Judge Orders Verizon to Disclose Identity of Internet Subscriber

U.S. District Court Judge John Bates ordered Verizon Communications to reveal the identity of an Internet subscriber accused of music piracy. In response, Verizon vowed to seek a stay from the U.S. Court of Appeals, saying the ruling goes beyond the interests of the music industry and “exposes anyone who uses the Internet to potential predators, scam artists and crooks, including identity thieves and stalkers.” The case stems from a subpoena filed last summer by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) demanding that Verizon Online turn over the name of a customer whom the RIAA alleges possesses illegal copies of copyrighted music files. Verizon has argued that such a demand is not supported by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and that a court ruling in favor of the RIAA would enable anyone who makes a mere allegation of copyright infringement to gain complete access to private subscriber information without the due process protections afforded by the courts.http://newscenter.verizon.com/proactive/newsroom/release.vtml?id=80021