Splicetoday

Digital
Jun 24, 2008, 12:58PM

RIAA Wins Over Court, Goes After Students

The defenders of legitimate music making have scored another victory for their antiquated and punitative economic model. After a lower-court judge originally denied an RIAA suit in Virginia, an appeal was granted by a replacement judge. Now students at several Virginia schools are facing a showdown with the corporate music industry.

U.S. District Judge F. Bradford Stillman this morning ruled that the College must turn over the names of 20 students suspected of downloading music illegally to the Recording Industry Association of America. The RIAA plans to sue the students for copyright infringement after they allegedly downloaded music on peer-to-peer music sharing programs such as Limewire.

Seven students have already settled independently. According to previous Flat Hat reports, settlements typically cost $3,000.

College officials have said they will comply with the subpoena request.

RIAA documents show that the association is also trying to sue students at Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia and the Virginia Military Institute.

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