Class action CD lawsuitchecks mailed.

February 24, 2004 8:40 PM

As Attorney General for the State of North Dakota, I am pleased to enclose payment for your claim in the settlement of the Compact Disc Minimum Advertised Price Antitrust Litigation.
Checks have gone out to people who "purchased prerecorded Music Products, consisting of compact discs, cassettes and vinyl albums, from one or more retailers during the period January 1, 1995, through December 22, 2000." Mine was for $13.86. I think I'll go buy an indie CD.
posted by travis (24 comments total)

Maybe when I get mine I'll use it to register my copy of Winamp.
posted by wfrgms at 8:42 PM on February 24, 2004

I got one too for the same amount yesterday--very cool.
posted by amberglow at 8:45 PM on February 24, 2004

Got mine.
posted by Plunge at 9:29 PM on February 24, 2004

Mine came yesterday.
posted by dogwelder at 10:03 PM on February 24, 2004

I got mine today, and I for one am amazed that no one said yet that they were going to buy a stack of cd-r's with their check.
posted by Darke at 10:15 PM on February 24, 2004

My wife and I both got one. I got a spindle of CDs and some CD labels for the MefiSwap.

I was teaching my first sound recording class during the sign up time. I asked my students who had bought a CD in the time period. All hands went up and I pointed them to the page. They have been running up to me all day saying "Mr Roosevelt!! I got my RIAA check!!" I teach all my recording kids how labels take advantages of artists (and make stars rather arbitrarily). They are all a little worried about being sued by the RIAA and getting a check from the beast itself for $14 makes them feel empowered to a degree. Then I explain how the settlement money was ponied up by about a half a dozen MONSTER corporations who barely felt it.
posted by spartacusroosevelt at 10:17 PM on February 24, 2004

Got mine.
How much is the Grey Album selling for these days?

Seriously, buying CD-Rs with the settlement money doesn't sound like a bad idea at all.
posted by emelenjr at 10:21 PM on February 24, 2004

The settlement money is a refund for a CD you already bought. Put it in your checking account and spend it as you would any of your other income.
posted by kindall at 10:27 PM on February 24, 2004

dur dur
posted by luckyclone at 10:39 PM on February 24, 2004

In Wisconsin, the same day people got the checks (we have checks) the attorney general whose name was on the check got busted for DWI.

I'll put it towards releasing an album.
posted by drezdn at 11:22 PM on February 24, 2004

Haven't bought an album in a decade. No money for me.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 12:47 AM on February 25, 2004

In the UK, I'm still waiting for our record corps to be found guilty of price fixing and cough up some trivial and derisory amount whilst they go skipping merrily on their way, their pockets bulging with cash.

<fingers crossed!>
posted by Blue Stone at 2:51 AM on February 25, 2004

I got $13 plus dollars and the attorneys on the case got how much? One source indicates they got about $12.5 million for minimal work. (State attorney generals were part of the case and likely did much of the heavy lifting.)
posted by caddis at 4:27 AM on February 25, 2004

Damn! I registered at my old address. Wonder if it will get forwarded to me?
posted by JoanArkham at 5:29 AM on February 25, 2004

I just realized--this is our "we have cameras" moment! (but not as big)
posted by amberglow at 5:43 AM on February 25, 2004

I hate to piss on the parade, but $13 for a lifetime of being gouged?
posted by jpoulos at 7:07 AM on February 25, 2004

here is another way to spend your refund.
posted by whatnot at 7:10 AM on February 25, 2004

You can't gouge people who are willing to pay your asking price.
posted by kindall at 9:50 AM on February 25, 2004

You can be bitter about it or use it to buy a stack of CD-Rs or use it to buy indie music, or like me you can use it to buy a six pack of somthing cheap in a can and a used copy of sabbath bloody sabbath and just kick back on the porch next to the washing machine and just go uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
posted by Divine_Wino at 11:58 AM on February 25, 2004

Blue Stone: I'm in the same boat as you. Moved a few months ago.

[also has fingers crossed that it will be forwarded]
posted by Orb at 3:30 PM on February 25, 2004

You can't gouge people who are willing to pay your asking price.

Well, not anymore. I've only been buying used albums lately, if at all. My $13 will go towards an iPod.
posted by Down10 at 5:07 PM on February 25, 2004

Amazing. My $13.86 just showed up as well. I only knew about this at all because of MeFi, specifically a comment by eatitlive. Let's see: 300 hours a year (minimum) time spent reading MeFi; earnings, $13.86. That works out to at least 4.5 cents an hour!

I'd be even more overjoyed by the money if our bank account wasn't $696 overdrawn. No iPods, cameras, indie CDs for me.
posted by LeLiLo at 1:04 PM on February 26, 2004

Well now I'm sad. I know that I signed up way back when, but no check has arrived. I guess I'll have to cry myself to sleep tonight.
posted by kayjay at 1:59 PM on February 26, 2004

Blue Stone and Orb: I moved in December, and my check was forwarded to the new address.
posted by Ben Grimm at 10:45 AM on March 2, 2004