RIAA Will End Filesharing Lawsuits

By Evan Mix

Published on December 26, 2008

Since 2003, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed more than 35,000 lawsuits against individuals who allegedly stole music online. But this week the industry announced a decision to stop pursuing lawsuits against filesharing violators. The RIAA will wind down currently pending litigation and attempt to develop a more effective means of controlling online piracy.

In attempting to catch as many offenders as possible, the RIAA filed suit against single mothers, minors, and one person who was deceased at the time of the alleged offense. This aggressive litigation strategy has come under fire from critics for years, who see it as largely ineffective, a waste of industry resources, and a public relations fiasco. Civil rights organizations have criticized the strategy for infringing on the privacy rights of Internet users, as the RIAA has tried to force Internet service providers to reveal the identities of their customers.

The industry's new approach may take the form of a 3-strikes policy, in which Internet service providers would be required to eventually suspend service to customers who download illegally. Several providers have reached tentative agreements with the RIAA along these lines. The organization will reserve the right to litigate against particularly egregious offenders in the future.

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