2007 DICKTARD(S) OF THE YEAR: RIAA

January is almost over and I'm sure everyone has forgotten about 2007 a long time ago. But just like the banks sending out W-2 forms at the last possible second, I sneaked this in just under the wire. I thought about several nominees for 2007 Dicktard of the Year, but this is by far the biggest offenders I could come up with: the RIAA (Recording Industry Asshats of America).

The method of music delivery has changed forever with the advent of the digital download, and as a result consumers just aren't buying as many CDs. But don't try to tell the RIAA this. Have you ever made a copy of an CD, either into a compressed, portable format, or onto a CD-R? Well, if so, you're a filthy pirating thief in their eyes. I believe one of their lawyers would like to have a word with you, because you owe them some cash.

Instead of embracing the new technology, they and the record companies are fighting it to the bitter end by hiring an army of lawyers to protect their assets by suing everyone in sight. A brief list of those being "made an example":

• Random college students (perfect targets, since they most likely cannot afford legal representation)
• XM Radio (for making satellite players capable of recording songs)
• Ancient USENET message-board newsgroups (calling them "brazen outlaws")
• 30-year old single mother Jammie Thomas $222,000 for making 24 songs "available" through file sharing software
• Anyone who has ever made a copy of a CD, the ridiculous amount of $1.5 million for a 10 songs

That last one is part of an actual copyright reform bill being reviewed by Congress, called by Google's top copyright lawyer William Patry "the most outrageously gluttonous IP bill ever introduced in the US." The "damages" they are claiming aren't anywhere near the losses they are incurring as a result of illegal downloading. It's absurd. They just don't get it, and neither do the record companies that are allowing this to happen.

Congratulations RIAA: you are the 2007 DICKTARDS OF THE YEAR.

(I know it seems like I'm picking on lawyers, but since 2006 Dicktard of the Year was forced to declare bankrupcy a few weeks ago, I'm hoping for a similar fate for the RIAA's lawyers.)