San Francisco - In response to the record industry's announcement today of five new lawsuits targeting 531 more music filesharers, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) renewed its efforts to make sure that the lawsuits adequately protect the rights of the unnamed alleged music filesharers.
EFF pointed out that the record industry failed to follow the basic rules required in all lawsuits when it lumped people into lawsuits filed in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Orlando, and Trenton, New Jersey. The cases include alleged filesharers located throughout the United States who acted independently, using various filesharing software and allegedly downloading a wide variety of different music. Also, the record industry has not ensured accused filesharers a means for reviewing and responding to potentially incorrect accusations before ISPs reveal their identities.
"The RIAA continues to cut corners in its crusade against filesharers and deny ordinary people the legal protections that are available in all other types of legal cases," said EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn. "The courts should require the record industry to sue people individually in the appropriate local courts and provide notice so those sued have a chance to refute accusations of filesharing before the record industry compels an ISP to reveal their identities."
Cindy Cohn
Legal Director
Electronic Frontier Foundation
cindy@eff.org
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading civil liberties organization working to protect rights in the digital world. Founded in 1990, EFF actively encourages and challenges industry and government to support free expression and privacy online. EFF is a member-supported organization and maintains one of the most linked-to websites in the world at http://www.eff.org/
