14 DAY TRIAL // A second trial of RIAA's case against single mother Jammie Thomas-Rasset has concluded today with the jury awarding record statutory damages of $1.92 million for 24 songs she made available over the file-sharing network Kazaa. The sum amounts to $80,000 per song and the woman has stated that she has no intention to pay.
The case started in 2007 when the Recording Industry Association of America filed a lawsuit against Thomas-Rasset claiming she had illegally shared 1700 songs. RIAA first offered to settle with the woman but she refused prompting the organization to file suit. The first trial concluded in October 2007 with the jury awarding $220,000 to RIAA in damages. A mistrial was later declared in the case with U.S. District Judge Michael David deciding that the jury had been poorly instructed.
The ruling in the second trial also found against the defendant but this time the damages were substantially higher and the enormous fine came in as shock for both the woman as well as those following the case. US law sets damages for copyright infringement starting from $750 upwards to a maximum of $150,000 and the jury was especially harsh awarding $80,000 in this case.
"We appreciate the jury's service and that they take this issue as seriously as we do," said Cara Duckworth, an RIAA spokeswoman. "We are pleased that the jury agreed with the evidence and found the defendant liable. Since day 1, we have been willing to settle the case and remain willing to do so."
A new settlement is being offered by RIAA, a prudent move considering that trying to cash in on the $1.92 million would most likely attract a lot of public outcry and negative publicity both of which RIAA's campaign has seen enough. Thomas-Rasset, however, said she was not willing to settle with the agency even now.