Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Honey? The bill just came for your daughter's music downloads


Talk about "pay to play"

Wow!


Woman seeks to decrease $1.92 M fine for downloads

MINNEAPOLIS – Attorneys for a central Minnesota woman ordered to pay $1.92 million for illegally sharing copyright-protected music are asking a federal judge to reduce the damages she must pay, or grant a new trial.

Last month, a federal jury ruled 32-year-old Jammie Thomas-Rasset willfully violated the copyrights on 24 songs, and that she must pay the recording industry $80,000 per song.

Her attorneys said Monday this amount is "grossly excessive." They are asking a judge to reduce the damages to a total of $18,000, or to grant a new trial altogether, saying some evidence shouldn't have been allowed at trial.

This was Thomas-Rasset's second trial in the case. In 2007, a different jury ruled she had to pay $222,000.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Attorneys for a central Minnesota woman ordered to pay $1.92 million for illegally sharing copyright-protected music are asking a federal judge to reduce the damages she must pay, or grant a new trial.

Last month, a federal jury ruled 32-year-old Jammie Thomas-Rasset willfully violated the copyrights on 24 songs, and that she must pay the recording industry $80,000 per song.

Her attorneys say Monday that this amount is "grossly excessive." They are asking a judge to reduce the damages to a total of $18,000, or to grant a new trial altogether, saying some evidence shouldn't have been allowed at trial.

This was Thomas-Rasset's second trial in the case. In 2007, a different jury ruled she had to pay $222,000. The Recording Industry Association of America says it is still willing to settle the case.