The Recording Industry Association of America has filed new lawsuits against 761 people who allegedly use peer-to-peer software to trade music files without permission, the trade group announced this week. The lawsuits included users of the eDonkey, Limewire, and Kazaa services, as well as 25 people using university Internet connections to distribute music files. American University in Washington, D.C., Boston College, Iowa State University, and the University of Massachusetts were among the college networks used by those sued.
Making Deals
The RIAA believes that partnerships between universities and pay-for-music download services have in part come about because of the trade group"s legal strategy, RIAA president Cary Sherman says in a statement. At least 20 U.S. universities signed agreements with pay-for-music services as of August, and more signed agreements since then, according to the RIAA.