RIAA must have had rather a lot of evidence to get this one through
So, the prosecution had a list of the defendant's IP address(es) and dates/times online?
Which of course came direct from an independent source (i.e. ISP), not been passed to the prosecution for possible tampering with, or was verified by an independent source?
A list which had been cross referenced with said music files being available?
Those files of course having been checked - each and every one - to prove it wasn't just a different file which had been renamed?
And they've got proof that the user id used on the software was linked to an IP address that hadn't been spoofed in some way?
I assume they've also got proof the defendant was using her PC and willingly making the files available for download at the times these files are listed as available for download?
I suppose they can also prove the theory of "making available for copying" being the same as "copyright infringement" is different in some massive way to those companies who pay the RIAA money to rent out the same music to the public? Which can be happily copied by all and sunder?
This ought to have been blown right out the water. Either the RIAA have had some form of shenanigans with the judge and/or jury here, or the defendant's lawyer was rubbish!
I'm off to go download the Radiohead album in protest, although thats a double edged sword too - if people pay for the album, the RIAA will have a reason to pursue their current crusade (no doubt with the misguided and most likely incorrect theory of "if people are willing to pay for music, people will be willing to pay us for music"); if people don't pay for the album the RIAA will assume people are all pirates who want something for nothing, and they must continue their crusade for the good of the music industry.