Reply #95: The fine isn't just for the one download.

[Ms. Toad]

It is for all the subsequent distribution of that download. Each person who gets it from you creates and additional fine.

The RIAA suits I've seen (and I have seen a couple) have targeted people who download multiple songs, then place them on file sharing sites so the each of the songs is distributed (in many instances) to hundreds or thousands of other people. RIAA walks in with pages and pages documenting when and to whom (by user name) each song has been downloaded and re-distributed. I have yet to see them (or read of them) going after someone who was downloading for personal use and not redistributing. Compared to the fines sought in court, the initial requests are not all that outrageous - usually no more than a few thousand dollars. The big bucks are imposed by the court when the individual who was caught doesn't agree to a settlement.

Artists are free to record and distribute music outside of RIAA - but if they choose to go through RIAA, they are entitled to have their rights enforced by RIAA (even if they do only get a pittance in money, enforcement of their rights is one of those things they do get).