RIAA issues new wave of P2P suits

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has sued a further 477 internet users for allegedly sharing music on peer-to-peer (P2P) sites.

This brings the total number of people against whom the trade body has brought legal action to 2,454 since September last year. Around 400 people have so far settled out of court.

The RIAA has to issue so-called 'John Doe' subpoenas because the identity of each P2P user is known only by the IP address they use.

Included in the latest suits are 69 individuals allegedly using university networks to illegally distribute copyrighted sound recordings on unauthorised P2P services.

RIAA president Cary Sherman said in a statement: "It remains as important as ever that we continue to work with the university community in a way that is respectful of the law as well as university values."