THE ISSUE: Students have been fined $3,000 for illegally sharing music over the Internet.

The Recording Industry Association of America’s threat is real at UW-Eau Claire.

According an April 16 article in The Spectator, freshman Courtney Dokkestul accepted an out-of-court settlement with the RIAA to the tune of $3,000. Dokkestul is dropping out of school because of the fine, according to the article.

It is breaking the law to illegally download copyrighted music, but the RIAA should not be patting itself on the back just yet.

The bottom line in this ongoing drama is that illegal file sharing should be punished accordingly if the students received warnings of such. However, $3,000 is too harsh a fine to offer students who can barely afford their own education.

The larger issue at hand is the way the RIAA is conducting itself, targeting college students as the best way to eliminate illegal downloading. While the best way to get someone to stop doing something is to show them that negative ramifications can hit close to home, the RIAA could also focus on companies that provide the Internet, such as Charter, if it really wanted to make a big impression.

Illegal downloading may seem more prevalent with college students, but it is important to keep in mind that college students are in the minority in their age group. Most high school graduates don’t spend the standard four years at a major university that the RIAA is targeting. They are failing to take into account the amount of downloading that is being done outside of the college atmosphere, which is perceived to be the centerpiece for file sharing.

The RIAA could also take a look at its own clients, as the majority of college students download music because CDs and concerts have become too expensive.

By only focusing on college students, the RIAA is acting like a lion attacking the weakest antelope. It’s an easy way to get what you want and gives you a fake sense of satisfaction in your work despite the fact that it doesn’t take much effort and doesn’t slow up the herd significantly.