Spring Break
RIAA Pretexting Unjust
Daily Campus Editorial Board
Issue date: 4/12/07 Section: Commentary
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) should be familiar organizations to the collegiate population. Although they may be detested by the average college student, the trade groups have a right to fight for the protection of their intellectual property. However, while these two groups attempt to protect their interests and the law, they must also abide by the law.
The music and movie industries lobbied the California Senate to exempt them from a proposed bill that would ban the practice of pretexting, or the practice of using false statements and misleading practices to obtain personal information, according to the Los Angeles Times. The bill is designed to strengthen state privacy laws. However, the RIAA and MPAA claim it will hinder their ability to crack down on illegal distribution of their members' work. The associations have their own investigators and privately conduct undercover stings to reel in bootleggers, break pirating circles and counter piracy on the Internet.
If there is anything to be learned from the NSA wiretaps, is that Americans do not like being tricked, having their information taken or used without permission or generally having their privacy invaded. If there was anger when it was discovered the federal government does this for our supposed protection, it is no surprise how consumers reacted to the RIAA and MPAA's actions to preserve its right to use subterfuge.
While the RIAA and MPAA have every right to lobby and encourage the protection of intellectual property rights, it is not their place to enforce it. Rather, the government and judicial systems should be tasked with this, not unregulated private interest law enforcement with no government oversight or public accountability. The RIAA has the right to sue an 11 year-old girl for all she is worth for illegally downloading the latest Justin Timberlake single because she is breaking the law. However, when organizations like the RIAA and MPAA resort to questionable means, such as pretexting, which can possibly violate a person's rights, the line must be drawn.
Measures like the California bill ensuring the respect for a person's privacy in this regard should be considered in other states where the RIAA and MPAA operate. Since this is only a state bill, it is unclear if it would extend to pretexting practices in other areas. The RIAA has offices in New York City and is headquarted in Washington, D.C. The MPAA also has offices in Washington and internationally, but headquarterd in Los Angeles. These organizations are not above the law and must respect the very people who consume their products.
The music and movie industries lobbied the California Senate to exempt them from a proposed bill that would ban the practice of pretexting, or the practice of using false statements and misleading practices to obtain personal information, according to the Los Angeles Times. The bill is designed to strengthen state privacy laws. However, the RIAA and MPAA claim it will hinder their ability to crack down on illegal distribution of their members' work. The associations have their own investigators and privately conduct undercover stings to reel in bootleggers, break pirating circles and counter piracy on the Internet.
If there is anything to be learned from the NSA wiretaps, is that Americans do not like being tricked, having their information taken or used without permission or generally having their privacy invaded. If there was anger when it was discovered the federal government does this for our supposed protection, it is no surprise how consumers reacted to the RIAA and MPAA's actions to preserve its right to use subterfuge.
While the RIAA and MPAA have every right to lobby and encourage the protection of intellectual property rights, it is not their place to enforce it. Rather, the government and judicial systems should be tasked with this, not unregulated private interest law enforcement with no government oversight or public accountability. The RIAA has the right to sue an 11 year-old girl for all she is worth for illegally downloading the latest Justin Timberlake single because she is breaking the law. However, when organizations like the RIAA and MPAA resort to questionable means, such as pretexting, which can possibly violate a person's rights, the line must be drawn.
Measures like the California bill ensuring the respect for a person's privacy in this regard should be considered in other states where the RIAA and MPAA operate. Since this is only a state bill, it is unclear if it would extend to pretexting practices in other areas. The RIAA has offices in New York City and is headquarted in Washington, D.C. The MPAA also has offices in Washington and internationally, but headquarterd in Los Angeles. These organizations are not above the law and must respect the very people who consume their products.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
A. P.
posted 4/12/07 @ 12:32 PM EST
Basically, the RIAA and MPAA want to get our money. When we interfere with that goal, they fight dirty. It's similar to when electricity was introduced, and the gas companies wanted to shut it down before it cut into their profits. (Continued…)
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