When music downloading is outlawed, only outlaws will download music…

Struggling tech-unsavvy single mothers everywhere can now rejoice in the news that their rent check is secure with the RIAA’s announcement that it will finally put an end to the legal assault against music downloaders. The Recording Industry Association of America’s hugely-unsuccessful series of lawsuits—35,000 and counting since 2003, to be exact—has done nothing to abate the illegal sharing of music and other media files online and in a string of highly publicized early instances intended to frighten consumers, the organization managed to nearly bankrupt several families who were totally unaware of their technologically-advanced offspring’s online activities. The organization hasn’t given up altogether, though, as the RIAA has also announced that it will instead focus its anti-piracy efforts on Internet service providers (ISPs) who allow the files to be traded over their lines in the first place. Under the new plan, the RIAA will contact ISPs when illegal uploading is detected. It will then be the duty of individual ISPs to contact offending customers with a notice that would ultimately be followed by a reduction or cessation of service. While the organization won’t disclose which ISPs they’re collaborating with, the RIAA has stated that it won’t require ISPs to reveal the identities of offending individuals. It has, however, reserved the right to pursue legal action against the most notorious up/downloaders. Perhaps the RIAA’s first order of business under the new plan should be to monitor the online activity of Metallica.