xbiz world
xbiz premiere

Music Industry Files More Lawsuits

LOS ANGELES – The Recording Industry Association of America continued its prolonged rollout of lawsuits against Internet file-sharers Tuesday, this time tallying up 482 lawsuits against computer users suspected of copyright infringement.

The official trade group for the recording industry started pursuing file-sharers legally in September of 2003 after announcing its plans to do so in June of that same year.

According to a statement issued by the RIAA, lawsuits were filed against 213 "John Doe" defendants in St. Louis, 206 in Washington, D.C., 55 in Denver and six in New Jersey.

The RIAA has openly admitted that part of its legal assault against specific file-sharers, which it says are some of the more egregious offenders of copyright law, has a resounding effect on all other file-sharers. However, statistically, it is not known whether the RIAA's scare tactics against the peer-to-peer world have actually lessened the amount of file trading on sites like Kazaa, Morpheus, and others.

In accordance with a court order, the RIAA was only able to file lawsuits against alleged infringers based on their Internet Protocol addresses. The trade association and its lawyers can later find out the offline identities of the users during the court discovery process.

Tuesday's lawsuits bring the total of people being sued by the RIAA to 3,429. Several hundred of those cases have been settled out of court, and to date, none have gone to trial.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Federal Appeals Court Vacates FTC 'Click to Cancel' Rule Pending Review

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit on Tuesday vacated the Federal Trade Commission’s “click-to-cancel” rule aimed at making it easier for consumers to cancel online subscriptions, pending further review.

NYC Adult Stores Lose Challenge to Zoning Law, May Face Relocation

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit on Tuesday upheld a lower court’s decision to allow enforcement of a 2001 zoning law aimed at forcing adult retail stores out of most parts of New York City.

FSC Drops Florida AV Lawsuit in Wake of SCOTUS Decision

A U.S. district court judge granted on Tuesday a motion by Free Speech Coalition to dismiss the trade association’s lawsuit over Florida’s age verification law, a case that had been on hold pending the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the constitutionality of state AV laws.

Ukrainian President Responds to Porn Legalization Petition

President Volodymyr Zelensky responded Tuesday to an OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine, stating that he would wait for the legislative process to play out “in accordance with established procedure.”

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult Industry, Override Possible

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

Show More