My bestfriend got a letter from a collection agency that he owed $8000 due to a lawsuit regarding illegal downloading! They attached the court order and he did not even know those songs on the list! He cannot afford a lawyer to fight this and now since they are in collections, the judgement has already been issued. Is there a law out there to help him remedy this situation?? Or any other similar instances that happed to other people??? I think this is ridiculous for the Recording Ind of America to do this. Now my friend is depressed over this! HELP!
2007-06-26 11:48:47 · 8 answers · asked by Svenbjörn 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
commit the crime...pay the fine
2007-06-26 11:53:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
Ahhh, you still have protection out there. OK, did he download any recordings and if he did, how did the Recording Ind. find out? I think EVERYBODY in the whole world has downloaded something that was copyrighted. OK, and another thing, even if they did get a judgement against your friend he still DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act tells just exactly what a collector can and cannot do. They have to call between certain hours and all that stuff. IF they got a judgement against your friend, the judge won't help the Recording Ind to collect the debt. Was he ever notified that there was a court hearing involving his downloading? If he was never notified, that pretty much wipes the slate clean. Don't worry about it. If they can get by, the Recording Ind. will try to trash a person's credit, but usually that isn't a permanent trash and you can dispute that debt by writing and sending emails and letters several times a week to the three credit bureaus. Beside, if the Recording Ind. was in fact a legal company and your friend actually did owe the bill that is one thing, but it sounds to me like they want banking info. Don't worry. He should't even have to get an attorney unless they break the rules of the FDCA. THEN NUKE THE BAST@RDS!!!
Find out what is on his credit report - see the source below for a free credit report and score from each credit bureau.
2007-06-26 19:06:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To you, it is ridiculous, but what if you were an artist especially one trying to establish yourself, and your music was constantly being downloaded, free of charge? It would be extremely difficult, to establish yourself, as an artist. This is a problem, which affects lots, of artist, and the ones most affected by it, are those, just starting out. It cuts into their profits, and makes it difficult, to build, a career. Nevertheless I suggest, he find an attorney. He could be in, for a long fight.
2007-06-26 21:07:01 · answer #3 · answered by whatnext 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This hasnt happened to me or someone i know before, but i believe that if he is taken to court, in his rights it is read "You have a right to a lawyer. if you cannot affored one, one will be granted to you" or something like that. if you have no evidence that he did not download them, well, then, frankly your screwed. just try your best to help your friend.
2007-06-26 18:54:28 · answer #4 · answered by Amanda 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't pay it. They have to present evidence and prove it, whether you have a lawyer or not. They can't just hand someone a bill for 8000 dollars and expect anyone to pay it.
If anything, they should be fined for snooping on your friends computer without permission.
Sue them for 16,000 dollars.
2007-06-26 19:01:32 · answer #5 · answered by PH 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Everybody has a right to an eterny
2007-06-26 18:58:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I hope he downloaded violin music.
2007-06-26 18:52:19 · answer #7 · answered by TedEx 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
what? you have to be kidding me. its a SCAM!!!!!!!!!! Tell your friend NOT to pay this.
2007-06-27 09:09:25 · answer #8 · answered by spink_is_not_dead 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋