Opinion 5 Elliot Mallen explores the Saran-
wrapping of Detroit's skyline Monday, June 7, 2004
Sports J Will the NHL lure Al Montoya
away from Michigan? One-hundredthirteen years of editorialfreedom Summer Weekly
www~michigandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan * Vol. CXIII, No. 145 ©2004 The Michigan Daily
'U' releases student
identities to RIAA
By Aymar Jean
Daily Staff Reporter
After a six-month-long crusade against
file-sharers, the recording industry received
the names of University students suspected of
uploading files illegally on May 20.
The University released the names of eight
students and one staff member to the Record-
ing Industry Association of America, the non-
profit organization spearheading the legal
challenges against file-sharing. Those nine
must now deal directly with RIAA.
Over two months ago, RIAA subpoenaed the
names of individuals suspected of file-sharing.
Since the names are hidden behind an Internet
Protocol address under the University's jurisdic-
tion, RIAA filed lawsuits against "John Doe"
defendants, hoping the University would eventu-
ally confer the suspects' real names.
Before honoring the subpoenas, the Univer-
sity "reviewed them thoroughly" but found
them "substantively valid," Assistant General
Counsel Jack Bernard said.
Subpoenas are a legal vehicle for commu-
nication, Bernard added, and are often diffi-
cult to refuse.
Many colleges, universities and other Inter-
net Service Providers - such as Vanderbilt
University - have already released names.
Several of those students have settled for
unspecified amounts.
Now that RIAA has each defendant's identity,
suspects can either settle their case out of court
or take their grievance to trial. The average set-
"The goal is simply to
send a message of
deterrence, that this
activity is illegal, that it
can have consequences."
-Jonathan Lamy
Spokesman, Recording Industry Association
of America
tlement is about $3,000, RIAA spokesman
Jonathan Lamy said in a previous interview.
But if defendants opt to go to court, the law
allows for damages from $750 to $150,000 per
song, depending on the number of songs shared.
RIAA contends that these individuals were
targeted because they shared, on average,
large amounts of music.
As part of its nationwide lawsuit sweep
against sharing, RIAA subpoenaed the names
of 532 individuals.
Each shared an average of 837 songs. Of
those subpoenaed, 89 were students from 21
colleges and universities.
Since September, RIAA has sued 2,947
individuals and settled 486 cases. RIAA offi-
cials, including President Cary Sherman,
have continually contended that the aim of
the lawsuits is not financial but ideological:
to save an industry that Sherman says is
See RIAA. Page 8
Madstone Theater
closes after two years
By Cecilly Tan
Daily Staff Reporter
Aiming to "create a distinctive
community-oriented cinema experi-
ence different from the typical
megaplex," Madstone Theater,
located in Briarwood Mall, sur-
prised employees and theatergoers
alike when it closed unexpectedly
on Tuesday.
"Even their employees did not
receive any indication from their
corporate office (of the closing),"
said Ida Hendrix, general manager
at Briarwood Mall.
Hendrix said she was also sur-
prised and disappointed to hear of
the closing.
Erin Owens, manager of market-
ing and publicity for the theaters
told the Detroit Free Press that the
decision to close the Ann Arbor
branch was because the theater was
not meeting expectations.
The nationwide cinema opened a
branch in Ann Arbor in September
2002. Theatergoers could enjoy
select blockbuster films as well as
independent and foreign films.
Setting itself apart from the pop-
corn and soda sold at most cinemas,
Madstone offered gourmet food and
drink, a lounge and a concierge.
LSA senior Imogene Nilles said
she was surprised at the closing of
Madstone because of its closer
location.
"We don't have many easily
accessible theaters here, especially
not ones that play mainstream
blockbuster-type films.
For me, the Madstone Theater
provided a chance to see some with-
out having to find a way to get over
to the ones near Ypsi(lanti)," she
said.
See MADSTONE Page 3
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