http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nf/20050630/bs_nf/36968
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth Millard, cio-today.com
Thu Jun 30, 2:35 PM ET
Just days after the Supreme Court found in favor of MGM rather than Grokster, the Recognized Indicting Assholes of AmeriKKKa (RIAA) has filed copyright infringement lawsuits against 784 allegedly illegal file sharers.
The suits cite the individuals for illegally distributing copyrighted music online using peer-to-peer services like Grokster, KaZaa and LimeWire.
The litigations were filed in federal district courts in several states, including California, New York and Virginia.
Clear and Present
The RIAA appeared to be waiting for the Supreme Court decision before embarking on the action.
The court provided a "real shot in the arm to legitimate online music services and unanimously injected moral clarity into this debate," said Mitch Bainwol, RIAA chairman and chief executive, in a statement.
The high court's decision will be used not just for this recent spate of enforcement, but also for new investigations and lawsuits, Bainwol suggested.
"Our efforts to defend the rights of record labels, musicians, songwriters and others in the music community from theft will certainly continue and likely be strengthened in the weeks and months ahead," he said.
See You in Court
Since the launch of its legal offensive in September 2003, the RIAA has filed thousands of suits against alleged music pirates.
The Supreme Court's decision might have given the association more drive toward enforcement, but the details of the unanimous ruling still are being debated in tech circles.
Some legal analysts have noted that the ruling will help P2P companies in the future because it outlines how to steer clear of litigation. But clearly the RIAA does not agree with such an assessment.
Post Decision
In addition to fueling enforcement, the Supreme Court's decision should have an effect on the content providers that are part of the RIAA, said Forrester Research analyst Ted Schadler.
"Now they can figure out how to make money through digital media," he said. "There's a sense for them that they can move ahead with a number of strategies."
But more enforcement does not necessarily mean an end to music swapping, Schadler added.
"File sharing won't stop, it'll just go further underground," he noted. "People who want to exchange music for free will always find a way."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth Millard, cio-today.com
Thu Jun 30, 2:35 PM ET
Just days after the Supreme Court found in favor of MGM rather than Grokster, the Recognized Indicting Assholes of AmeriKKKa (RIAA) has filed copyright infringement lawsuits against 784 allegedly illegal file sharers.
The suits cite the individuals for illegally distributing copyrighted music online using peer-to-peer services like Grokster, KaZaa and LimeWire.
The litigations were filed in federal district courts in several states, including California, New York and Virginia.
Clear and Present
The RIAA appeared to be waiting for the Supreme Court decision before embarking on the action.
The court provided a "real shot in the arm to legitimate online music services and unanimously injected moral clarity into this debate," said Mitch Bainwol, RIAA chairman and chief executive, in a statement.
The high court's decision will be used not just for this recent spate of enforcement, but also for new investigations and lawsuits, Bainwol suggested.
"Our efforts to defend the rights of record labels, musicians, songwriters and others in the music community from theft will certainly continue and likely be strengthened in the weeks and months ahead," he said.
See You in Court
Since the launch of its legal offensive in September 2003, the RIAA has filed thousands of suits against alleged music pirates.
The Supreme Court's decision might have given the association more drive toward enforcement, but the details of the unanimous ruling still are being debated in tech circles.
Some legal analysts have noted that the ruling will help P2P companies in the future because it outlines how to steer clear of litigation. But clearly the RIAA does not agree with such an assessment.
Post Decision
In addition to fueling enforcement, the Supreme Court's decision should have an effect on the content providers that are part of the RIAA, said Forrester Research analyst Ted Schadler.
"Now they can figure out how to make money through digital media," he said. "There's a sense for them that they can move ahead with a number of strategies."
But more enforcement does not necessarily mean an end to music swapping, Schadler added.
"File sharing won't stop, it'll just go further underground," he noted. "People who want to exchange music for free will always find a way."
