e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

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The Labels Just Don't Get it-In My Opinion

Music Labels to Sue Hundreds
Of Internet Users Sharing Songs

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB105656218791307000,00.html


Associated Press


WASHINGTON -- The embattled music industry disclosed aggressive plans Wednesday for an unprecedented escalation in its fight against Internet piracy, threatening to sue hundreds of individual computer users who illegally share music files online.

The Recording Industry Association of America, citing substantial sales declines, said it will begin Thursday to search Internet file-sharing networks to identify users who offer ''substantial'' collections of MP3 music files for downloading. It expects to file at least several hundred lawsuits seeking financial damages within eight to 10 weeks.

MORE



• Vote: Will the lawsuits curb piracy?1

• Read the recording industry's statement2




Executives for the RIAA, the Washington-based lobbying group that represents major labels, would not say how many songs on a user's computer will qualify for a lawsuit. The new campaign comes just weeks after U.S. appeals court rulings requiring Internet providers to identify subscribers suspected of illegally sharing music and movie files.

The RIAA's president, Carey Sherman, said tens of millions of Internet users of popular file-sharing software after Thursday will expose themselves to ''the real risk of having to face the music.''

Critics accused the RIAA of resorting to heavy-handed tactics likely to alienate millions of Internet file-sharers.

''This latest effort really indicates the recording industry has lost touch with reality completely,'' said Fred von Lohmann, a lawyer for the Electronic Frontier Foundation. ''Does anyone think more lawsuits are going to be the answer? Today they have declared war on the American consumer.''

Mike Godwin of Public Knowledge, a consumer group that has challenged broad crackdowns on file-sharing networks, said Wednesday's announcement was appropriate because it targeted users illegally sharing copyrighted files.

''I'm sure it's going to freak them out,'' Mr. Godwin said. ''The free ride is over.'' He added: ''I wouldn't be surprised if at least some people engaged in file-trading decide to resist and try to find ways to thwart the litigation strategy.''

The RIAA said its lawyers will file lawsuits initially against people with the largest collections of music files they can find online. U.S. copyright laws allow for damages of $750 to $150,000 for each song offered illegally on a person's computer, but Mr. Sherman said the RIAA will be open to settlement proposals from defendants.

The RIAA said it expected to file ''at least several hundred lawsuits'' within eight to 10 weeks but will continue to file lawsuits afterward on a regular basis.

Copyright (c) 2003 Associated Press

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Hyperlinks in this Article:
(1) http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB105656559944720700,00.html
(3) http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB105518481265463900,00.html
(4) http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB105484746287516300,00.html
(5) http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB105165558132968000,00.html

Updated June 25, 2003 4:37 p.m.