Brianna LaHara doesn't look like a typical thief. However, behind the curly hair, wire-rimmed2 glasses and happy smile is a 12-year-old pirate3—at least according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

　　The RIAA accused Brianna of stealing after she illegally downloaded music off the Internet. The honor student from New York City had used a computer software program to download songs by Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, and other artists.

　　Brianna also shared her music files with other computer users. Swapping4 songs might seem innocent, but in most cases it is a violation5 of copyright laws. Copyright laws give artists, writers, and musicians control over how their work is used and reproduced.

　　The RIAA represents record companies and their performers. In September, the group sued6 Brianna and 260 other people for piracy, or copying music without permission and then sharing the music. One person the RIAA sued was a 71-year-old Texas man whose grandchildren used his computer to copy music from the Internet.

　　The lawsuits have created a sour7 note between the record company executives and music fans.

　　When Music Is a Steal

　　Before personal computers became popular, people flocked8 to record shops to buy music. Today, however, about 60 million people download music files from the Internet. The RIAA blames music pirates for a 31-percent drop in the sales of compact discs (CDs) in the first half of 2003 compared with the same period in 2000.

　　The RIAA says that file swapping is no different from shoplifting9 a CD from a music store. Last April, the RIAA sued four college students for downloading and sharing music. The students avoided going to court by paying the RIAA between $12,000 and $17,000 each.

　　Those fines were cheap. People found guilty10 of breaking copyright laws can pay up to $150,000 per song and go to prison for three years.

　　Barking Up the Wrong Tree?

　　Some people who download music argue that the RIAA is going after the wrong people when it sues 12-year-old girls and grandfathers. They blame song-swapping services for making music easy to get online.

　　“They need to go after the music-swapping services, not the people who download,” said one music lover who admitted to downloading “hundreds of songs”.

　　Other people argue that file sharing should not be illegal. They say that record companies just want to make more money. Besides, they argue, why should you pay for music on your computer when there is no cost to listen to the same song on the radio or to watch music videos on television?

　　Even some musicians admit that the RIAA is being shortsighted for going after hardcore11 music fans. The artists say that the Internet gives people access to their music. If a person enjoys an artist, for example, that person is more likely to buy a CD and attend concerts by the artist.

　　Paying the Price

　　Brianna's mother agreed to pay $2,000 to settle the lawsuit with the RIAA. In a letter of apology, she admitted that her daughter's actions violated U.S. copyright laws.

　　Brianna also said she was sorry for breaking the law, adding, “I love music and don't want to hurt the artists I love.”