RIAA: 25% of Students Give Into Threats

The Recording Industry Association of America says that over a quarter of the 400 students threatened with a lawsuit for illegally sharing music online have agreed to settle, as part of the organization's crackdown of illicit file swapping on college campuses.

The standard settlement offer is around $3,000, which is far less than what the RIAA informs students they will owe if taken to court, which could amount to $750 per song distributed. The first wave of letters was sent in February to 13 universities, asking the institutions to pass them on to students suspected of piracy. A second round of letters went out last week to 23 universities.