Joel Fights Back:

From the "Joel Fights Back" Website:

About the Case

In 2003, Joel received a notice accusing him of downloading music through the P2P service, and told him that he could settle the case for $3,500. He called the payment hotline, offered $500, and sent a money order in that amount. That offer was denied.

In 2007, a complaint showed up on his doorstep after years of silence requiring that Joel appear in court. Rather than backing down, like the other 30,000 people, Joel chose to stand his ground and elected to proceed pro se with the help of his mother.

Joel filed an answer with a counterclaim asserting abuse of federal power and that the excessive damages were unconstitutional. Joel appeared in court where the Judge ordered the parties into settlement. In the settlement, Joel offered to settle for $5,000. The opposing counsel denied and counter-offered a settlement of $10,500 to be paid over 1 year. Joel declined.

From that point, Harvard Law Professor Charles Nesson took the reins of Joel's litigation and Professor Nesson's Harvard Law students began a collaborative effort to represent Joel in the case.

I'm very interested in this case because it will be very interesting to see how the RIAA fights the claims that they have handled their case against Joel et. al improperly, (unconstitutional damages, abusive use of the court system).

Keep following the case at http://joelfightsback.com or through Charles Nesson's youtube page, http://youtube.com/charlesnesson, and for daily updates via twitter (http://twitter.com/joelfightsback)