Teen Will Pay Big For Downloading Music

The US Supreme Court

Christian Science Monitor reported today that 16 year old Whitney Harper is facing fines of $750 per illegally downloaded song to her computer, now that the US Supreme Court denied her appeal for reevaluation.   Through her Council, Harper argues that she was unaware that the file sharing program on her computer was dealing in stolen property.  Her council additionally claims that her cases penalty should fall under what is called the “innocent infringement” prevision, and  should reduce her fine down to $200 per infringement.  It should also be noted that a federal judge ruled in Harper’s favor, but was overturned by a panel of the Fifth U.S.Circuit Of Appeals.  Because The Supreme Court is refusing to hear her appeal, the 16 year old  will have to pay the maximum penalty of $750 per each digitally ill-gotten song.  Knowing the habits of today’s teenagers and young adults that acquire music and other media illegally in such a common place manner , that amount of stolen songs is likely to be staggering. This could very well prove to bee finically crippling to the teen. Web based music lovers everywhere should take notice of this case, and keep it in the back of their minds whenever using peer file sharing software.  It’s doubtful that any of us would want to trade places with Whitney Harper today .  We wish her  the best in your overcoming these consequences.  Hopefully this doesn’t  kill her  love for music completely.