£108,000 Fine For Mom Sharing Music Online. Ouch! October 6, 2007
Read more Digital Audio , Gizmodo UK , Music , Online , Technology
Anyone worried that sharing music online [illegally] may want to check the state of their bank account first. A woman in the US just got fined $220,000 (£108,000) after being found guilty of sharing 24 songs online via Kazaa.
Jammie Thomas, a 30-year old single mom, got well and truly stiffed by the judge and jury in Minnesota after the Recording Industry of America (RIAA) and six major music labels took her to court when she refused to ‘settle’.
She’s the first of 26,000 others being sued by the record establishment’s watchdog, after they refused to settle. Just as well it was only 24 songs they pulled her for since she had more than 1,700 in her online folder.
Still, £107,000 seems just a bit OTT - £4,500 per song - and it's highly unlikely that the RIAA will ever get that much out of her. -Martin Lynch
[AFP]
Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
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Comments
whats a mom? thought this was gizmodo uk?
Some countries will cut your fingers off for stealing.. or stone you to death for having an affair. This fine sounds aweful but it could be worse in the great scheme of things. Thats probably not much comfort for Jammie mind you..
except that she didn't actually steal anything. The only thing she is guilty of is copyright infringement.