RIAA rejects reduced fine for 'piracy'

But does not want the full $1.9 million - $25,000 should be 'enough'.

The big music recording companies have rejected a judge's ruling that a central Minnesota woman found guilty of sharing 24 songs over the Internet should be ordered to pay 'only' $US54,000.

Instead the companies will be preparing for another trial to determine a new damages amount.

Last year, a federal jury ruled that Jammie Thomas-Rasset, a mother of four, willfully infringed the copyrights on 24 songs and ordered her to pay $US1.92 million in damages.

However Chief US District Judge Michael Davis reduced the jury's damage award to about $US54,000 saying that the penalty was "monstrous and shocking".

The RIAA companies said they would accept less than the $1.9 million but insisted that parts of the Court's analysis in reducing the penalty are inconsistent with Congressional intent and the law.

They offered that if she paid $25,000, which would go to a charity for struggling musicians, they would call the matter concluded.

It is fairly clear that the RIAA companies are no longer in this one for the money, but want to make an example of Thomas-Rasset.

Joe Sibley, an attorney for Thomas-Rasset, said his client will not settle. It is all the same, as she just doesn't have the money to pay any of the penalty amounts, and it would be financially ruinous.