US downloader vows to fight $22,500 a song fine
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Printable
EmailA US citizen who was ordered to pay $675,000 (£430,000) for illegally downloading and sharing 30 songs on the Internet has vowed to continue fighting the penalty.
Joel Tenenbaum of Providence, Rhode Island, said he is hoping a federal judge will reduce the amount, despite the Supreme Court's refusal on Monday to hear his appeal.
"I can't believe the system would uphold a six-figure damages amount for downloading 30 songs on a file-sharing system," Mr Tenenbaum said.
A jury in 2009 ordered him to pay the $22,500 (£14,000) per song, after the Recording Industry Association of America sued him on behalf of four major record labels.
During the trial, Mr Tenebaum admitted downloading the songs by artists such as Green Day, Eminem and Limp Bizkit.
A federal judge branded the penalty unconstitutionally excessive and reduced the award to $67,500 (£43,000), but the First US Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated it.
Mr Tenenbaum, who has just graduated from Boston University, said: "I've been working on a stipend for six years and I have no such money."
If you appreciated this article then please consider donating to the Morning Star's Fighting Fund to ensure we can keep developing your paper.
Editorial
It doesn't have to be like this
Official inflation figures understate the real extent of rising costs, but even the government's own CPI scheme lays bare the ongoing misery for working people and those dependent on benefits.
Features
A strategy for our victory
The Con-Dems have had it their way too long. We have to turn this country around
Education for all: let's make it a reality
How high-quality primary schooling could help solve global poverty