The US music industry has announced a fresh wave of legal actions against suspected illegal downloaders. According to piece on the BBC this morning, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has taken legal action against 757 people in the US accused of using file-sharing networks to illegally share music online. About 64 of those charged used college computer networks. The action brings the total number of online copyright infringement cases brought by the US music industry to 14,800.

The RIAA is a trade group that represents the US recording industry. Its mission is to foster a business and legal climate that supports and promotes our members' creative and financial vitality. Its members are the record companies that comprise the music industry. In support of this mission, the RIAA works to protect intellectual property rights worldwide and the First Amendment rights of artists; conduct consumer industry and technical research; and monitor and review - state and federal laws, regulations and policies.

Regards to the latest legal issue, the RIAA said about 64 of those charged were music fans who used college networks. By comparison, the British Phonographic Industry has sued 90 UK file-sharers to date. More than 60 alleged file-sharers have already settled out of court in the UK, paying up to £6,500 each in compensation. So far more than 14000 people in 12 countries have faced legal action for allegedly swapping music tracks online.

Legal music downloads are increasing in popularity, with more than 5.5 million tracks sold online in the UK in the second quarter of 2005 - a rise of 744 per cent on the previous year. You don't need to worry about getting sued by the Recording Industry Assocation of America or arrested by the FBI if you download legal music. Many independent and unsigned musicians offer downloads of their music in hopes of attracting more fans.

If everyone started downloading legal music instead of violating copyright with the file sharing programs, we would make short work of the RIAA, because people would start buying CDs directly from the artists and seeing their shows instead of enriching the major labels by buying CDs from the bands the labels have chosen for us to listen to. The RIAA would also have no cause to complain - these music downloads do not infringe copyright because the artists give you permission to download them.

BIOS, Oct 03, 05 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Audio