Thinking about file-sharing? Don't. You'll get fined, and crime doesn't pay (unless you rob banks and/or armored cars, then it pays very well). Take it from Jammie Thomas, who was fined $2 million for downloading 24 songs, or anyone else who tried to fight the RIAA.



Instead, try another crime, because plenty of them draw far lighter penalties than downloading Jason Mraz's latest. Thanks to the Mechanics blog at Gapers Block, here are seven crimes that will get you smaller fines than file-sharing:



1. Child abduction: the fine is only like $25000.

2. Stealing the actual CD: the fine is $2,500

3. Rob your neighbor: the fine is $375,000

4. Burn a house down: The fine is just over $375,000

5. Stalk someone: The fine is $175,000

6. Start a dogfighting ring: the fine is $50,000

7. Murder someone: The maximum penalty is only $25,000 and 15 years in jail, and depending on your yearly salary, would probably be far slighter a penalty that $2 million.



Seriously, murdering someone will result in a lighter overall penalty than downloading a bunch of songs and getting caught. Granted, you don't get shivved in the showers at home, but still.

http://www.prefixmag.com/news/seven-crimes-that-will-get-you-a-smaller-fine-than/32033/

That's crazy. I think the penalty for that is way too harsh compared to the seven other crimes. What kind of message does that send?
Seems to me that it's greedy celebrities who demand to relish forever in so much money that they could go swimming in it! :lol: All the crimes are wrong, but come on, $2 million dollars for downloading music. I have never done it. I guess it's a good thing that I have no interest in downloading music, movies, etc.

I call BS on that whole article.

I think part ofthe reason there has been big push for fines for downloading music is mostly for the songwriters and producers whose work gets downloaded illegally and they don't receive compensation for their work. I think some fines are too extreme but I can see why the RIAA pushes for big fines. They aren't only thinking about the singers and bands. They are thinking about the other people who are working hard everyday in the music business.

I think part ofthe reason there has been big push for fines for downloading music is mostly for the songwriters and producers whose work gets downloaded illegally and they don't receive compensation for their work. I think some fines are too extreme but I can see why the RIAA pushes for big fines. They aren't only thinking about the singers and bands. They are thinking about the other people who are working hard everyday in the music business.

The RIAA couldnt' care less about artists, songwriters and producers. This whole "the artist isn't getting paid" thing is a joke, really. They represent the major record labels, who want to get paid. These labels have a history of screwing artists out of royalties and money rightfully due them.

The labels want what they feel is rightfully theirs. Whether or not artists, songwriters or producers get paid for their work is not their biggest concern, trust me on this one.

I dont download music, and will never do so, but that seems way harsh a penalty.

What if you stole a CD while you're stalking someone at a music store you're about to burn down?

;)

What if you stole a CD while you're stalking someone at a music store you're about to burn down?

;)
Good question!! :eek: :lol:

Does Limewire count as file sharing? :confused:

Does Limewire count as file sharing? :confused:

Yes. Limewire is one of the most popular file-sharing programs.

that's just messed up really- goes to show the music industry only care about making money, as opposed to help artists, bands, singers actually promote their work.

and yes, there are much worse offences than file sharing like rape, abuse, murder etc, and yet fines and sentences for those types of crimes are paltry.

i find all this scandalous and obscene.

The thing that most people don't realize that it isn't the downloading that you get in trouble for, it's the uploading. If you are redistributing the material on a file site like Rapidshare or Mediafire, you can get in trouble, but not the other way around. The law is really bent. People think you can get in trouble and bring the industry crashing down for downloading a leak of an album that doesn't come out for 2 weeks, but it doesn't work that way. I find that through downloading I've actually wanted to buy more music in physical formats.

As for stealing CDs, Best Buy employees still seem to think I'm going to shoplift CDs! At this day in age! Take a chill pill, chances are if I'm in the store, I'm actually there to buy a CD.

That's crazy. I think the penalty for that is way too harsh compared to the seven other crimes. What kind of message does that send?
Seems to me that it's greedy celebrities who demand to relish forever in so much money that they could go swimming in it! :lol: All the crimes are wrong, but come on, $2 million dollars for downloading music. I have never done it. I guess it's a good thing that I have no interest in downloading music, movies, etc.

It's nothing to do with celebrities, it's to do with record labels, producers and songwriters needing to get paid.

I call BS on that whole article.

Second!