[Rumori] mutual aid

[celebrity santa]

'we are sending a clear message that . . . sharing . . . is illegal . . .
it undermines the creative future . . . itself'
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RIAA sues 531 more Internet users over music downloads 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The recording industry sued 531 more computer users
Tuesday it said were illegally distributing songs over the Internet in
what has become a routine reminder reminder that college students,
teenagers and others can face expensive lawsuits for swapping music
online. 
The Recording Industry Association of America filed the latest complaints
against "John Doe" defendants in lawsuits in Atlanta; Philadelphia;
Orlando; and Trenton, N.J. It said the defendants were customers of one
of five Internet providers based in those cities. 
Philadelphia is the headquarters for Comcast Cable Communications Inc.,
the nation's largest cable company. Atlanta is headquarters for Earthlink
Inc., another of the nation's biggest Internet providers. 
Music industry lawyers identified the defendants only by their numeric
Internet protocol addresses and expected to work through the courts to
learn their names and where they live. 
The RIAA's president, Cary Sherman, said illegal downloads continue
hurting new, legitimate Internet services for selling music. "We are
sending a clear message that downloading or 'sharing' music from a
peer-to-peer network without authorization is illegal, it can have
consequences and it undermines the creative future of music itself,"
Sherman said in a statement. 
Last month, the recording group filed lawsuits against 532 computers
users who were customers of Internet providers based in Washington and
New York. The latest actions represent the largest number of complaints
filed at one time since the trade group launched its legal campaign last
summer to cripple Internet music piracy. 
The recording group has said previously that after its lawyers discover
the identity of each defendant, they will contact each person to
negotiate a financial settlement before amending the lawsuit to formally
name the defendant and, if necessary, transfer the case to the proper
courthouse. Settlements in previous cases have averaged $3,000 each.