Italian DJ gets $1.8 million fine for downloading music

[TankGirl]

p2pnet.net:

Italian DJ nailed by local RIAA

p2pnet.net News:- A "well known" Italian DJ has been lumbered with Europe's biggest fine for alleged music downloading.

He’s been ordered to pay $1.8 million (e1.4 million ) and also faces criminal prosecution, law enforcement officials working Big Music cartel enforcers say.

“The fine follows a raid mounted by Italian police earlier this week on a popular nightclub in Rieti, a town between Rome and Assisi,” says The Register.

“During the investigation, officers seized over 2,000 MP3 files and 500 music videos.

“FIMI, the Italian equivalent of the Recording Industry Ass. of America (RIAA), welcomed the whopping fine. ‘We hope this precedent will serve as a deterrent for those who are thinking of doing the same," said FIMI director Enzo Mazza’.”

The RIAA has now notched up 8,500 lawsuits against Americans who share music with each other.

None of the cases has ever seen the light of day in a court.

Earlier this month, in France's first prosecution for file sharing, a teacher was nailed for e10,200 (almost 13,350).

The case sparked a huge outcry.

The game is getting pretty tough. Huh.

- tg