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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Jury penalises music file-sharer | Jury penalises music file-sharer |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A court in the US has ordered a woman to pay $222,000 (£109,000) in damages for illegally file-sharing music. | A court in the US has ordered a woman to pay $222,000 (£109,000) in damages for illegally file-sharing music. |
| The jury ordered Jammie Thomas, 32, from Minnesota, to pay for offering to share 24 specific songs online - a cost of $9,250 per song. | The jury ordered Jammie Thomas, 32, from Minnesota, to pay for offering to share 24 specific songs online - a cost of $9,250 per song. |
| Record companies said she had illegally shared a total of 1,702 songs. | Record companies said she had illegally shared a total of 1,702 songs. |
| Ms Thomas, who denied the charges, was the first person accused of illegal file-sharing who decided to fight the case in court. | Ms Thomas, who denied the charges, was the first person accused of illegal file-sharing who decided to fight the case in court. |
| Each year, millions of households illegally share music files, and the music industry takes it as a serious threat to its revenue. | Each year, millions of households illegally share music files, and the music industry takes it as a serious threat to its revenue. |
| About 26,000 lawsuits have been filed against alleged file-sharers, but most defendants settle privately by paying damages amounting to a few thousand dollars. | About 26,000 lawsuits have been filed against alleged file-sharers, but most defendants settle privately by paying damages amounting to a few thousand dollars. |
| Industry defiant | Industry defiant |
| However, contesting the charge and losing will cost Jammie Thomas almost a quarter of a million dollars. | However, contesting the charge and losing will cost Jammie Thomas almost a quarter of a million dollars. |
| Thomas denied using Kazaa to share copyrighted material | Thomas denied using Kazaa to share copyrighted material |
| Her lawyer, Brian Toder, told the Associated Press that Ms Thomas was reduced to tears by the verdict. | Her lawyer, Brian Toder, told the Associated Press that Ms Thomas was reduced to tears by the verdict. |
| "This is a girl that lives from pay cheque to pay cheque, and now all of a sudden she could get a quarter of her pay cheque garnished for the rest of her life," he said. | "This is a girl that lives from pay cheque to pay cheque, and now all of a sudden she could get a quarter of her pay cheque garnished for the rest of her life," he said. |
| The US record industry said investigators located an individual with the screen name "tereastarr@KaZaA",using the Kazaa file-sharing software program. | |
| "This individual was downloading copyrighted soundsrecordings from other users of the Kazaa network, and wasdistributing copyrighted sound recordings stored on her computerto other Kazaa users," the plaintiffs said. | |
| A spokesman for the record companies said he hoped people would understand the verdict. | |
| Richard Gabriel, a lawyer for the music companies, said the verdict was important. | Richard Gabriel, a lawyer for the music companies, said the verdict was important. |
| "This does send a message, I hope, that downloading and distributing our recordings is not okay," he told AP. | "This does send a message, I hope, that downloading and distributing our recordings is not okay," he told AP. |
| Our message is: we don't want to litigate - don't leave yourself exposed to litigation John Kennedy, chief executive of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industries | Our message is: we don't want to litigate - don't leave yourself exposed to litigation John Kennedy, chief executive of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industries |
| He said no decision had yet been made about what the record companies would do, if anything, to pursue collecting the money from Ms Thomas. | He said no decision had yet been made about what the record companies would do, if anything, to pursue collecting the money from Ms Thomas. |
| John Kennedy, chief executive of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industries, which represents record labels, said they were "reluctant litigators". | John Kennedy, chief executive of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industries, which represents record labels, said they were "reluctant litigators". |
| "We do everything possible to persuade people not to leave themselves exposed to litigation. We educate, we warn, we even try and settle before a case gets to court." | "We do everything possible to persuade people not to leave themselves exposed to litigation. We educate, we warn, we even try and settle before a case gets to court." |
| He said he hoped the fine would prove a deterrent to others. | He said he hoped the fine would prove a deterrent to others. |
| "Our message is: we don't want to litigate - don't leave yourself exposed to litigation," he added. | "Our message is: we don't want to litigate - don't leave yourself exposed to litigation," he added. |
| Do you think that Jammie Thomas should have received such a large fine? Are record companies right to pursue such cases? Send us your comments. | Do you think that Jammie Thomas should have received such a large fine? Are record companies right to pursue such cases? Send us your comments. |
| Click here to send us your comments | Click here to send us your comments |