The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) says it has abandoned mass lawsuits against internet users who steal music, and instead would work with internet service providers (ISPs) to discourage piracy.

Other measures will be taken against internet users who ignore their first warning notice to stop illegally downloading music, and if those users continue they could find their internet connections disconnected, the RIAA said.

I’m not sure if this is a bad or a good thing. Of course, intellectual property is not property at all but rather a government granted monopoly over an arrangement of words, notes and ideas. So any punitive action taken is wrong.

What worries me is that the RIAA is changing strategy because courts and trials did not have the desired efficacy. Trails and courts offer a certain transparency and even a possibility for restitution. (for the people being persecuted under these silly laws that is) The RIAA obviously did not like this and now seeks to enforce it’s monopoly power through much less transparent means.