Inside the RIAA and MediaSentry

bsdewhurst sends along an interesting article about how MediaSentry and the RIAA identify file sharers. Since 2003, while the RIAA has been filing 28,000 lawsuits, the percentage of US Internet users using P2P for downloading music has dropped from 20% to 19% (there is no knowing how much of a factor the lawsuits have been). The list the RIAA uses for ISP takedown notices is about 700 currently popular songs that are updated based on the charts, so not liking the top 40 could save you. The list of songs tracked for the user-litigation program is said to be larger.

now lets do the math

[queldor]

5 years for 1%. so in 2103 it will be down to 0%. Way to go RIAA!!! That will also be 532,000 lawsuits.. and don't forgot that is IF that 1% was from them..

Re:The best way to not get caught

[JonathanR]

Put your money where your mouth is and do not listen to it

I find it's a little hard not to hear the scrunching and gagging sound. The clinking of coins is also a little hard to ignore.

As a music lover

[east coast]

so not liking the top 40 could save you.

In ways that are too many to count.

Re:The best way to not get caught

[morgan_greywolf]

I find it's a little hard not to hear the scrunching and gagging sound. The clinking of coins is also a little hard to ignore.

Oh, for fsck's sake! I give him money for lunch and what does he do? Eat the money! *sigh* *hangs head in shame*

Re:Statistics - Surveys?

[hostyle]

If these statistics are based on surveys obviously they are going to be low. If I got a survey saying "do you pirate RIAA music over P2P" obviously everyone is going to say no. No one is going to admit to doing something illegal on a survey.

You almost had it right:

"Do you still pirate songs off the interwebs?"

A. Yes.
b. No.

Bad Taste?

[inamorty]

The RIAA should be given a medal for prosecuting people that listen to that charts drivel.

Statistics?

[oahazmatt]

50% of statistics are completely made-up. 40% of all people know that.

Method

[halcyon1234]

how MediaSentry and the RIAA identify file sharers.

• Tea leaves?
• d20?
• Gut feeling
• C:\>find pirate
• Every citizen's name in a gigantic, wind-powered "grab-a-prize" booth?

Re:Thats a very one sided view of things...

[lilomar]

Gone over to his neighbor's garage in the middle of the night and made a copy of his car? Oh Noes! PIRATE!!!11

Re:The best way to not get caught

[Bud Dickman]

Look, I've got to use the toilet badly. Could you stop posting on Slashdot and get over here to fix this already?

Re:The best way to not get caught

[tehcyder]

there is NO law that says "Thou art not allowed to tranfer KaiserChiefs-Ruby.mp3 via limewire."

There bleeding well should be, that song was awful.