This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/technology/8177285.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
File-sharer 'violated copyright' | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A US student could face $4.5m (£2.8m) in fines following a federal court ruling that he violated copyright law for sharing music files online. | |
The jury must now decide on the amount of damages it will award to the four recording labels that are suing him. | |
Joel Tenenbaum admitted on the witness stand on Thursday that he had used file-sharing sites both to download and upload hundreds of songs. | |
It is only the second music-downloading suit to go to trial in the US. | |
Last month saw the end of the first such suit, in which single mother Jammie Thomas-Rassett of Minnesota was ordered to pay $1.92m for sharing 24 songs. | |
Mr Tenenbaum used a computer at his parents' home and at his college to download and distribute digital files. | |
Prosecutors working on behalf of the record labels have focused on 30 shared songs. | Prosecutors working on behalf of the record labels have focused on 30 shared songs. |
Under US law, the recording companies are entitled to $750 to $30,000 (£450-18,000) per infringement. | |
However, the jury can raise the amount to $150,000 (£91,000) per track if it finds the infringements were wilful - a matter that they will debate now that the judge has ruled Mr Tenenbaum violated copyright laws. | |
It was like this giant library in front of you Joel Tenenbaum | |
In the Minnesota case, the jury awarded $80,000 per song. | In the Minnesota case, the jury awarded $80,000 per song. |
On the stand, Mr Tenenbaum admitted that he had downloaded more than 800 songs since 1999 and that he had lied in pre-trial proceedings when he suggested that other family members of friends may have been responsible for downloading songs to his computer. | |
"I used the computer. I uploaded, I downloaded music," he told the court under questioning from his own lawyer, Charles Nesson. | |
He said he had used Napster and then Kazaa to download the files. | He said he had used Napster and then Kazaa to download the files. |
"It was like this giant library in front of you," he said. | "It was like this giant library in front of you," he said. |
In opening remarks on Tuesday Tenenbaum's lawyer said he "was a kid who did what kids do and loved technology and loved music". | In opening remarks on Tuesday Tenenbaum's lawyer said he "was a kid who did what kids do and loved technology and loved music". |
Recording companies had been slow to adapt to the internet, he added. | Recording companies had been slow to adapt to the internet, he added. |
But prosecutors argued that file-sharers take a significant toll on the revenues for artists and others involved in music | But prosecutors argued that file-sharers take a significant toll on the revenues for artists and others involved in music |
The recording industry has recently changed its tactics in file sharing cases, preferring to settle quickly for much smaller amounts. | The recording industry has recently changed its tactics in file sharing cases, preferring to settle quickly for much smaller amounts. |
However, cases such as those against Mr Tenenbaum, which were already filed, are proceeding to trial. | However, cases such as those against Mr Tenenbaum, which were already filed, are proceeding to trial. |
The four recording labels involved in the case are subsidiaries of Universal Music, Warner Music and Sony. | The four recording labels involved in the case are subsidiaries of Universal Music, Warner Music and Sony. |