LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The recording industry is pulling the plug on what had become its biggest weapon against illegal downloading of music. The Recording Industry of America says it will no longer sue people for sharing copyrighted songs. Instead, the industry says it will work with Internet service providers to stop illegal song swapping. The industry will send warnings and if they are ignored, they will ask the Internet companies to cut abusers' access. Since 2003, the RIAA sued about 35,000 people for swapping songs online. Because of high legal costs for defenders, virtually all of those hit with lawsuits settled. But along with the fear factor among downloaders, the cost factor for the industry was high. The average cost per settlement: about $3,500. Meanwhile, the industry's legal costs exceeded the settlement money it brought in.
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