While there's currently an election for a new attorney general, I have to say that I'm a huge fan of the current one. Why, you ask? What has Hardy Meyers ever done for me aside from annoy me with radio spots about underage drinking? I'll tell you: he joined the list of Oregonians who have balls, alongside Ron Wyden. That's right. He told the RIAA to fuck off. FINALLY.

The RIAA is, not surprisingly, suing in their usual bullshit tactics to get information about a handful of students at the University of Oregon who are accused of pirating music. The AG is filing a motion to quash on behalf of the U of O. Of course, the Ducks deserve some credit. From the injunction:

Five of the seventeen John Does accessed the content in question from double occupancy dorm rooms at the University. With regard to these Does, the University is able to identify only the room where the content wis accessed and whether or not the computer used was a Macintosh or a PC. No login or personally identifiable information, i.e. authentication, was used by the Does to access the University's network because none is required. The University cannot determine whether the content in question accessed by one occupant as opposed to another, or whether it was accessed instead by a visitor.

That's EXACTLY how it should be done. No information should be kept.

From the Oregonian article on all this:

Ray Beckerman, a New York copyright attorney and leading national critic of the music industry's legal strategy, said Oregon is the first state he knows of that is seeking to protect the identity of students accused of music piracy. Most universities, Beckerman said, have turned over information despite tactics employed by industry lawyers that violate the legal rights of students.

"Oregon is sticking up for the rights of its students," Beckerman said.

Damn straight. Thank you, Hardy Meyers and the University of Oregon, for sticking up for its students. I'm just kind of depressed that it took so long and that it's under such crappy reasons. But these bullshit tactics by the RIAA have got to stop, and Hardy Meyers earns the Brass Balls Award (joining Ron Wyden) for this.