RIAA delays case against dead man

By Steve Malone

Posted on 14 Aug 2006 at 10:52

A grieving family in America does not, after all, have to answer charges relating to illegal file sharing. For 60 days. The Recording Industry Association of America has shown its softer side by applying for a stay in the copyright violation case against Larry Scantlebury who died in June of this year.

In applying for the stay, the RIAA says it 'does not believe it appropriate to discuss a resolution of the case with the family so close to Mr. Scantlebury's passing'.

According to the request, Mr Scantlebury had already asked for - and received - extensions to the RIAA's requests for information. The organisation says that Mr Scantlebury was willing to settle and provide the organisation with information relating to other file sharing activities.

However, the RIAA still intends to pursue the case. It says that unless it reaches a settlement with Scantlebury's estate or other family members involved, it intends to reword the lawsuit to name the other family members.

The case is the latest example of the RIAA's take-no-prisoners approach to pursuing file sharers who, it believes, are violating the copyrights of its members. The members include the biggest music companies in the world, such as EMI, Sony BMG, Warner and Universal.

Despite previous PR disasters such as suing a 12-year old girl, telling a student to drop out to pay its fines and suing a family that doesn't own a computer, the RIAA still stands by its determination to 'vigorously pursue' illegal file sharers.

You can see the RIAA's request here.