532 more file sharing suits filed by RIAA

January 21, 2004

Cary Sherman and
the RIAA are at it again. Undaunted by the recent ruling that stripped them
of the right to subpoena ISP Verizon for customer identities, the Music
lawyers filed the newest cases against "John Doe" defendants. Identified
only by their numeric Internet protocol addresses they expect to work through
the courts to learn the names and where the scofflaws live. What is rather
interesting is the area of the US where the suits are being filed, happens to be
Verizon's stomping grounds.

The recording association said each person
was illegally distributing an average of more than 800 songs online. Each
defendant faces potential civil penalties or settlements that could cost
them thousands of dollars.

The resumed legal campaign was intended to
discourage music fans emboldened by last month's federal appeals court
decision, which dramatically increased the cost and effort to track
computer users swapping songs online and sue them.

"Our campaign against illegal file sharers is
not missing a beat," said Cary Sherman, president of the recording
association. "The message to illegal file sharers should be as clear as
ever."

All 532 lawsuits were filed in Washington and
New York - home to Verizon Internet Services Inc. and Time Warner Inc. and
a few other prominent Internet providers - although the recording
association said it expects to discover through traditional subpoenas that
these defendants live across the United
States.

Fortunately, those named in the suits will be
contacted by the RIAA legal staff. At that point, the accused will be given the
opprtunity to settle out of court by admitting their guilt. Earlier, when news
first hit that the subpoena process would have to be heard by a judge first,
Sherman stated that the settlement option would no longer be offered.

The question is, who will have the courage to fight
this litigation if they have been sharing files. If the case is lost what can
the defendant be liable for? It becomes clear as to why the defendants
targeted have shared at least 800 tracks. Who in the group can afford to
lose?

Source: MyWay