RIAA Targets Michigan Students, Draws NPR Ire

Privacy is a hot word around the blogosphere today; Google is protecting it and the RIAA is employing every trick in their playbook to circumvent a user’s right to privacy by pressuring ISPs and Universities to voluntarily hand over identifying information pertaining to users who are allegedly violating copyright law by sharing digital music over the school’s network.

Earlier today, the Internet rejoiced as Michael Crook was forced to eat crow and issue a public apology for his antics revolving around the DMCA. The celebration, however, was short lived as the face of true online tyranny, the RIAA, made its presence felt yet again by disclosing its intention to file suit against twelve students from the University of Michigan for copyright infringement.

Here’s an excerpt from the RIAA’s letter to the school, which can be viewed in its entirety in a Chicago Tribune:

This decision penalizes public radio stations for fulfilling their mandate, it penalizes emerging and non-mainstream musical artists who have always relied on public radio for visibility and ultimately it penalizes the American public, whose local station memberships and taxes will be necessary to cover the millions of dollars that will now be required as payment.

On behalf of the public radio system, NPR will pursue all possible action to reverse this decision, which threatens to severely reduce local stations' public service and limit the reach of the entire music community. NPR will begin on Friday, March 16 by filing a petition for reconsideration with the CRB panel, the first step in this process. We ask that the online royalties be returned to their historic arrangement and that public radio can continue to provide its vital service to music discovery.