In the end it comes down to a simple question: to cheat or not to cheat?

How long can the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee protect its students from the big bad RIAA? The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is out for blood this time; blood in the form of poor college students U.S. currency.

At first there were warnings here and there about alleged consequences for those who break the law and download music and movies illegally. Many of us dispatched the warnings quickly.

The RIAA sent out letters late this February and early this past March. The e-mail that UWM students received announced that individuals on campuses are now being targeted for lawsuits.

As grateful UWM students, we are well aware of the fact that specific individuals have not been identified to the RIAA on our campus yet. The RIAA only has the violators ISP codes and UWM has chosen not to send out letters to those 16 violators for the RIAA.

However, our time for relief is soon to pass. All the RIAA has to do to receive the violators personal information is to provide a lawful subpoena, with viable evidence that supports their claim, to UWM who will then have to comply.

Jonathan Lamy, a spokesman for the RIAA, states that since the first round of letters went out in late February, 116 settlements out of 400 have already been made. A standard settlement in lieu of court is about $3,000.

If students choose not to settle, the RIAA is asking for $750 for each song illegally downloaded. This can add up incredibly fast.

However, this price doesnt balance out the injustices. It seems like extortion to pay $750 per song, and the artists that are looking for compensation arent receiving this outrageous sum thats being won in court and through settlements.

Is this just a get rich quick scheme for the RIAA? Perhaps, but there is another way to look at this: Downloading music and file sharing is illegal.

Some people may claim that the rich and famous musicians dont need that compensation. However, stealing money from a millionaire is just as illegal as stealing money from a blue collar citizen. Wrong is wrong.

Many people have continued to download with the belief that no consequences will be enforced and the RIAA is dishing out those consequences now and are multiplying their severity.

These recent actions are forcing those who download illegally to think twice. The RIAA will make an example out of a few in order to prevent further illegal downloading from the majority.

In the end it comes down to a simple question: to cheat or not to cheat? Many do it because they can. Many will also be easily deterred when consequences are threatened. However, integrity and ethics should provide enough incentive to not cheat at all.

Next time you think about illegal downloading, think about your morals, and if that doesnt deter you, look at the severe consequences that are now being provided.

By Nic Werner

Special to the Post

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