New Wave Of Pre-Lawsuit Letters Targets Music Theft on 16 Campuses

WASHINGTON - November 15, 2007 - The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), on behalf of the major record companies, this week sent a new wave of 417 pre-litigation settlement letters to 16 universities nationwide as part of the ongoing campaign against online music theft. The letters reflect evidence of significant abuse of campus computer networks for the purpose of copyright infringement.

In the tenth wave of this initiative, the RIAA this week sent letters in the following quantities to 16 schools including: Boston University (40 pre-litigation settlement letters), Brown University (12), Central Michigan University (28), Columbia University (43), Dartmouth College (22), Duke University (27), North Carolina State University (38), Princeton University (10), University of Chicago (14), University of Connecticut (26), University of Maine System (34), University of Nebraska-Lincoln (14), University of Pennsylvania (16), University of Tennessee-Knoxville (32), University of Texas-Austin (50) and Yale University (11).

As before, the legal process gives students the opportunity to resolve copyright infringement claims (www.p2plawsuits.com) against them at a discounted rate before a formal lawsuit is filed. Each pre-litigation settlement letter informs the school of a forthcoming copyright infringement suit against one of its students or personnel. The letter requests that university administrators forward the letter to the appropriate network user to allow the individuals the opportunity to promptly resolve the matter and avoid a lawsuit.

The RIAA and the MPAA have jointly developed “best practices” information, based on the tools and practices initiated by schools experiencing fewer incidences of piracy on their networks. Specifically, universities that have seen the most positive results have instituted specific reforms that educate students on campus network use and enforcement policies, offer affordable legal alternatives that give students access to their favorite music, and, most importantly, implement appropriate technological tools that protect the integrity of their networks.


“Today's music marketplace is a rapidly expanding landscape with legitimate new digital services and models emerging on almost a daily basis,” said Jonathan Lamy, Senior Vice President, Communications, RIAA. “That's great news for the music community and fans, who have access to affordable and convenient new ways to get their favorite music."

"No legitimate offering, no matter how compelling, can reach its full potential when competing with free in an environment where people feel comfortable stealing music with impunity. Bringing legal actions against individual file traffickers, especially students, is our last preference but it's a necessary one given the continuing prevalence of music theft on college campuses. This theft triggers a harmful domino effect throughout the music community – thousands of regular, working class musicians and others out of work, record stores shuttered, new bands never signed. When faced with this reality, we have no choice but to hold those individuals responsible for ignoring the law and all the great new legal ways to get affordable, high-quality music.”

A survey by Student Monitor from last year found that more than half of college students download music and movies illegally. According to market research firm NPD, college students alone accounted for more than1.3 billion illegal music downloads in 2006. According to non-profit research group Institute for Policy Innovation, global theft of sound recordings cost the U.S. economy $12.5 billion in lost revenue and more than 71,000 jobs and $2 billion in wages to U.S. workers.

Through collaborations with prominent education groups such as Close Up Foundation, Young Minds Inspired and i-SAFE, the RIAA continues to actively educate students of all ages on the risks of illegal file-sharing websites and the importance of responsible online behavior.

The pre-litigation letters are in addition to the lawsuits that the RIAA continues to file on a rolling basis against those engaging in music theft via commercial Internet accounts.

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The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is the trade organization that supports and promotes the creative and financial vitality of the major music companies. Its members are the music labels that comprise the most vibrant record industry in the world. RIAAŽ members create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 85% of all legitimate recorded music produced and sold in the United States.

In support of this mission, the RIAA works to protect the intellectual property and First Amendment rights of artists and music labels; conduct consumer, industry and technical research; and monitor and review state and federal laws, regulations and policies. The RIAAŽ also certifies GoldŽ, PlatinumŽ, Multi- Platinum™ and Diamond sales awards as well as Los Premios De Oro y Platino™, an award celebrating Latin music sales.