Andrew Orlowski of The Register notes that the RIAA is resorting to spam and harassment to try to keep people from downloading music.

The messages are sprayed around the file sharing networks using the built-in chat function. One ominous message is intended to give the impression that the Pigopolists' Police are watching your every move:- [You] "are not anonymous and you can easily be identified."

You probably receive 'educational ' email every day. It's called spam. It's information litter, and reduces the overall quality of incoming signals.

Considering many states are adopting anti-spam laws that include jail time, I wonder if the RIAA is opening themselves up to any legal or criminal liability. If those don't work, perhaps anti-stalking laws might be used.

While the RIAA has the right to make an argument about the legality of file sharing, I don't see where it gives them the right to operate above the law. Harassment and spamming are only the tip of the iceberg. With a few congressmen in their pockets, the feds are quickly becoming the RIAA bull dog. As I reported back in July, and again in September, and again in January, Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif. would make it perfectly legal for the RIAA to hack into end-user's computers to look for copyright infringement. He would also take away your rights to fight the RIAA in court if any damage was done.

UPDATE: Reuters has another article detailing the RIAA's threats to music customers. The article notes that the RIAA contends that there is no 'next step' beyond the threats, but you have to wonder about that. With the RIAA seeking to write the copyright laws in Iraq, and suing four college students for $97 Trillion, they have clearly gone on the war path.