Boston Illegal: Will the RIAA get what it deserves?

17.12.2008
Did you hear that? A long low howl from the depths of despair. Yes, it's the sound of the record companies sinking ever further into the tar pits. And, strangely, it seems to be coming from the general direction of Providence, Rhode Island.

That's the jurisdiction of RIAA v. Joel Tenenbaum, a case being heard in Rhode Island Federal Court.

The RIAA is seeking damages from Boston University grad student Tenenbaum of US$1 million for allegedly downloading seven songs from the Kazaa network (at $160K per, they must be pretty good songs). There are several unusual aspects to this case, not the least of which being who's defending Tenenbaum and his parents, Arthur and Judie: Harvard Law School.

Professor Charles R. Nesson and students enrolled in have taken on the defense. In an attempt to stem the abuse of the legal system by the recording industry, they've counter-sued Sony BMG Music, Capitol Records, and the trade group everyone loves to hate.

As I type this, to

... address the recording industry's motion to force Arthur and Judie to produce their home computer so that it can be inspected for evidence of copyright infringement. The computer is not the device on which the alleged downloading took place, and Arthur and Judie did not own the computer when Joel lived with them.