Even though the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) previously said it would avoid suing individuals accused of sharing copyrighted music files, the organization has issued a new wave of lawsuits against file sharers.
The RIAA told Congress last August it stopped issuing lawsuits last August, RIAA attorneys launched new lawsuits in April, according to Ray Beckerman, Recording Industry vs. The People blog. Despite only three being filed in New York, it appears the music industry is trying to slip in a couple of extra lawsuits under the radar while it can, hoping the public doesn't find out.
To be fair, at least one lawsuit -- filed against an Omaha resident -- was originally filed as a John Doe lawsuit, and the identity of the alleged file sharer only recently became available to the RIAA. Once the group learned the person's identity, the new lawsuit was filed in March 2009.
"We're obviously pleased to transition to a new program going forward but that doesn't mean we can give a free pass to those who downloaded music illegally in the past," the RIAA told Ars Technica. "How fair would it be to the thousands of individuals who took responsibility for their actions and settled their case while others are let off the hook? We're still in the business of deterrence and it must be credible."
I find the RIAA's actions over the past few months rather hypocritical, and completely detrimental towards stopping file sharing. Not only is the RIAA still filing lawsuits against individual file sharers, the groups aims to put pressure on Internet Service Providers (ISPs), while possibly being able to shut down even more people accused of file sharing.
In fact, hearing RIAA representatives use the work "credible" towards the group's efforts to "deter" people from sharing music files is laughable. The RIAA needs to find ways to embrace digital technology, and has to educate people about legal music alternatives, and leave behind scare tactics and lawsuits.
