The Obama administration is supporting the Recording Industry Association of America who won a $1.92 million verdict against Jammie Thomas-Rasset of Minnesota for sharing 24 music tracks on Kazaa.
That's an $80,000-per-song award.
The Obama Justice Department argued that the verdict was "constitutionally sound". Defense lawyers for the woman, a single mother of four, asserted it as not only "unconstitutionally excessive" but "shocking and monstrous."
More after the jump.
A tweet by Michael Scott, a professor of law at LA's Southwestern Law School, pointed to a blogpost that helps place the insanity of this verdict into perspective:
That's more expensive than murder and six other crimes:
• Child abduction: Fine of $25,000 and up to three years in prison, which can be accounted as $50,233 per year (that was the median household income in 2007, probably down because of the economic crisis). Total: $175,699.
• Steal the CDs: A total of $275,000, $52,500 fine for the CDs.
• Steal a lawnmower from your neighbour: A total of $375,000.
• Burn someone's house while playing The Doors: Another $375,000.
• Stalk a Gizmodo editor (yes, you know who you are): A Class 4 felony that will result in just $175,000.
• Start a dogfighting ring: $50,000.
• Murder someone on the second degree, a Class 1 felony: $778,495, which accounts for a $25,000 fine and four to 15 years in prison.
Heck, you can do all these crimes, and the total amount will be only $2.2 million.
Write the White House and tell them what you think.
UPDATE: Title Changed to "Supported" from "Upheld"