Trading MP3s? The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) might get in touch with you with an instant message.

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The RIAA has started sending instant messages to Kazaa and Grokster users, warning them of the illegality of unauthorized file-trading. Yahoo claims 200,000 people received warnings on Tuesday and millions can expect to be contacted in the next few weeks.

Here's is the text as follows, sourced from HitsDailyDouble.com:

"COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT WARNING: It appears that you are offering copyrighted music to others from your computer. Distributing or downloading copyrighted music on the Internet without permission from the copyright owner is ILLEGAL. It hurts songwriters who create and musicians who perform the music you love, and all the other people who bring you music.

When you break the law, you risk legal penalties. There is a simple way to avoid that risk: DON'T STEAL MUSIC, either by offering it to others to copy or downloading it on a 'file-sharing' system like this.

When you offer music on these systems, you are not anonymous and you can easily be identified. You also may have unlocked and exposed your computer and your private files to anyone on the Internet. Don't take these chances. Disable the share feature or uninstall your 'file-sharing' software. For more information on how, go to http://www.musicunited.net/5_takeoff.html.

This warning comes from artists, songwriters, musicians, music publishers, record labels and hundreds of thousands of people who work at creating and distributing the music you enjoy. We are unable to receive direct replies to this message. For more information about this Copyright Warning, go to www.musicunited.net."

Industry commentators said the RIAA may be trying their 'instant message strategy' in response to a ruling by a California judge which freed Grokster and Streamcast from charges of copyright violation. U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Wilson ruled Grokster and Morpheus shouldn't be closed down because they do not control the content on the P2P systems.

The RIAA is using song titles to identify users trading copyrighted material on the P2P networks. Cary Sherman, RIAA president, said the mass-messaging was designed to let people know they could not trade music anonymously.

What do you think of this tactic?  

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