RIAA takes $2000 to not prosecute 12-year-old file-sharer

A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL identified by the RIAA as a major online dealer of bootlegged tunes coughed up $2000 to avoid prosecution by the trade industry body.

The seemingly avid file-sharer Brianna Lahara, was tracked down by the New York Post to a New York City Housing Authority apartment, after appearing on the RIAA hit list. "I got really scared. My stomach is all turning," she told the newspaper. "I thought it was OK to download music because my mom paid a service fee for it. Out of all people, why did they pick me?"

The RIAA said it settled with Brianna's mother. In a statement, RIAA chief executive Mitch Bainwol said the organisation was "trying to send a strong message that you are not anonymous when you participate in peer-to-peer file sharing and that the illegal distribution of copyrighted music has consequences. And, as this case illustrates," he added, "parents need to be aware of what their children are doing on their computers."

The RIAA had previously said it would charge swappers $150,000 per title "pirated".

Brianna's mother Sylvia Torres, added: "We understand now that file sharing the music was illegal. You can be sure Brianna won't be doing it anymore." µ