RIAA files another 482 lawsuits

Trade body welcomes new copyright infringement legislation as it issues more subpoenas

Dinah Greek, vnunet.com 23 Jun 2004

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is continuing its legal battle against individual music swappers in the US, filing a further 482 lawsuits.

This latest round of litigation brings the total number of subpoenas issued by the trade body since its first lawsuits last September to 3,429.

No case has yet come to court, although 600 people have made settlements out of court of around $3,000 each, according to the RIAA.

"Illegal downloading continues to cause enormous harm to the entire music community," said Steven Marks, general counsel of the RIAA, in a statement.

"We must stay on the path of education, enforcement, and offering great legal services."

Separately the RIAA has welcomed the introduction of legislation that could enable it to pursue not only individuals who infringe copyright but those who are deemed to 'induce' illegal infringement.

Mitch Bainwol, RIAA chairman and chief executive, said in a statement that the Inducing Infringements of Copyright Act "places the spotlight squarely on the bad actors who have hijacked a promising technology for illicit means and ignoble profits".

And he added: "Legitimate uses of peer to peer are upheld, while those who intentionally lure consumers into breaking the law are held to account. Under this legislation, the path to legitimacy remains clear: respect the law and block the exchange of works the copyright owner has not authorised."

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