More File Sharing Lawsuits from RIAA

Here’s the latest scoop, via Edupage, an electronic publication of Educause:

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed another 477 lawsuits against individuals charged with violating copyright. The RIAA has filed lawsuits every month of 2004 against file traders it says are guilty of digital piracy, and the latest round of lawsuits is the second to identify colleges and universities where the piracy is alleged to have taken place. Of those named in the current round of lawsuits, 69 illegally traded copyrighted material over campus networks, according to the RIAA. Fourteen institutions were identified in the lawsuits, including Michigan State University. Peter K. Wu, director of the program in intellectual property and communications law at Michigan State University, said he sees the lawsuits as a temporary measure to limit copyright violations. “The companies have been able to intimidate some file-sharers,” he said, “but among some of the more egregious offenders, there’s actually been a backlash.”
Chronicle of Higher Education, 29 April 2004

This brings the total to nearly 2,500 people sued in the past eight months, according to CNET. Well, at least the lawyers have something to do now.