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File-Sharing Case Goes To Trial

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2007

DULUTH, Minn. - The nation's largest record companies took their fight against illegal downloads to court for the first time Tuesday, targeting a Minnesota woman they say improperly shared nearly 2,000 songs.

Jennifer Pariser, head of litigation and antipiracy at plaintiff Sony BMG, portrayed the federal copyright trial as a survival fight.

Jammie Thomas, a 30-year-old mother of two from Brainerd, told reporters outside the courtroom that she is innocent. Thomas said she is spending about the same on an attorney's retainer that she would have spent on a settlement offer from the record companies.

'I refuse to be bullied,' she said.

Sales of recorded music have been hit hard in recent years by music downloads, both legal and illegal. The recording industry says it has brought more than 26,000 actions against people for illegal downloads.

Thomas's attorney, Brian Toder, said his only defense witness would be Thomas. He said a computer expert they planned to hire wouldn't be testifying because they couldn't afford to pay him.

The Associated Press

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