An American judge has ruled that you are not your IP address which could have far reaching repercussions. Hopefully this could end the RIAA requesting the details of people from the ISP's.

Link

"Hey, RIAA, you're a person, but my IP address isn't. Suck it!"

Not sure this will extend beyond the US, if it has any effect at all.

We'll need more rulings like this to protect consumer rights above industry rights (although both should be protected!).

I'm not in the USA, but I think this is good. Imagine being falsely accused when it's another person in a college dorm who they're really after. ...but hey, you share the same router, so why not? Less possibility of mix ups.

If it does have an effect in the US it will definitely have influence in other countries. Lets hope this sticks.

If a similar ruling shows up in an actual RIAA case then it will probably get challenged through several layers of appeals before we get anything that counts as serious precedent. But at least this is a good start.

This judge actually cited this guy for part of his reasoning. http://o.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014867387_wifi25.html

Btw, this is actually an argument for unsecuring your WiFi, imo. Imagine having to try to explain that yes you used WEP but it's crackable, uhg! Uhm, I think this ruling does count as precedent, I'm not sure though. Their cases were definitely dismissed.

It's basically the degree to which it counts as precedent. As it's only a US district court (basically the lowest level of the federal court system) other judges may look at and consider the ruling, but they are in no way bound to rule in the same way. If it gets appealed to the circuit court and stands then that ruling would be binding to all district courts within that circuit, and even courts outside that circuit would give it more weight (even though they still wouldn't be bound by it).