Illegal downloading of Music from the Internet : victory for the RIAA

A Minnesota mother has been found guilty of violating copyright laws for 24 songs. The record companies have been awarded $80,000 per song, which totals to $1.92 million. This case is an appeal from a 2007 case, which resulted in a $220,000 judgment.

This week's trial, in a Minnesota federal court, was short and sweet for the Recording Industry Association of America, which had brought the charges against Thomas-Rasset in the nation's sole music file-sharing case that has gone to trial.

The RIAA recently changed its tactics against what it maintains is the illegal downloading of music from the Internet. Now it's asking Internet service providers to send warnings to suspected illegal downloaders.

The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) was willing to settle for only $3,000 to $5,000 per song earlier in the case. They claim to still be willing to settle.

The case stems from an accusation of her offering 1,700 songs on Kazaa in 2005, before the company became a legal subscription service. The record companies chose to only pursue 24 infringements.

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