Music Industry Targets 765 Internet Thieves In New Round Of Lawsuits

WASHINGTON - July 28, 2005 - Continuing its efforts to enforce its rights against the businesses and individuals engaged in the theft of music, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), on behalf of its member companies, today announced a new round of copyright infringement lawsuits against 765 illegal file sharers.

With legitimate file-sharing networks a nascent part of the online music distribution marketplace – their potential fueled in part by the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in MGM v. Grokster – RIAA executives said that redoubling efforts to level the playing field for all legal services is essential.

“Last month, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that businesses that encourage the theft of music can be held accountable for their actions,” said RIAA President Cary Sherman. “For businesses and individuals alike, the authority and credibility of the Court’s decision could not be more clear: downloading without permission is ‘garden variety theft.’ We will continue to send a strong message to the users of these illicit networks that their actions are illegal, they can be identified and the consequences are real.”

These “John Doe” lawsuits cite individuals for illegally distributing copyrighted music on the Internet via unauthorized peer-to-peer services such as Grokster, eDonkey, KaZaA, and LimeWire. The litigations were filed in federal district courts across the country, including in: California, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

In addition to the “John Doe” lawsuits filed today, music companies filed 176 named defendant lawsuits last week in federal district courts in Little Rock, Arkansas; Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Ana, California; Denver, Colorado; Wilmington, Delaware; Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Panama City, Pensacola, and West Palm Beach, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Honolulu, Hawaii; Des Moines, Iowa; Chicago, Illinois; Kansas City, Kansas; Paducah, Kentucky; Houma, Lafayette, Monroe, New Orleans, and Shreveport, Louisiana; Baltimore, Maryland; Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri; Aberdeen, Greenville, and Jackson, Mississippi; Asheville, Durham, Greensboro, Raleigh, and Statesville, North Carolina; Camden, Newark, and Trenton, New Jersey; Reno, Nevada; Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Utica, New York; Cincinnati, Ohio; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Eugene, Oregon; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Jackson, Memphis, Nashville, and Winchester, Tennessee; Beaumont, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Galveston, Houston, Laredo, Marshall, Midland, San Antonio, Sherman, and Waco, Texas; Bluefield, Charleston, and Clarksburg, West Virginia; and Tacoma, Washington. The names of these individuals, whose Internet Protocol (IP) addresses were previously identified in “John Doe” lawsuits, had been subpoenaed from their respective Internet Service Provider (ISP).

“In the coming weeks and months, we will significantly expand our anti-piracy efforts for those who have ignored the Court’s message,” Sherman added. “Enforcing our rights against the businesses and individuals engaged in music theft is a critical component of our overall effort to discourage illegal downloading and encourage music fans to turn to legal services. We know that our education and enforcement efforts have made a real impact. With broadband penetration skyrocketing, use of legitimate services continues to surge, while the wildfire-like growth of illicit services has been arrested.”

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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.