Judge: music labels have to prove sharing

Judge: music labels have to prove sharing

Yet another reason why I am beginning to support file sharing on a philosphical level.  It will be almost impossible for the RIAA to prove that someone actually shared copyrighted music.  Yelena was quick to point out that the RIAA could just download the file themselves, and then say "see?  It's been downloaded."  I don't think that would fly, though.  Because that's not really infringement.  They would have to prove actual infringement.

As the article points out, this is speculation because not a single downloading lawsuit has ever gone to trial.  Which simply reinforces my latest reason in favor of music downloading: there's no civil liability.  The RIAA is still successful in scaring 12-year-old girls into signing settlement agreements, but if a defendant stands up to them, they drop the suit.

No civil liability, no criminal liability, the artists support it, it's good for music sales, and it's the new paradigm.  Seems pretty convincing to me.

J