In all of the controversy about file sharing, copyright protection, and Digital Rights Management, this is the strangest twist to date: a private RIAA "police force", swooping down on unsuspecting vendors and intimidating them with threats of arrest, complete with dark jackets with "RIAA" stenciled on the back.

"The RIAA acknowledges it all — except the notion that its staff presents itself as police. Yes, they may all be ex-P.D. Yes, they wear cop-style clothes and carry official-looking IDs. But if they leave people like Borrayo with the impression that they’re actual law enforcement, that’s a mistake."

Bullshit. They are counting on the official impression, walking a fine line just this side of impersonating police officers.

10:25:25 AM