You mean suing my customers *isn't* a good strategy?

Buckethead Buckethead

Via slashdot, this delightful article from the pointy heads at the Wharton School. The author, G. Richard Shell begins by making the fairly obvious point that suing your customer base might not be the best idea, but then goes on to give us some solid historical precedent for that conclusion, notably the efforts of the Automobile industry to sue Henry Ford's customers.

Fascinating article, and a valuable perspective on the future of the RIAA's attempts to make itself a pariah. 

Posted by Buckethead Buckethead on   |   § 2

§ 2 Comments

1

But the article also notes that the auto industry was screwed due to a deus-ex-machina. The courts decided that the patent the auto people were suing Ford over only applied to an obsolete engine. But for that detail, Ford would not have come out on top. I'm willing to bet that consumer autos would eventually hit the scene, but probably under different circumstances.

I have a hard time believing that a similar deus ex machina will come out on behalf of downloaders today.

Johno Johno

2

I used to buy a ton of music, just for the hell of it. Over the past year or so, though....nope. I'm done with it. I'm sick of feeding the system. It takes a lot for me to buy a CD now; it has to be really good, and I have to know that.

I just can't put more money into the RIAA's pocket.

Ross Ross

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