Woman faces accusation of pirating music

The RIAA works with Internet service providers to identify computer users.
WARREN -- The music industry is seeking a federal order to stop a Warren woman from reportedly copying music, and seeks to collect damages.
The complaint against Delores Shealey was filed in U.S. District Court in Cleveland.
Atty. Dennis P. Zapka of Cleveland said Thursday that the effort is part of a nationwide campaign to curb the infringement of copyrighted music.
His office has filed 20 to 25 similar complaints in the past six months, he said.
If a complaint goes to trial, judges are permitted to impose a fine of between $750 and $150,000 per song copied.
Jonathan Lamy, spokesman for the Recording Industry Association of America, a Washington, D.C., group that represents the major recording studios, said 18,800 similar complaints have been filed since September 2003.
Zapka filed the complaint on behalf of BMG Music of New York, UMG Recordings Inc., Song BMG Music Entertainment and Arista Records LLC, all of Delaware, and Virgin Records of America Inc., a California corporation.
Allegations
They allege that Shealey used a computer to download recordings and make the recordings available to others.
The companies maintain in the complaint that the acts of infringement have been "willful and intentional."
Shealey could not be reached to comment.
Some of the artists reportedly downloaded were Janet Jackson, Destiny's Child and Alicia Keys.
The companies are seeking unspecified damages from Shealey, an injunction to stop copying the music and destroying all copies of music made by her.
The average settlement for such cases is $4,000 to $4,500, according to the industry.
Identification
Lamy explained that the RIAA listens to the songs that are being uploaded or downloaded.
Working with Internet service providers, Lamy said, the addresses of individual computers and their owners can be identified.
Those whom the association believes are pirating songs are sent a letter informing them that a lawsuit has been filed against them and can settle out of court.
Lamy said that only two cases have gone to trial. Both defendants lost their cases.
The industry would rather settle cases out of court, he explained, because the industry is trying to demonstrate that pirating music is illegal.
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