INTERNET MUSIC First round of copyright suits is filed

The music industry wants to discourage illegal song sharing online.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The music industry's largest trade group filed 261 copyright lawsuits across the country against Internet users who trade songs online, an aggressive campaign to discourage piracy through fears of expensive civil penalties or settlements.
The Recording Industry Association of America warned it ultimately may file thousands of cases. Its first round Monday was aimed at what it described as "major offenders" illegally distributing on average more than 1,000 copyrighted music files each.
Durwood Pickle, 71, of Richardson, Texas, said his teenage grandchildren downloaded music onto his computer during their visits to his home. He said his grown son had explained the situation in an e-mail to the recording industry association.
"I didn't do it, and I don't feel like I'm responsible," Pickle said. "It's been stopped now, I guarantee you that."
An estimated 60 million Americans participate in file-sharing networks, using software that makes it simple for computer users to locate and retrieve for free virtually any song by any artist within moments. Internet users broadly acknowledge music-trading is illegal, but the practice has flourished in recent years since copyright statutes are among the most popularly flouted laws online.
The RIAA did not identify for reporters which Internet users it was suing or where they live. Federal courthouses in New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas and elsewhere reported receiving some lawsuits.