Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

The RIAA used to be run by a woman who was an expert in first amendment rights because they saw protecting an artist's right to free speech as their principal role as an industry lobbyist. Unfortunately several laws slipped through the cracks that let computer manufacturers and internet service providers completely off the hook on intellectual property issues.

By the time the RIAA realized we had a big problem, a great deal of the ability to prosecute the middle-men who profit from file looting had been lost. Now that intellectual property looting is affecting areas beyond music, the laws in the U.S. can be expected to change dramatically because it no longer just affects the left wing wacko musicians many right wingers would just as soon see starve.