Music downloader ordered to pay $675K

This has got to suck.

A graduate student from Providence, R.I., who illegally downloaded and distributed 30 songs six years ago has been ordered to pay $675,000 in damages to four record labels.

For 30 songs he shared with friends. Ouch!

When Joel Tenenbaum faced trial for copyright infringement, he tried to settle the case for $5,000, but the offer was rejected and a Boston jury hit him with the hefty fine.

The 25-year-old Boston University graduate student is the second American to be taken to trial for illegally downloading music.

Tenenbaum reportedly has said he's grateful he wasn't ordered to pay millions of dollars but will have to file for bankruptcy if the verdict stands. He plans to appeal because he was not allowed to ague the case based on fair use.

During the trial, Tim Reynolds, a lawyer for the recording labels, called Tenenbaum "a hardcore, habitual, long-term infringer who knew what he was doing was wrong."

Tenenbaum (right)--who was described as "a hardcore, habitual, long-term infringer who knew what he was going was wrong" by a lawyer for the record labels--admitted he downloaded and shared songs by rock groups Green Day, Nirvana, and The Smashing Pumpkins, among others.

More than 30,000 people have settled similar cases for amounts ranging from $3,000 to $12,000, ABC News reported.

In 2007, Jammie Thomas-Rasset of Minnesota was the first person to be sued by record companies seeking damages for the illegal download and sharing of music files. She was ordered to pay $1.92 million to the labels, but her attorney says she doesn't have the money to for the damages and is asking for a new trial, according to the report.

I get it. The record companies have to make money--not good money, BIG money. But given the nearly endless opportunities the Internet offers music lovers, the labels are fighting a losing battle, if you ask me.

Source: ABC News
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