Record Companies v. 4th Amendment

Interesting article in the LA times about how the Recording Industry Association of America (“RIAA”) is pushing a law through in California that would allow for warrantless searches of CD manufacturers.

You may remember the RIAA from past hits such as suing individual consumers who used Napster, and similar services, for copyright infringement.

Apparently the proposed bill is sailing through Sacramento. However, I would imagine that it would almost certainly be subject to Constitutional challenge at some point in the event it passes.

The RIAA’s argument is that CD manufacturers are like massage parlors: an industry so highly regulated that the business owner has a very low expectation of privacy.

Looks like a good issue to keep an eye on.

Tagged as: 4th Amendment, Piracy, Record Companies, RIAA, Search and Seizure