$1.5 million punishment forillegal downloading

Mon 8th Nov, 2010 in International News

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has won its case against Jammie Thomas-Rasset who they sued for downloading 24 songs using KaZaA on February 21, 2005.

After several trials and appeals, including a guilty verdict in 2007 which was dismissed when the presiding judge decided that the $A219,309.18 in damages the jury awarded to the record labels was “wholly disproportionate” and “oppressive”, she has been found guilty of copyright infringement and ordered to pay $US62,500 for each of the 24 songs, a total of $US1.5 million dollars.

The RIAA has issued a statement the noting that they are ” thankful to the jury for its service in this matter and that they recognised the severity of the defendant’s misconduct… Now with three jury decisions behind us along with a clear affirmation of Ms Thomas-Rasset’s willful liability, it is our hope that she finally accepts responsibility for her actions”.

The 24 songs Thomas-Rasset downloaded were:
Aerosmith – Cryin’
Bryan Adams – Somebody
Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar on Me
Destiny’s Child – Bills, Bills, Bills
Gloria Estefan – Here We Are; Coming Out of the Dark; Rhythm Is Gonna Get You
Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
Green Day – Basket Case
Guns N’ Roses – Welcome to the Jungle; November Rain
Janet Jackson – Let’s Wait Awhile
Journey – Faithfully; Don’t Stop Believin’
Linkin Park – One Step Closer
No Doubt – Bathwater; Hella Good; Different People
Reba McEntire – One Honest Heart
Richard Marx – Now and Forever
Sarah McLachlan – Possession; Building a Mystery
Sheryl Crow – Run Baby Run
Vanessa Williams – Save the Best for Last