09/18/2008, 12:00pm, EDT
Thursday, September 18thRIAA to 'punish' lawyer for fighting lawsuits
The RIAA has filed a motion (PDF) in an attempt to silence an outspoken lawyer defending the targets of its anti-piracy lawsuits. Calling many of his actions "overzealous," the American music industry group accuses New York attorney Ray Beckerman of frustrating its attempts to sue Marie Lindor and other defendants for allegedly sharing music online and violating individual music labels' copyrights.
The RIAA particularly asks for sanctions against Beckerman for having engaged in what the group perceives as a "bad faith" PR campaign through his blog, which has developed a reputation for exposing questionable RIAA legal tactics that include using unlicensed investigators to find data or using the threat of expensive litigation to earn no-contest settlements from the accused. The defense lawyer's postings of official legal rulings and others' articles are meant to "embarass" the RIAA, according to the motion.
The representatives for the RIAA also argue that Beckerman's in-court motions, such as efforts exclude questionable evidence, avoid deposing children, and produce information on a contract deal with controversial investigation firm MediaSentry, have all unnecessarily delayed the legal process. Lindor also figures prominently in the sanction request and is accused of having lied about certain facts in her case, up to and including an assertion that she didn't have Internet access of her own at the time of the supposed file sharing.
Beckman has said only that the RIAA move is "frivolous and irresponsible," though a lawyer currently engaged in a counter-suit against the music organization describes the approach as hypocritical. Attorney Lory Lybeck of Washington state charges the RIAA itself with running its own PR campaign that attempts to intimidate file sharers by sending "threatening" letters that in some cases have targeted known innocents. [via Wired]
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RIAA really wishes...
he was working for them and their bully tactics. RIAA can dish it out, but can't take it. Boo hoo...
overzealous?
Pot->kettle->black
how dare defendants fight back against RIAA bully tactics, they should just bend over and take it!
whiny bastards
all the things RIAA is complaining about, are things any tenacious, aggressive attorney should be doing... aggressively defending their client.
It's not like he is stalking RIAA executives at their homes or anything like that. RIAA should STFU. The more I read shit like this, the more I am motivated to fire up my bittorrent client.
Hello, Adolph?
Is Hitler running the RIAA? Their attitude is absolutely bombastic!
it is his duty
The defense lawyer's duty is to defend to the best of his ability using any and all legal tactics.
The RIAA is a bunch of ***holes.
totally confused...
...So the RIAA has filed a motion to stop a lawyer defending his clients by any means necessary? Oh...I geddit, by any means necessary only applies to those initiating litigation and not those defending. Silly me!
litigation, like politics
ain't beanbag.
Hitler
I have more respect for Hitler then the RIAA.
delay
and produce information on a contract deal with controversial investigation firm MediaSentry, have all unnecessarily delayed the legal process.
Yes, because what we know of legal firms of large multi-national companies and groups, they would never dream of performing any type of actions that would cause long and undue delays on legal matters.
idiot posters here
It's very easy to compare anything or anyone to Hitler, but doing so just makes you a MORON. Get a brain, please.
Yes, the RIAA has murdered 12 million people (including millions of children) in gas chambers, then stole the stole the metal tooth fillings from the dead bodies; and all this after working them nearly to death in labor camps.
The RIAA is mean, even criminal, but please stop the Hitler comparisons. It just makes you look like the idiot you are.