File-Sharing Trial Begins... Again

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The recording industry says people like Jammie Thomas-Rasset is one reason the industry has lost billions of dollars, thousands of jobs and has had trouble finding and grooming new artists. Her lawyers say she is the type of person the industry should be courting, not suing.

The claims were part of opening arguments in the case in which the record labels are suing the Minnesota woman, claiming she illegally shared 24 songs on the Kazaa network. The labels are seeking up to $3.6 million in damages from the woman. The defense claims Thomas-Rasset never shared songs
illegally and that the record industry can't prove otherwise.

The judge is expected to instruct the jury that the plaintiffs have to prove someone actually downloaded the music the defendant allegedly made available through Kazaa. In the previous trial, which she lost, the judge told the jury the plaintiffs didn't have to offer such proof.