In 2008 RIAA paid $16,000,000 in court fees to gain $391,000 in damages

[kepler]

The RIAA paid Holmes Roberts & Owen $9,364,901 in 2008, Jenner & Block more than $7,000,000, and Cravath Swain & Moore $1.25 million, to pursue its "copyright infringement" claims, in order to recover a mere $391,000. [ps there were many other law firms feeding at the trough too; these were just the ones listed among the top 5 independent contractors.]

Embarrassing.

If the average settlement were $3,900, that would mean 100 settlements for the entire year.

As bad as it was, I guess it was better than the numbers for 2007, in which more than $21 million was spent on legal fees, and $3.5 million on "investigative operations" ... presumably MediaSentry. And the amount recovered was $515,929.

And 2006 was similar: they spent more than $19,000,000 in legal fees and more than $3,600,000 in "investigative operations" expenses to recover $455,000.

So all in all, for a 3 year period, they spent around $64,000,000 in legal and investigative expenses to recover around $1,361,000.

Shrewd.

No wonder they get paid the big bucks

http://recordingindustryvspeople.blo...s-lawyers.html

[Sundance Kid V2]

They will blame the interweb and pirates for this !!!!

Edit: That is probably what 1 record boss/owner makes in a year

[sittal]

wow

[mbeeston]

fighting a losing battle like this take pure retardation and much rum.. this will continue for a few years.

[jimmt]

If you read any press report from the RIAA their goal for doing this was not about recouping revenue, but education.

[HAL10000]

If you read any press report from the RIAA their goal for doing this was not about recouping revenue, but education.

Education? More like intimidation. $16 million for them is worth it if they feel that they are saving millions of dollars by scaring people into not downloading.

[jimmt]

Education? More like intimidation. $16 million for them is worth it if they feel that they are saving millions of dollars by scaring people into not downloading.

Scaring people to actually pay for a service they are using. Sounds like education to me.

[DorXtar]

the RIAA their goal for doing this was not about recouping revenue, but education.

Drive-by shootings are a tool gang members use to educate the public about territorial claims and respek.
(RIAA you so gangsta)

[sittal]

Drive-by shootings are a tool gang members use to educate the public about territorial claims and respek.
(RIAA you so gangsta)

[Progression]

Drive-by shootings are a tool gang members use to educate the public about territorial claims and respek.
(RIAA you so gangsta)

[kepler]

Scaring people to actually pay for a service they are using. Sounds like education to me.

Yup, especially when the people they're suing are 12 years old or dead. Sounds like arbitrary extortion to me.

[sittal]

gang members often shoot 12 years old and kill people (sometimes they kill dead people to make a point).

[ShaidarHaran]

16,000,000 million is a lot

[Adanu]

jimmt, you're smarter than that... defending the RIAA is akin to defending the mafia.

[badboy]

stupidity... its everywhere

[DeathKnight]

jimmt, you're smarter than that... defending the RIAA is akin to defending the mafia.

Well, jimmt has a point. Problem is the RIAA is doing it the wrong way. Bullying, strong-arming, extortion, you name it. They need to get with the flippin' program.

[HAL10000]

Scaring people to actually pay for a service they are using. Sounds like education to me.

The RIAA has no one to blame but themselves for pricing themselves out of the market and fostering an illegal downloading culture that's now rather ingrained.

I shed no tears for the RIAA.

[FMT]

Hmmm looks like there following the M.A.D concept quite well.

[biggerC]

that is a good business model. spend more then you get returned.

[shrike126]

If it's about education, why not invest the money in to uh... "educational" programs and such?

[vertual]

No, it is education.

I've learned that the RIAA business model is a great way to become a millionaire. (as long as your a billionaire when you start the business.)

Also, I've learned that if I want to be rich at everyone elses expense, I will become a lawyer.

[Skynet]

jimmt, you're smarter than that... defending the RIAA is akin to defending the mafia.

Whoa whoa whoa, the Mafia has way more integrity than the RIAA.

[phial]

the legal precidents created may be worth more than the initial funds recovered.

[Pr3tty F1y]

Drive-by shootings are a tool gang members use to educate the public about territorial claims and respek.
(RIAA you so gangsta)

Best retort I've see on R3D in some time.

[Auric]

Drive-by shootings are a tool gang members use to educate the public about territorial claims and respek.
(RIAA you so gangsta)

And if innocent bystanders get shot too then so be it.

[Cowzrul]

At least someone is investing in education.

[yoz]

16,000,000 million is a lot

lol i know, its either 16 million or 16 000 000.

which one is it OP, WHICH ONE?

[gamefoo21]

I am patiently awaiting the post by Game... it should be... worthy of a BNS...

[KAC]

Owned

[aRandomRobot]

If you read any press report from the RIAA their goal for doing this was not about recouping revenue, but education.

[kepler]

16,000,000 million is a lot

Damn. Nice catch.

[jolle]

Imagine how much they´d made if they spent that money on setting up easy to use services online so people could buy songs cheap and most of all, easy.

Im pouring money into Steam buying games I probably wont play, cause its so easy to do so, and they have those damn deals..

If you can make buying stuff online easier then torrenting it, you´ll divert a whole lot of people who DLs to get what they want when they want it, instead of ordering a CD and waiting, or going to a store.
But it has to be easier then the free method available.

[Sundance Kid V2]

Imagine how much they´d made if they spent that money on setting up easy to use services online so people could buy songs cheap and most of all, easy.
.

It goes against their principels .. damn you for even thinking that. They want you to buy cds (where they can make 99% profit), and you have to take all the songs, can't pick your songs.. so even MORE cds being sold. The web is the devil!!!

[Hidavi]

Weren't they about to go bankrupt at the beginning of this year?

[ZeeM]

Im pouring money into Steam buying games I probably wont play, cause its so easy to do so, and they have those damn deals..

So you're basically bragging for being a consumer whore?

[bigtabs]

The RIAA can eat crap and die, but piracy still sucks balls if you make games for a living and people enjoy them without giving you your due recompense. Considering the level of technical knowledge and the very long hours worked, game development is seriously low pay. I won't argue that this is a result of piracy, but it sure is a kick in the teeth for those hard working bastards when they see people reaping the fruits of their labour without a second thought of the unfairness of playing it for nothing.

Game development is more like street busking than product selling now the internet has opened up piracy to such a level. I guess my mindset and those of the 'evil, money grabbing' devs who get publicly annoyed by piracy should change to accomodate that. I'm not saying that sarcastically either (apart from the evil, money grabbing bit), I think the model does need to change. It already is changing, hence the added value of DLC / online etc. being targetted to only those who pay for the game.

I guess what few devs really want to admit is that piracy is a valid part of the eco-system, at least in the sense that we'll never be rid of it - and that it can drive sales, sometimes. This admission basically sends out a message to gamers that it's an option that they themselves should consider, and they'd much rather you bought the original in the first place.

[badboy]

Imagine how much they´d made if they spent that money on setting up easy to use services online so people could buy songs cheap and most of all, easy.

Im pouring money into Steam buying games I probably wont play, cause its so easy to do so, and they have those damn deals..

If you can make buying stuff online easier then torrenting it, you´ll divert a whole lot of people who DLs to get what they want when they want it, instead of ordering a CD and waiting, or going to a store.
But it has to be easier then the free method available.

QFT!

But those idiots dont understand. Cant we just kill stupid people?