[TChris]

A federal jury Thursday found a 32-year-old Minnesota woman guilty of illegally downloading music from the Internet and fined her $80,000 each — a total of $1.9 million — for 24 songs.

I don't understand the legal basis for the fines that show up in these cases. They're beyond absurd.

Don't the record companies have to make some proof of damages? Isn't there some legal doctrine concerning reasonable actual and punitive damages?

The RIAA only fans flames of utter hatred for them and their clients with this kind of vicious, malicious lawsuits.

[piytar]

“I don’t understand the legal basis for the fines that show up in these cases. They’re beyond absurd.”

Statutory damages under the copyright law - posted above.