more on the RIAA lawsuits

[waider]

Grandad sued over filesharing. I've actually got mixed feelings about this; on one hand, I disagree with the RIAA tactics. On the other hand, he's summed up a huge problem accidentally:

Durwood Pickle, 71, of Texas, said his teenage grandchildren used his computer during visits to his home. "I didn't do it, and I don't feel like I'm responsible," he said.

I think if people didn't have that attitude quite so much - not being responsible for what their (grand)kids get up to on the net - then we wouldn't have quite the same steady procession of child pornography, stalking, runaway, etc. cases.

Comments

[peglegpete.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... to me, this seems similar to the granddad loaning his car to the kids. If they do something illegal while borrowing the car, when he would have no expectation or knowledge of them doing so, why should he be held responsible? Shouldn't the perpetrators of the actions be responsible for what they do? (Perhaps I'm assuming that the kids are older than they are, and therefore more accountable for their actions.)

[waider.livejournal.com]

It depends on the age of the kids, really.

Over here, btw, depending on circumstances, the grandfather may well be liable if the kids did something illegal in the car.

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

IHNJH, IJLS "Durwood Pickle."

I saw this in the morning paper and thought that it had to be his real name, because nobody would invent anything that over-the-top.

He's also quoted as saying, "Dadgum it..."