On Monday, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) committed a last desperate act in order to save its ever-shrinking grasp on the music industry.

Two hundred sixty-one lawsuits were filed in federal courts around the country for copyright infringements. These lawsuits, claiming to target "major offenders," are simply a massive scare tactic from a greedy industry trying to get people to stop downloading and sharing songs online.

The sad part about this fiasco is that in the end, the recording company will come out the winners. I don't just mean the lawsuits. The lawsuits are merely meant to be a message that you can be punished for sharing music, regardless of how many you share or how often.

The 261 people suddenly facing fines of up to $150,000 per song are simply pawns in a game that the RIAA desperately wants to win. They will do anything to that cause, without regard to the victims. The deterrent effects of the lawsuits is even more effective when one realizes they span all types of people, regardless of race, age, gender or even income. The lawsuits target even preteens and grandfathers.

They know that most of these people will settle and pay a fine, sending the message that everyone can be targeted and punished.

As for me, I know that the only way to beat bullies is to stand up to them. So if you'll excuse me, there's a great song I need to get.