Far from being an "independant" expert witness it seems the RIAA are not being honest with the Courts.
http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2007/11/practice-tip-investigate-dr-jacobsons.htmlIf he didn't earn a nickel in "expert witness" fees, Dr. Jacobson would have a strong financial interest in the RIAA's litigation juggernaut.
He admitted at his deposition in UMG v. Lindor that the company which he co-owns has a 'partnership' with the Audible Magic company, which makes 'CopySense' filtering software.
Audible Magic tries to sell CopySense to local area networks, such as colleges, universities, and large employers. It is part of its sales pitch that the software will help the customers avoid having to deal with RIAA lawsuits.
And who plays a key role in RIAA lawsuits, acting as the RIAA's sole witness to copyright infringement? Dr. Doug.
Ohio University, which had been singled out by the RIAA as, supposedly, the number one institution for copyright-infringing filesharing, bought Dr. Doug's software for $60,000 + $16,000 per year "maintenance" (or is the word "protection money"?), and miraculously, the RIAA's letters stopped immediately.
Practitioners should probe, through interrogatories, document requests, and depositions, and independent investigations as well, Dr. Doug Jacobson's indirect financial interest in the success of the RIAA's litigation onslaught.
This is not really
new news to those of us who keep up with this sort of thing but nice to have this on record.
