RIAA v. Soccer Mom - The Transcript

I blogged last week about a mom (Patricia Santangelo) not willing to settle with the record industries in a P2P file-sharing lawsuit.

This week a few bloggers are commenting on the transcript from their initial appearance in court earlier this year.

Godwin's Law writes:

I urge you to read the transcript of Ms. Santangelo's court appearance . . . . It is fun to read, and it has made me an instant admirer of Judge McMahon, who refused to be a mere conduit steering Ms. Santangelo to the RIAA's "conference center" (which should properly be called a "surrender center").

Godwin then provides an interesting excerpt from the transcript highlighting the judge's refusal.

In response to Godwin's post, Donna Wentworth writes:

Nice. And a wonderful reminder that the lawsuits affect real people with real lives — even busy judges who may chafe at the role they're being asked to play in this unfortunate, ineffective "education" campaign.

IP Democracy adds:

Judge Colleen McMahon of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York seems to be on Santangelo's side. According to a transcript of a hearing held in the case, Judge McMahon made clear she doesn’t like the tactics of the RIAA.

Finally, Techdirt weighs in:

As Copyfight implies, the judge is making it clear to the RIAA that this is a court case and not an education campaign, as the RIAA likes to think of it. While it would be great if this case does go to court, all this publicity is upping the ante for the RIAA to push for a settlement as quickly as possible.

Prior post:
    Aug. 22, 2005 - Soccer Mom Takes on Record Companies in P2P File-Sharing Case.

Update (Aug. 30, 2005): (via Copyfight) P2Pnet.net interviews Ray Beckerman, the attorney representing Ms. Santangelo. Two quotes from Beckerman:

We expect Ms Santangelo's costs to be picked up by the RIAA, since (a) the copyright statute permits the Court to shift the attorneys fees to the losing party, (b) these cases were clearly frivolous and brought in bad faith, and (c) it is a matter of public interest that the RIAA be deterred from bringing more such meritless cases. . . .

It will be an interesting conversation when and if I get to talk to whoever has managed to convince the gullible people in charge of the RIAA that their terrorism is helping them.

More: Ray Beckerman's bio and blog and court documents.