The RIAA is abandoning its strategy of suing individual file-sharers, in favour of working with ISPs to reduce online music piracy.The shift was reported in the Wall Street Journal, which says the RIAA opened legal proceedings against around 35,000 people since 2003, but has finally twigged that rather than reduce piracy, the strategy has simply led to a succession of public relations embarrassments.So what now? A policy similar to that being practised here in Europe, interestingly. According to the WSJ, “The trade group said it has hashed out preliminary agreements with major ISPs under which it will send an email to the provider when it finds a provider’s customers making music available online for others to take.”It continues: “Depending on the agreement, the ISP will either forward the note to customers, or alert customers that they appear to be uploading music illegally, and ask them to stop. If the customers continue the file-sharing, they will get one or two more emails, perhaps accompanied by slower service from the provider. Finally, the ISP may cut off their access altogether.”There’s no news on which ISPs the RIAA is working with. And it doesn’t mean a complete end to lawsuits against individuals – the RIAA may still sue the heaviest file-sharers, or those who continue to share music after repeated warnings.
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