RIAA tells students to drop out to pay fines

Posted on 6 Apr 2006 at 11:13

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is apparently advising students in the US to drop out of college so they can work to pay off their fines.

One MIT student blog details what happened when she negotiated with an RIAA representative over paying the $3,750 fine imposed after she was found to be illegally swapping music over the Internet.

After being told that the RIAA does not negotiate settlements, the student was offered a six month repayment plan. Although the rep was told that a poor student still could not find that kind of money even after working outside of term time the RIAA representative helpfully suggested that: 'In fact, the RIAA has been known to suggest that students drop out of college or go to (reduced fee) community college in order to be able to afford settlements'. It is comforting to hear that the RIAA has the future of American music lovers so close to its heart.

Or as the student puts it in the blog 'I finally understand what the RIAA meant when they told me "stealing music is not a victimless crime" - the victims hang for all to see'.

The RIAA, is of course well known for its sensitivity. In 2003 it sued a twelve-year-old girl call Brianna LaHara who was fined $2,000 for downloading copyrighted music.