RIAA Stops Massive Piracy Lawsuits

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that the RIAA is shifting its strategy against people who illegally upload and download copyright protected music online. Instead of threatening individuals with lawsuits and demands of cash settlements, the RIAA will partner up with internet service providers to try and stop people from sharing copyrighted music. Instead of sending letters to ISPs demanding the identity of illegal file sharers and then sueing those customers, the RIAA will let the ISP know when one of it's customers is making copyrighted music available online. The ISP will then send the customer a communication asking them to cease making those files available. If they do not comply, the ISP may slow down, or even cut off internet service to the offender. The RIAA will still sue people who continue to upload and share large amounts of copyrighted material, but they are going to be much more selective about it than they have been for the past five years.