Saturday, July 10, 2010

File-sharing damages reduced tenfold - The Boston Globe

Down to a mere $2,250 per infringed work

US District Court Judge Nancy Gertner ruled that the amount a federal jury ordered Joel Tenenbaum to pay last July was “unconstitutionally excessive’’ in light of what she described as the modest harm caused to the record labels. She cut the award to $67,500, one-tenth the original sum.

“There is no question that this reduced award is still severe, even harsh,’’ she wrote in a 62-page order. “It not only adequately compensates the plaintiffs for the relatively minor harm that Tenenbaum caused them; it sends a strong message that those who exploit peer-to-peer networks to unlawfully download and distribute copyrighted works run the risk of in curring substantial damages awards.’’

File-sharing damages reduced tenfold - The Boston Globe

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