The RIAA has entered a new stage in its war against music downloaders by writing to 300 US based companies to tell them their webspace is being used by one or more of their employees to make illegal music downloads available. The letter, which follows a more general correspondence warning employers about letting their staff use their work internet access to download illegal music, specifically targets the companies whose employees are known to be 'uploading' as well as 'downloading' music illegally.
The letters warn said companies of the legal consequences of such activity, which could "expose your employees and your company to significant legal damages," amounting to up to $150,000 per infringed work. The letters urge said companies "to take immediate steps to prevent the continued infringement."
On announcing the initiative the RIAA declined to name the companies it had targeted, but said that they included those in medical-related, manufacturing and technology fields.