Five years ago, the RIAA began what’s been seen as one of the major 21st-century witchhunts.  That being, of course, their rash of personal lawsuits against individuals involved in peer-to-peer music sharing. Wired.com has an interesting look at the arguably infamous monumental crusade, and exactly where it stands right now. Wired argues that despite the power and influence that the organization has and uses to essentially extort settlement fees out of people who would rather avoid legal fees and court, the campaign itself is an utter an expensive failure.

Is it? Consider the continued existence of peer-to-peer music sharing despite the lawsuits, only one of which, against Jammie Thomas of Minnesota, has been successful. And even then a retrial is in consideration, so you have to wonder just how long the RIAA are going to consider keeping this up before either a radical new model for music sharing and distribution comes up, or end up suing everyone in America.

Tags: News, RIAA, industry news, music news //