ContentBreakdown previously discussed the possibiliy that the Recording Industry Association of America would start filing “Jane Doe” lawsuits against potential file traders based on their IP addresses alone. After the courts declared the RIAA’s subpoena tactics to be illegal, the organization responded by saying they would therefore no longer attempt to contact individuals prior to fililng lawsuits. Because Internet Service Providers are refusing to cooperate with the RIAA and are unwilling now to either hand over the names or contact suspected individuals on the RIAA’s behalf, the RIAA has resorted to suing the suspects blindly. As is being widely reported, the RIAA has filed three lawsuits in New York, and one lawsuit in Washington, D.C., implicating up to 532 people based solely on computer IP addresses.
Having already gained much bad publicity for past false accusations, including one threat against a 66 year-old grandmother blamed for downloading hardcore rap, the blind lawsuits are even more likely to misfire and implicate an innocent user. This time, however, their first chance to defend themselves will be in front of a judge — with the expense, and humiliation, of the court appearance falling on the shoulders of the individual. The list of IP addresses has already been posted online.