[tomiko_nakamura]

This is the way prosecution works in the US - charging with heaps of bullshit felonies with the aim to scare the defendant, forcing him to plead guilty in exchange for minimum sentence. The defendants have to consider the risk that some of the felonies might stick (e.g. because of general ignorance of people to technology), and the expenses for the defence. And many actually choose to plead guilty despite being innocent ...

Just look at the percentage of "pleaded guilty" cases, that completely bypass the judicial system. The prosecutors can claim how they convicted another dangerous haxxxor, the general public applauds and the popularity helps them eventually get into Congress, important post or whatever.

This is not really all that different from how patent trolls work - they usually require payments that are slightly lower than the expected cost of defence (which may or may not be successful, and you'll have to pay for it no matter what the outcome is). So most companies do the math and simply pay to make them go away.

Also, it's exactly the issue that killed Aaron Swartz ...