Bobby Hickman, of Eden, one of the people being sued by record companies, and his family and friends used the file-sharing service Kazaa to download about 800 songs, he said. "Just about everyone who had a computer was doing it so I didn’t think nothing of it," Hickman said.
He’s negotiating a settlement with Maverick Records and the others suing him. "At first they wanted $4,500, but I told them I ain’t got nothing," he said. "I couldn’t give them $100." Calls to the other listed phone numbers of Triad residents named in the lawsuits were not returned.
A group of companies, including Sony BMG Music Entertainment, filed a suit against Willie Linen, of 3007 Mornstar Place in Greensboro, accusing him of downloading and sharing music illegally through Kazaa. Court documents detail the download of about 800 songs, mainly from hip-hop and rap artists, including Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls and Cassidy, through the service.
Universal City Studios Productions sued Debra Morgan, of 3315 Colony Drive in Jamestown, accusing her of downloading and sharing movies, including "Varsity Blues," "Barbershop 2: Back in Business" and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."
Related
- Fletcher (North Carolina) woman sued for piracy
- Court forces RIAA to revise music lawsuits
- Music industry boss defends file-sharing lawsuits
- Recording industry gets tough with file-sharing lawsuits
- Recording industry to begin Collecting evidence and preparing lawsuits against file sharers who illegally offer music online
