Universities Don’t Have to Identify Students

A federal magistrate has ruled that two North Carolina universities do not have to reveal the identities of two students accused of sharing copyrighted music on the Internet.

The Recording Industry Assn. of America filed subpoenas in November 2003 asking for help identifying two students who allegedly file-swapped songs using the universities’ computer systems.

Both schools initially were willing to cooperate but later joined attorneys for the students in opposing the request.

From Associated Press

* Music companies filed lawsuits against 725 more people as part of their ongoing fight against individuals who swap music over the Internet, bringing the total to about 10,000. The Recording Industry Assn. of America also filed an additional 200 suits against named defendants it previously sued as “John Does.”