In an interesting development in the ongoing legal fight against illegal filesharing of music via P2P Networks, an artist management firm in Canada is reportedly helping one US music fan fight a lawsuit launched against him by the Recording Industry Association Of America.
The RIAA has taken legal action against file-swapper David Greubel over allegations he shared hundreds of tracks online, including 'Sk8er Boi' by Avril Lavigne. After hearing about the legal action, a friend of Greubel contacted artist MC Lars, who had publicly criticised the music industry's anti-filesharer litigation campaign. He passed on the correspondence to his management, Canada based Nettwerk Music Group, who also happen to represent Lavigne. They too are anti the RIAA's approach to tackling P2P file sharing and they have said they will join and contribute towards Greubal's defence.
Nettwerk Music Group boss Terry McBride told reporters: "Suing music fans is not the solution, it's the problem. Litigation is not 'artist development.' Litigation is a deterrent to creativity and passion and it is hurting the business I love. The current actions of the RIAA are not in my artists' best interests."
Asked about Nettwerk's viewpoint, a spokesman for the RIAA told Digital Music News that file sharing "deprives labels, songwriters and musicians of their hard-earned royalties", adding that "breaking the law must carry consequences or no one will think twice" about doing it.