On Copyright Law

My stepfather asked me a question about copyright, which got me thinking. Why is it that the RIAA and the MPAA get to use the tools that local, state, and federal prosecutors have, yet they have none of the constraints?

The RIAA and MPAA get to search their victims computers (more on this later), without a warrant, then go to court to have computers siezed. After not finding anything, they then can claim that the evidence of infringement is non-existent, but that doesn't matter, because they can prove infringement based on the IP address.

Prosecutors have to prove reasonable suspicion, get a warrant, then meet a burden of proof. Jammie Thomas-Rasset and Joel Tannenbaum, under laws that make their alleged actions civil and/or criminal offenses, have been railroaded by a system that allows the accuser (the RIAA and the MPAA) use criminal prosecution tools and then only have to meet the civil burden of proof (something that they rarely do).

Why do the RIAA and MPAA get to use law that criminalizes an act, that allows for civil compensation, in such a fashion that a criminal conviction is not required to to receive civil compensation, yet criminal discovery procedures are used to build a case that only needs to meet civil burden of proof?

I am not a lawyer, but I have watched the People's Court, Judge Judy, and Judge Joe Brown. I cannot recall in any civil case a plaintiff being granted access to a respondant's property to prove their case. It just doesn't happen.

If the RIAA and MPAA wants to sue me in civil court for copyright infringement, go ahead, but they are either going to sue me without me turning over my property, or they are going to have to go to a prosecutor and charge me criminally. They will not use the full force of criminal law for a civil case against me.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes, I am another year older today. What makes this birthday a very happy one is that it is my last day as underemployed. If you know the part-time job that I still have, then you know that semantics prevent me from accurately calling myself unemployed. Whatever the case may be, that is changing on Monday, when I start my new job.

Do you want to here something funny? I was offered another job today! After so long a period of not being able to get so much as a response to the many resumes I sent out, I get my second show of interest the day before I start my new job. There are two upsides to this little bit of irony. One, the job I start on Monday pays more, so I don't have to screw the people that got to me first; and two, this second job offer is open to anyone that I may recommend (with a small "fee" paid to me). All I know about it is that it is a full-time PC Technician position, with entry-level pay. If anyone is interested, email me, and I'll give you the contact info.

New Job!

Starting Monday, I will be at my new, considerably better paying, full-time job, with medical benefits, paid time off, and a whole slew of other niceties that I took for granted in the past.

Just so I don't live a misery-free life, I will keep my pathetic 5-hour a week babysitting job at ShittyTech, on Saturdays, for the time being.