A federal judge reduced a $1.92 million fine against Jammie Thomas-Rasset, a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians who was convicted of sharing copyrighted music over the Internet.
In a decision last Friday, Judge Michael Davis called the fine for sharing 24 songs “shocking.” He reduced it to $54,000 but Thomas-Rasset, who works for her tribe, says she can't pay it.
“It’s not like I have a money tree in the backyard,” Thomas-Rasset, 32, told Wired.
Thomas-Rasset's case was the first in which a person went to trial for sharing music.
Get the Story:Judge reduces damages award in music file-sharing case (The Toronto Star 1/26)
Lawyers Challenge Lowered Amount of ‘Shocking’ File Sharing Award (Wired 1/25)
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Native woman first to go to trial for music sharing (10/3)