RIAA Steps Up Efforts Against Illegal File Sharers, eDonkey Users Among Those Sued

New Research Shows Growth In Awareness Of The Law and Legal Options During Past Year

WASHINGTON - August 25, 2004 - The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), on behalf of its member companies, today expanded its legal efforts against illegal file sharers, bringing new copyright infringement lawsuits against 744 individuals on a variety of peer-to-peer platforms, including eDonkey, Limewire, Grokster and Kazaa, among others.

The RIAA’s stepped up efforts reflect a determination to pursue copyright infringement online wherever it may arise. “John Doe” lawsuits were filed in Atlanta, St. Louis, Oakland, Cal., New York, Austin, Tex., Covington, Ky., Denver, Trenton, N.J., and Madison, Wisc. An additional 152 lawsuits were filed against “named” defendants -- individuals who were identified through the litigation process and then declined or ignored an RIAA overture to settle the case before it proceeded any further.

“Just as enforcement strategies for street piracy adapt with changing circumstances, the same goes for combating piracy online,” said the RIAA’s President, Cary Sherman. “We are adjusting and expanding our efforts to target illegal file sharing on additional platforms like eDonkey and others. There will always be a degree of piracy, both on the street and online. But without a strong measure of deterrence, piracy will overwhelm and choke the creation and distribution of music.”

According to new data from the RIAA, there has been an extraordinary leap in awareness about the law and the availability of legal online alternatives during the past year. A July survey by Peter D. Hart Research Associates finds that the percentage of those polled know it is illegal “make music from the computer available for others to download for free over the Internet” is 64 (illegal)-13 (legal).

The July Hart data also reveals that, by a margin of 60-17, those polled are “supportive and understanding” of the tactic of legal action against individual illegal file sharers; a 55-17 margin believe there are “good legal alternatives”; and only 31 percent think the activity should be “legal,” compared to 56 percent who say it should be “illegal.”

The “legal alternatives” continue to gain new traction and expand into new marketplaces. One of the more popular trends are partnerships between legal online music services and universities. Compared to the beginning of last year’s academic school year, when there were no such agreements, there are now at least twenty different schools that have forged a partnership with a legitimate music provider.

Describing the music community’s education and enforcement efforts during the past year, Sherman said “the difference in digital music today and last year is night and day.”

“Last year, illegal file sharing was soaring, outpacing even the surge of bandwidth penetration. Peer-to-peer services were viewed as ‘legitimate,’ risk-free and cool, by parents and policymakers alike. Americans did not know it was illegal to take copyrighted works off the Internet, nor did they know of the legal alternatives.”

“Today, we are in a very different world,” he added. “Traffic on one of the largest peer-to-peer file sharing systems is down, even with the exponential increase in bandwidth penetration. Awareness about the law, legal alternatives, and the security and privacy risks of file sharing systems, has skyrocketed. And policymakers, law enforcement officials and universities are doing their part by helping educate music fans and enforce the laws.”

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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. RIAA® 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 RIAA® also certifies Gold®, Platinum®, Multi- Platinum™ and Diamond sales awards as well as Los Premios De Oro y Platino™, an award celebrating Latin music sales.