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Fined $2 million for downloading 24 songs from Kazaa - Shit!

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This story will scare most p2p downloaders - most people here...Source: http://www.blackenterprise.com/news-article/131893372Price of Downloading 24 Songs: $2 Million for Brainerd WomanJun. 19--MINNEAPOLIS -- A federal jury deliberated about five hours Thursday before deciding that Jammie Thomas-Rasset, a Brainerd, Minn., mother of four, should pay more than $1.9 million for willfully downloading and sharing 24 copyrighted songs. The dollar amount is about nine times what jurors in Thomas-Rasset's first trial determined she was liable for. U.S. District Judge Michael Davis threw out that verdict because of an error in jury instructions; he also said then that he thought those damages were excessive for an individual citizen to pay. Jurors determined Thomas-Rasset is liable for $80,000 for each of the 24 songs she downloaded and made available for distribution on the KaZaA peer-to-peer file-sharing network. Kiwi Camara, one of Thomas-Rasset's two defense attorneys, said it could be termed a shocking verdict. He said he had expected if his client were found liable, it would be for the minimum amount possible -- $18,000. "I was surprised by the amount,'' Camara said. "I think it's excessive, and I think the jury most likely didn't believe her and was angry about it.'' Thomas-Rasset, 32, was somber but didn't express any outward emotion as the verdicts were read. "Unfortunately there was nothing I could do; it was up to the jury,'' Thomas said outside the courtroom. "It's about $2 million. The only thing I can say is good luck trying to get it from me, because you can't get blood from a turnip, you know.'' Of the jury, she said: "They did their job and I'm not going to hold it against them." The team of attorneys representing the Recording Industry Association of America couldn't keep the smiles off their faces as they shook hands and fist-bumped outside the presence of the jury. "We appreciate the jury's service and that they take the issue as seriously as we do,'' said Cara Duckworth, director of communications for the RIAA in Washington, D.C. "We are pleased the jury agreed with the evidence and found the defendant liable. Since day one we've been willing to settle this case, and we remain so.'' Duckworth said Thomas-Rasset could have settled the case for between $3,000 and $5,000. Camara said there are appealable issues but that RIAA also has expressed an interest in settling the case. He said he will continue to represent the defendant at no cost as he explores whether to settle or appeal. He also is considering a class-action law suit against the recording industry, but declined to say on what grounds. What would he like to ask the jury? "I'd like to ask them what they thought of the presentation, why and how they came up with the number, and what caused them to believe or not believe her story,'' he said. In his closing argument, defense attorney Joe Sibley portrayed record company officials as money-hungry, big-city executives who he said flew in from Los Angeles and New York to testify against, beat on and teach a lesson to a woman who dared to challenge them. :blink:

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