RIAA takes on students

By: CLAIRE MILLER

Posted: 6/21/07

The Recording Industry Association of America filed lawsuits against 15 University students for illegally downloading music, according to a June 15 news release.

These lawsuits are a small fraction of the 400 total suits filed against college and university students across the country since Feb. 28, according to an industry official who asked to remain nameless.

The RIAA sent letters to universities and asked the schools to forward the letters to students violating copyright laws. The letters give the students the option of settling the suit at a lower rate without making the suit public, the official said.

If students don't choose this option or don't respond to the letters, the industry will continue with formal legal action, the official said.

In the University's case, the RIAA sent settlement letters to the Security and Abuse Department of Enterprise Information Technology Systems, who then sent copies of the letters to Student Technology Support, said Evan Demere, who works for Student Technology Support.

"It's our job to inform the students of the violation," Demere said.

Student Technology Support forwarded the letters to the students, unlike some universities, such as North Carolina State University and the University of Maine, who refused to pass the letters on.

"The University of Georgia is going to comply with any legal requirements handed down to us," said John Gorzynski, the assistant manager of Student Technology Systems.