Instead of its usual strategy of pinning scofflaws and wringing them through the court system, the RIAA will shift the burden to ISPs. When it appears as though an ISP customer is downloading illegally, the RIAA will contact the ISP and it will now be the ISP's responsibility to slap wrists via e-mail. If the actions do not cease, more e-mails will come; until finally, the alleged criminal's Internet access is either watered down or shut off, or they see themselves in court.
Those concerned with privacy can also take a deep breath. Instead of demanding the identity of file-sharers in its proceedings, the RIAA will forward its e-mails to ISPs without requesting such information.
How effective will this new strategy be? The RIAA believes it'll boost consumer awareness that "their actions are not anonymous." We'll have to see whether or not a few e-mails from ISPs politely asking for a cession of downloads will be more hard-hitting than a multi-million dollar lawsuit from one of the most reviled organizations in the United States.
This story, "RIAA Stops Suing Individuals: Are We Home Free?" was originally published by PCWorld.