Business
Tenenbaum verdict: $675K
OK the the verdict is in. Joel Tenenbaum has been assessed $675,000, or $22,500 per song, for illegally distributing 30 songs via Kazaa, Ars Technica reports.
OK the the verdict is in. Joel Tenenbaum has been assessed $675,000, or $22,500 per song, for illegally distributing 30 songs via Kazaa, Ars Technica reports.
That's not nearly as bad as I had feared, since it's within the realm of "normal" statutory damages (up to $30,000). Ironically, Jammie Thomas-Rassert was found liable for the enhanced penalties, landing her a $1.9 million verdict.
Tenenbaum's attorney, Prof. Charles Nesson, argued that they might have prevailed if a Fair Use defense had been permitted.
"We were not allowed to speak to fairness," he told Ars. "I thought we had pretty damn good arguments on Fair Use."Joel himself was most gracious.
"I'm disappointed, but not surprised, but I'm thankful that it wasn't much bigger, that it wasn't millions. That to me sends a message that [the jury] considered [my] side legitimately.
And the bottom line question. Do you regret downloading music?
That's really a loaded question. There are so many things that could have been different.