A federal judge has become skeptical of tactics used by the recording industry to identify students at North Carolina State University suspected of swapping music online in violation of copyright law. The judge, Louise W. Flanagan, of the U.S. District Court in Bern, N.C. last week suspended enforcement of a subpoena served on the university that requires it to name students affiliated with certain Internet addresses.
An attorney representing the students is claiming that MediaSentry, the company that the Recording Industry Association of America uses to ferret out traders of music online, has been illegally operating in the state. (A group of Boston University students made the same argument back in April.)
Ms. Flanagan has referred the matter to James E. Gates, a magistrate judge, to take a “fresh look” at the case. —Andrea L. Foster
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