RIAA strikes $105m settlement deal with LimeWire

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has struck a settlement deal in its copyright case with defunct file sharing network LimeWire.

The organisation said that it had agreed to take a $105m payout from LimeWire and its chief executive Mark Gorton to end a long-running legal feud over the trafficking of copyrighted material on the file-sharing network.

A court found LimeWire liable for copyright infringement last spring, and a ruling was passed later in the year ordering the shutdown of LimeWire.

LimeWire replaced its front page with a message ordering people to stop using the service as well as any pirated versions which had arisen in the wake of the shutdown.

"We demand that all persons using the LimeWire software, name, or trademark in order to upload or download copyrighted works in any manner cease and desist from doing so," reads the statement.

"We further remind you that the unauthorised uploading and downloading of copyrighted works is illegal."

The RIAA declared the deal a victory against what it said was "enormous damage" wreaked by LimeWire and its users against the music industry.

"The resolution of this case is another milestone in the continuing evolution of online music to a legitimate marketplace that appropriately rewards creators," said RIAA chairman and chief executive Mitch Bainwol.

"This hard-fought victory is reason for celebration by the entire music community, its fans and the legal services that play by the rules."