In a bold and risky move, the largest music companies made good on months of threats to crack down on users of file-sharing networks, filing separate lawsuits against 261 individuals in federal courts across t

The music companies offered some users a form of amnesty under which individuals not currently under investigation must pledge not to share pirated music over the Internet. Users who sign an sworn statement promising to delete illegal copies of songs on their computers and take other steps are promised to not be sued for their past actions, the recording companies said. File-sharing companies say they don't believe the lawsuits will significantly diminish use of their software. Wayne Rosso, the president of Grokster Ltd., a file-sharing company that has been sued by music companies affirmed this notion by saying,

It even seems that the recent court cases would be effective in scaring away file-sharers. However, many of the people “breaking the law” appear to be uninterested and ignore the requests of the RIAA. Many are too uninterested in news coverage to even be aware of the suits. Perhaps many of millions of people who are currently “breaking the law” feel that the accusers will not target them. After all, not even the RIAA can find a needle in a haystack.

"Nobody likes playing the heavy and resorting to litigation, but when you're being victimized by illegal activity there is a time you have to stand up and take action”.

The recording companies promised to file thousands more lawsuits against individuals swapping illegal copies of songs in coming months. Reflecting on the controversy surrounding socio-economics online, Cary Sherman, president of the Recording Industry Association of America, the music industry's chief lobbying group stated,

Interestingly, statistics show that the majority of Americans feel that the aggressive attacks launched by the RIAA feel that the series of lawsuits and court cases are nothing short of ridiculous. A lawsuit filed in Boston against Noor Alaujan, a 22-year-old resident of Cambridge, Mass cited hundreds of songs that were allegedly downloaded illegally, including Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" and Sade's "Somebody Already Broke My Heart." Ms. Alaujan didn't

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