What does Fridays decision mean for me, if Im worried about getting sued by the recording industry for using a peer-to-peer network?
Friday’s decision does not affect whether it’s legal to upload or download music. That doesn’t change. But it does make it more difficult for the record labels to unmask people suspected of running afoul of copyright laws.I’ve heard of the possibility of “John Doe” lawsuits. What are those? Until now, the RIAA has used an expedited subpoena process provided for under copyright law, which it says allows it to force ISPs to hand over customer names without a judge’s approval or even a lawsuit. If Friday’s decision stands, the record industry will likely be compelled to take the more time-consuming and costly step of filing “John Doe” lawsuits against people whose identities are not yet known. The person would eventually be unmasked during court proceedings.This option has a possible downside for the RIAA, however. Currently, the trade association knows the identity of the people it names as defendants. By switching to a process in which anonymous people are sued, the RIAA runs the risk o
