For Immediate Release: Friday, September 5, 2003

Recording Industry Plans "Amnesty" for Music Sharers

Electronic Frontier Foundation Says Share, Get Artists Paid

Electronic Frontier Foundation Media Advisory

San Francisco - Numerous news sources, including Billboard and Associated Press, have reported since yesterday that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) will announce an "amnesty" program for people who are sharing music files online perhaps as early as next week.

"Rather than demanding that 60 million people sharing music files turn themselves in with a so-called \'amnesty\' program, the recording industry should take this opportunity to make file-sharing legal in exchange for a reasonable fee," said Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Staff Attorney Wendy Seltzer. "Stepping into the spotlight to admit your guilt is probably not a sensible course for most people sharing music files online, especially since the RIAA doesn\'t control many potential sources of lawsuits."

EFF will continue to monitor developments and will post information on its website regarding the RIAA "amnesty" program as details become available.

Links:

• Why the RIAA\'s "Amnesty" Offer is a Sham
• EFF Let the Music Play Campaign
• How Not to Get Sued by the RIAA

Contact:

Wendy Seltzer
  Staff Attorney
  Electronic Frontier Foundation
  wendy@eff.org

Jason Schultz
  Staff Attorney
  Electronic Frontier Foundation
  jason@eff.org

About EFF:

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/