A woman found guilty of "stealing" digital copies of music via Internet peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing was determined by a U.S. federal jury to be liable for USD $1.5 million last year. For that amount, one might expect she downloaded thousands of songs. The fine, however, was set based on 24 specific tracks at a whopping $62,500 each... similar to the ones you can download from iTunes for $1.29. A judge overseeing the case has just now reset the cost of damages down to $54,000 - about 3% of the original total - but still a very high number for the average working person.
What do you think is a reasonable fine for illegal P2P activity?
→ More - Judge Slashes 'Appalling' $1.5 Million File Sharing Verdict to $54,000 (wired.com) → See also - Legality of P2P File Sharing and Open Wireless Networks (2008)
I wonder what the illegality of downloading a broadcast network TV program is. The program was broadcast for free and the Betamax ruling law said that it was legal to record it.
Downloading the same freely-broadcasted program is illegal?