The Recording Industry of America sent 411 notices to students at 19 universities that the students had violated copyright laws by illegally downloading and distributing con’t music over the Internet. These letters, known as “pre-suit” letters, are sent to the universities to distribute to the named students. The letters detail which files have been shared and provides contact information on paying an out-of-court settlement. Most cases have been settled by paying the companies a few thousand dollars. Record companies have filed 26,000 lawsuits since 2003 over file sharing. Most have settled. Earlier this month a Minnesota jury found a woman guilty of filesharing and ordered her to pay $222,000 in damages.
