Some Defendants Stunned After RIAA Files Lawsuits
Lawsuits Target Individual Music Lovers
UPDATED: 6:13 p.m. EDT September 8, 2003
The recording industry filed hundreds of lawsuits Monday against individual music lovers whom music companies accuse of illegally downloading and sharing songs over the Internet. Some defendants were surprised to be named.
The lawsuits, filed in federal courts around the country, had been expected, as the industry has become increasingly aggressive in cracking down on the trading of pirated music files online. The source spoke on condition of anonymity.
The source said more than 261 lawsuits are being filed by the Recording Industry Association of America on behalf of its members, which include Universal Music Group, BMG, Atlantic, EMI, Sony Music and Warner Music.
Denver television station KMGH talked to Janet Bebell, one of 20 Coloradans named in lawsuits. She was stunned to learn that she was being sued for downloading songs on the Internet.
"This is a big deal. I thought they were going after high-volume users. I didn't think (me and my son) would qualify," Bebell said.
RIAA spokesman Cary Sherman said education efforts alone haven't made enough of a difference in stopping the tide of file swapping, which has ballooned to 3 billion illegal song downloads per month.
Previous Stories:
- September 5, 2003: Record Labels Plan Amnesty For Downloaders
- August 19, 2003: RIAA Says It's Not After Small-Time Downloaders
- August 15, 2003: Senate To Hold Music Download Hearings
- July 15, 2003: RIAA Threats Scare 15 Percent Away
Copyright 2003 by clickorlando.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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