RIAA to stop suing individual file sharers

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) plans to transition from suing individual file sharers and will instead focus on having Internet access cut for repeat offenders.

This is a drastic change from the way the RIAA attempted to previously stifle P2P file sharing, with thousands of John Doe lawsuits filed against alleged file sharers.  The extremely unpopular campaign targeted anyone from teenagers all the way to elderly people — with dead people and citizens who don’t own a PC also targeted.

The RIAA reportedly has deals arranged with several major ISPs in which the trade group will inform the ISP of a repeat offender via letter.  If the same user continues to share files, it’s possible the ISP may throttle their Internet connection before entirely cutting off access for a set duration.

The new campaign will allow the RIAA to reach more people accused of file sharing, while each lawsuit only deterred one person from file sharing.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation believes it’s extremely troubling that our ISPs will suddenly jump into bed with the RIAA. 

"This is very troubling," EFF legal director Cindy Cohn told CNET.  "Creating lists of people who can’t get Internet access based on allegations of breaking a law that hasn’t been evaluated in a court of law. It’s good that that the (RIAA) wants to stop suing individuals but they should haven’t done it in the first place. I’d be especially concerned if the music labels can get you kicked off one ISP and then arrange to get you kicked off others, or the creation of blacklists. That’s certainly what our fears have been about private legal enforcement regimen."

It remains unknown how much (or what) kind of evidence must be provided to the ISPs by the RIAA before they take action.

CNET has posted a copy of the letter ISPs will receive when a customer is accused of copyright infringement.