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In a victory for the record industry, an American internet provider has handed over the names of four customers accused of illegally copying music over the net.
The Verizon internet service provider (ISP) was ordered to surrender the names to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) by a court of Appeal in Washington.
On Wednesday the court rejected Verizon's request for a delay, pending a final decision in the case.
The ruling removes, at least for now, the anonymity of millions of people in the US who routinely download copyrighted music and films over the internet.
Verizon and the record industry have been involved in a protracted legal battle over the privacy of the ISP's subscribers.
Since last year, the RIAA has been trying to get Verizon to reveal the identity of customers who use peer-to-peer networks such as Kazaa.
The record industry body argued that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act allowed them to subpoena information about suspected pirates without first seeking a judge's blessing.
The RIAA has said it intends to sent out a significant number of subpeonas.
News source: BBC News
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