As of Sept. 10, The Recording Industry Association of America filed more than 261 lawsuits against music fans described as “major offenders” who distribute more than 1,000 copyrighted songs each.

These “major offenders” include Durwood Pickle, a 71-year-old Texas resident who rarely uses his computer; Timothy Davis, a Yale University professor who describes himself as “not a computer-type person;” Lisa Schamis, an unemployed New York resident who claims she didn’t know she was breaking the law; and 12-year-old Brianna LaHara, an honors student who is sorry for what she’s done.

“We understand now that file-sharing the music was illegal,” said Sylvia Torres, Brianna’s mother. After paying $29.99 for software giving them access to online file-sharing services, the family mistakenly believed they were entitled to download music files.

“I am sorry for what I have done. I love music and don’t want to hurt the artists I love,” Brianna said. Her family, who lives in a city housing project on New York’s Upper West Side, has agreed to pay $2,000 to settle the suit with the RIAA.

“We’re trying to let people know they may get caught; therefore, they should not engage in this behavior,” said RIAA President Cary Sherman during a Senate Judiciary hearing.

Instead of using a harsh lawsuit campaign against unknowing teenagers and the parents of those young adults, why can’t the RIAA use the money they will save on lawyer fees and educate the public?

Yes, pirating copyrighted music is illegal. Yes, people should know they can get caught for partaking in illegal activities. However, it is not necessary to make examples out of 12-year-old children or to target the person who paid for the Internet account rather than those individuals who knowingly download innumerable copyrighted songs.

Universities like Iowa State are major players in file-sharing copyrighted music. The RIAA has settled four lawsuits against college students thus far and have served at least 10 universities subpoenas demanding help in identifying possible targets of future lawsuits.

As a large number of students returned to classes at Iowa State, the university e-mailed students warning them of the dangers of file-sharing — this is a step in the right direction. By educating students, they can be made aware of the illegality of their actions that they may have otherwise thought were acceptable.

The RIAA’s excuse that they are filing lawsuits in an attempt to renew declining CD sales is not working. One example: Between June 15 and August 3, the decline in CD sales accelerated 54 percent.

The RIAA should leave behind the scare tactics of filing lawsuits against teenagers and find a more useful way to spend their money.

Editorial Board:Nicole Paseka, Megan Hinds, Amy Schierbrock, Alicia Ebaugh