. Analysis: $1.92M Fine in Music Piracy Case Could Hurt RIAA - from Computer World
2. How Thomas-Rasset Case Would Have Played Out, Had We Not Been in the Parallel Universe - from the always great Recording Industry vs. The People site
3. Moby: The RIAA Needs to be Disbanded - from Synthtopia
4. Harvard Economists Find Weaker Copyright Protection Has Benefited Society - from Michael Geist (OK, not technically about the case, and frankly, I'm a little surprise that academics are getting away with assuming this kind of causality, but still, food for thought.)
5. And Of Course: RIAA Mouthpiece Defends $1.92M Judgement - from Techdirt. A perfect example of the RIAA making completely unsubstantiated and just plain wrong claims in the media - it's a great way to confuse people who don't know how to music industry works!
6. Woman Who Owned No Computer, But Got Sued By The RIAA, Settles - also from Techdirt, and also not directly about the Thomas case, but still very important.

I want to point everyone who is concerned about the way the RIAA is harassing music fans and collecting judgements on copyrights they do not own to the Boycott RIAA Twitter page: @BoycottRIAA. Also, if you missed the Musician Wages sponsored blogging bonanza, To a Mother Concerned About File Sharing, be sure to check it out here.