Copyright Laws

In class yesterday, Mr. Hardin was telling us about the take down notices that either the RIAA, MPAA, or ESA will send to the university informing the school that a computer on their network has been violating copyright laws. Usually they are sent by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) because the majority of college students are downloading music illegally. A take down notice will inform the school which the IP address of the computer that is infringing on copyright laws. The school will find the student who owns the computer and inform them of the take down notice. The school is legally obligated to give the RIAA the student's name and address. The take down notices are good for students because it acts as a warning. However, sometimes the RIAA will simply skip the take down notice all together and immediately take legal action against the student. One Trinity student was sued by the RIAA for downloading 12 songs illegally, without the warning of a take down notice. I find this to be unfair. If the RIAA is going to grant take down notices to some students they have to grant them to all students. Its not fair that they randomly decide to take actions upon some students. In the case of this girl student, I find it particularly unfair because so many kids download hundreds of songs illegally. Although I completely disagree with the RIAA's random decisions not to issue take down notices, I can see why they would do that. If they issue these take down notices all the time the copyright owners will never make any money for their losses. I think that they RIAA has the right to do this, but they should decide to do one or the other--either always issue take down notices, or always take immediate legal action.