News from the Wall Street Journal
via the indie-pop list
Music Industry to Abandon Mass Suits
By SARAH MCBRIDE and ETHAN SMITH
Wall Street JournalAfter years of suing thousands of people for allegedly stealing music via the
Internet, the recording industry is set to drop its legal assault as it
searches for more effective ways to combat online music piracy.The decision represents an abrupt shift of strategy for the industry, which has
opened legal proceedings against about 35,000 people since 2003. Critics say
the legal offensive ultimately did little to stem the tide of illegally
downloaded music. And it created a public-relations disaster for the industry,
whose lawsuits targeted, among others, several single mothers, a dead person
and a 13-year-old girl.Instead, the Recording Industry Association of America said it plans to try an
approach that relies on the cooperation of Internet-service providers.—————————————–
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