I'm curious, for as long as I've can remember, IRC and newsgroups have offered up pirated software. 4 or so years ago when the MP3 scene took off IRC channels galor started offering these files up. This is not a new issue, it just appears to be a new issue for the RIAA. Novell and AutoDesk used to take companies to court and pay out 10 times in court costs what they could hope to recover, but for them, at the time it was worth it to set an example. Or at least that is how I recall the story being told.

As the years have worn on both these companies have either seen the light that it isn't worth it (or have learned that it isn't good to throw money away that you can't recoup).

Anyway, my point, this isn't a new thing, nor are P2P the only way that files have been shared. How long until the RIAA goes after newsgroup posters, or IRC bot owners? It seems that they are targeting one place, but ignoring another that has been around a lot longer and has "cost" them just as much if we believe the hype.

eric

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