Editorial | Stand up to the RIAA

Two wrongs don't make a right.

It's important to remember that while the Recording Industry Association of America has every right to go after individuals for copyright infringement, it can't break the rules while doing so.

The RIAA usually identifies IP addresses where illegal downloading is taking place and asks universities to forward pre-litigation letters to the students with those addresses. If the students don't settle, the RIAA sues.

But many groups have rightly questioned the way the RIAA tries to obtain the names of the students whom it claims are illegally downloading music.

A few weeks ago, a district judge prevented Boston University - which had been subpoenaed by the RIAA - from releasing the names of students to the association because of potential conflicts with the school's privacy policy.

Last year, the University of Oregon contested the legitimacy of the RIAA's overly broad subpoenas. Oregon's Attorney General has also inquired whether the RIAA's investigation methods were overly invasive.

These cases raise legitimate issues. And as more and more Penn students receive pre-litigation letters, the University shouldn't be afraid to question the RIAA's methods, even if it means contesting a subpoena in court.

Penn's main priority in this situation must be to protect student rights, not to do the RIAA's legal work.

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