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The Judge noted in her opinion about this that $75 Trillion is more money than has been printed since Thomas Edison invented the phonograph. Your first reactio

The Judge noted in her opinion about this that $75 Trillion is more money than has been printed since Thomas Edison invented the phonograph. Your first reaction may be to rail against the lawyers of the record industry, but realize they are just asking for the maximum allowed by federal law ($30,000 per infringement). Indeed, one might argue it is a lawyer's duty to seek the maximum amount of damages allowed, just as it is your accountant's job to arrange your taxes so you pay the minimum allowed by law. The real problem is the disconnect of the law itself with reality. I'm in no way endorsing the behavior of the record industry (imagine how well they'd be doing if they had bought Napster instead of suing it?). I'm merely seeking to point out the root of the problem. If the law was written more intelligently, dying industries wouldn't be able to get life support from the courts.

Groxx 16y ago
I think people are railing against their lobbying and fear-mongering which made such absurd amounts legally possible. That they made the tools, not that they're using them.
fleitz 16y ago
Judges don't have a problem with absurd penalties. US Judges routinely hand out multiple life sentences served consecutively. Or life sentences for victimless crimes. It doesn't matter how the law was written take something simple that anyone could understand like the Interstate Commerce Clause. Now put it in front of the supreme court all of a sudden growing plants in your closet is interstate commerce. Even though the person had no intention of selling it, let alone out of state. The law will be contorted by those in power to serve exactly what they want to do.
- deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]
- timsally 16y ago
  Do the drug laws in this country need reform? Yes. Are the penalties for non-violent drug crimes particularly harsh? Sure. Is the entire system of law so contorted and corrupt that it's completely the control of "those in power" as you call them? I rather doubt it. Such an extraordinarily claim requires extraordinary evidence and you've provided none. You've simply waved your hands around and grumbled about how judges "routinely" hand out multiple life sentences, without including any proof, context, or analysis how this alleged fact supports your argument. Clearly the angle you're approaching this issue from is that of marijuana legalization. Consider this: the fact that you are unable to have a rational view of our justice system is one reason why decriminalization/legalization is taking so damn long. Remember Prop 19? It is one of the most incompetent pieces of legislation I've ever read, mostly in part because of attitudes like yours that the justice system is completely broken and out to ruin the lives of every pot smoker in the US. A good summery of some of the more fundamental issues with Prop 19 here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1864578 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1864578 and here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1865987 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1865987. Point is that the justice system isn't the boogie man, and the thought that it was is what caused Prop 19 to be such garbage. I honestly have no idea where the idea comes from. Last time I checked weed was decriminalized in 12 states and many townships in the US. I'm not trying to convolute the main line of discussion here, but the subtext beneath your post needs to be addressed. Finally, if you actually believe the rather macabre view of the justice system you're espousing, you should pack up and move out of the country. I for one couldn't live in a country with a justice system like the one you describe. There's a world of difference in believing the justice system in imperfect and in need of reform (my personal view) and your view which seems to be that it's completely broken.
  - fleitz 16y ago
    Fiat justitia ruat caelum
  - Retric 16y ago
    No individual or group in the country has all the power. However, most of the power is split up among a minority of players and corruption and abuses of power run rampant. Small scale: I know someone who did serious time because he picked up some drugs for a old friend who was trying to get a lighter sentence. This is someone who had never sold drugs, and stooped using a while ago. But transportation = distribution and "entrapment" does not count when the cops use a third party. Large Scale: UBS whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld is the only person to due time over a multi billion dollar tax fraud. PS: Don't forget the recording industry is only worth 12 billion a year, yet protecting that tiny cash flow is worth more than pissing off all those pirates.
VladRussian 16y ago
No law can fix stupidity, individual or corporate.

Groxx 16y ago

I think people are railing against their lobbying and fear-mongering which made such absurd amounts legally possible. That they made the tools, not that they're using them.

fleitz 16y ago

Judges don't have a problem with absurd penalties. US Judges routinely hand out multiple life sentences served consecutively. Or life sentences for victimless crimes. It doesn't matter how the law was written take something simple that anyone could understand like the Interstate Commerce Clause. Now put it in front of the supreme court all of a sudden growing plants in your closet is interstate commerce. Even though the person had no intention of selling it, let alone out of state. The law will be contorted by those in power to serve exactly what they want to do.

deleted 16y ago
[deleted]
timsally 16y ago
Do the drug laws in this country need reform? Yes. Are the penalties for non-violent drug crimes particularly harsh? Sure. Is the entire system of law so contorted and corrupt that it's completely the control of "those in power" as you call them? I rather doubt it. Such an extraordinarily claim requires extraordinary evidence and you've provided none. You've simply waved your hands around and grumbled about how judges "routinely" hand out multiple life sentences, without including any proof, context, or analysis how this alleged fact supports your argument. Clearly the angle you're approaching this issue from is that of marijuana legalization. Consider this: the fact that you are unable to have a rational view of our justice system is one reason why decriminalization/legalization is taking so damn long. Remember Prop 19? It is one of the most incompetent pieces of legislation I've ever read, mostly in part because of attitudes like yours that the justice system is completely broken and out to ruin the lives of every pot smoker in the US. A good summery of some of the more fundamental issues with Prop 19 here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1864578 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1864578 and here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1865987 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1865987. Point is that the justice system isn't the boogie man, and the thought that it was is what caused Prop 19 to be such garbage. I honestly have no idea where the idea comes from. Last time I checked weed was decriminalized in 12 states and many townships in the US. I'm not trying to convolute the main line of discussion here, but the subtext beneath your post needs to be addressed. Finally, if you actually believe the rather macabre view of the justice system you're espousing, you should pack up and move out of the country. I for one couldn't live in a country with a justice system like the one you describe. There's a world of difference in believing the justice system in imperfect and in need of reform (my personal view) and your view which seems to be that it's completely broken.
- fleitz 16y ago
  Fiat justitia ruat caelum
- Retric 16y ago
  No individual or group in the country has all the power. However, most of the power is split up among a minority of players and corruption and abuses of power run rampant. Small scale: I know someone who did serious time because he picked up some drugs for a old friend who was trying to get a lighter sentence. This is someone who had never sold drugs, and stooped using a while ago. But transportation = distribution and "entrapment" does not count when the cops use a third party. Large Scale: UBS whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld is the only person to due time over a multi billion dollar tax fraud. PS: Don't forget the recording industry is only worth 12 billion a year, yet protecting that tiny cash flow is worth more than pissing off all those pirates.

VladRussian 16y ago

No law can fix stupidity, individual or corporate.