Tampa RIAA USF Music-File-Sharing Case Update

A Tampa federal judge has refused to dismiss a counterclaim filed in federal court by a USF student who accuses the recording industry of using deceptive tactics against USF students named in music downloading lawsuits.

The Tampa students accuse the RIAA, the recording industry of hiring private investigators to invade private computer networks. They also accuse the industry of using the court system as an investigative arm and then extorting money from people, using private information gained from the courts to force settlements.

The record companies have sued more than a dozen University of South Florida students, accusing them of illegal downloading. The RIAA suits and the threat of suits have caused at least 64 USF students to pay off thousands of dollars to settle music piracy complaints with record labels.

Tampa Attorney RIAA File Sharing

Feds Claim No Privacy in Emails

On October 8, 2007, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit granted the USA's request for a full-panel hearing in US v. Warshak. The case centers on the right of privacy for stored electronic communications. Can the Government merely subpoena mail and skip judicial review of a search warrant? The case presents the Government's position on Constitutional email and electronic privacy - that there isn't any.

Get your encryption keys ready for this one.

Cybercrime eDiscovery Attorney Tampa

Sanctions and eDiscovery

The ABA has recommended that processes and procedures be put in place to avoid sanctions for violation of Discovery rules and the harsh sanctions for violation thereof.

Use Meta-Tagging -- Meta-tagging enables a user to tag files as being an active part of an investigation. This produces a document set where parties can isolate matching files into a working result set. You must have the ability to review files in their native format without destroying file content integrity. An accurate list of files ensures that no document outside the confines of the E-Discovery scope are exposed and thus submitted as evidence. Frozen Redacted PDF files are then used for case evidence. Redacted PDFs are protected against spoilage.

e Discovery Attorney Lawyer Tampa Florida