Canadian Record Label Backs File Sharer; Takes on RIAA

Canada’s largest privately owned record label — which represents such homegrown successes as Avril Lavigne, the Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan — has joined one Texas family’s fight against the Recording Industry Association of America.

“Suing music fans is not the solution, it’s the problem,” Terry McBride, C.E.O of Nettwerk Music Group

Vancouver-based Nettwerk Music Group has taken up the cause of David Greubel and his family, who are being sued by the RIAA for songs they had indirectly offered through a peer-to-peer file-sharing program installed on their computer. Although the Greubels’ computer had more than 600 songs available, the RIAA is seeking damages totaling US$9,000 for the distribution of nine specific songs, including Lavigne’s hit “Sk8er Boi.”

The Greubels have been told the RIAA would accept a payment of US$4,500 if it was received during a specific timeframe, but Nettwerk has convinced the family to fight the case, and has pledged to pay for all of the family’s legal fees, in addition to any fines they might receive should they lose.  (CANADA.COM)