Boston University Students Win Important Victory Against RIAA

Score one for college music pirates in the Recording Industry Association of America's war against campus copyright infringement of music. Earlier this week four Boston College students successfully fended off an attempt by the RIAA to force the university to turn over their names to record companies suing BU for their identity.

The ruling, made earlier this week by a U.S. District Judge Nancy Gertner in Massachusetts, was hailed by the attorney representing one of the accused four students, Raymond Sayeg, as a "David and Goliath" victory. Sayeg told The Boston Globe, "The court has recognized the right of privacy of the students."

BU was not named formally in the lawsuit and vows, according to news reports, to turn over any information the court requests.

Not Out of the Woods Yet

The four students aren't out of the woods yet. Gertner says her ruling is provisional until she can review the case more in-depth. One key document in the case, according to Gertner, is BU's Internet service agreement with students and what type of, if any, privacy protections are afforded to students.

Legal experts say a ruling in favor of the college students could have an important impact on nearly 20,000 similar cases.

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