The Recording Industry Association of America has decided to take legal action against 38 N.C. State students for alleged illegal downloading of music. Of these 38, eight have decided to retain the services of Greensboro’s Stephen Robertsonand his law firm, to fight the legal action by entering a motion to quash the lawsuit filed by the RIAA.

Presently only a few of the 38 students have made the decision to pay $4,000 to settle the pre-legal action brought by the RIAA, leaving approximately 20 students in limbo as to whether to settle or fight the RIAA.

Robertson and colleague John Bioss at the law firm have a proven record of successfully defending students and filing motions to quash. Now the remaining students that have yet to decide what legal course to take should come out of the shadows and stand tall with their eight fellow members of the Wolfpack family.

The University, through Pam Gerace, director of Student Legal Services, has protected the students’ identities as the RIAA only has the IP addresses of the students, not their actual names. However, the University will have no grounds to protect students if the judge requires the students name to be turned over.

Students facing the decision to settle or join the motion to quash must realize they will not be able to remain anonymous forever. Knowing this, students should stand together to fight the RIAA and reject paying $4,000 to settle. They can use that money to offset lawyer fees. Robertson said his firm has capped its fee to represent N.C. State students.

If more students join the motion to quash, each student’s portion of the legal bill will be smaller and, more than likely, less than if they had to go to court alone.

Additionally, Robertson and Gerace should be applauded for fighting for student’s rights. For Robertson, it’s wonderful to see an outside professional lawyer on the side of students fighting against the obnoxious juggernaut that is the RIAA. In respect to Gerace, students should thank this University employee for having students’ backs. Student Legal Services deserves at least the $1 fee increase it requested, if not more.

It’s time for the others to step up and join the motion to quash and fight the RIAA. With talented people on their side why not take the fight to the RIAA.