Music Firms Must Sue to Gain IDs, Court Rules
Music-industry investigators must file a lawsuit to uncover the identities of people who may be copying their songs online, a U.S. appeals court ruled, in a decision that echoes earlier rulings on the subject.
Internet service providers don’t have to turn over customers’ names whenever they receive a request from the Recording Industry Assn. of America, the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals said.
Instead, the RIAA must file an anonymous, “John Doe” lawsuit to get the names of suspected song swappers.
An RIAA spokesman said the decision would not deter the trade group’s legal campaign against copyright violators.
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