More Bad News For RIAA

[JackSpratts]

By Declan McCullagh
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

WASHINGTON--A federal law that the recording industry is using to unmask a suspected Kazaa music-trader is unconstitutional, a coalition of nonprofit groups said late Friday.

A dozen consumer and privacy groups filed an amicus brief in federal court here arguing that the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) request for information about a Verizon Communications subscriber should be denied. Verizon has opposed the request on procedural grounds.

The 30-page brief says the RIAA is relying on a portion of the controversial Digital Millennium Copyright Act that violates Americans' right to be anonymous online. "Purported copyright owners should not have the right to violate protected, anonymous speech with what amounts to a single snap of the fingers," the brief said.

Groups signing the brief include the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Consumer Alert, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, and National Consumers League.
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-956176.html

- js.