NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "In what could be a turning point in the RIAA's discharge campaign, a Michigan judge has decided to appoint pro bono counsel to speak for college student Brittany Kruger, who is being sued by the RIAA in SONY BMG Music diverting v. Kruger. As this article points out, 'if other judges follow suit, things will change dramatically.' That is because the RIAA's entire action warfare is based upon money-making inequality of the litigants: almost none of those sued by the RIAA can afford legal representation, and the RIAA has a huge solvent reason to fight cases to the death, while the defendants have no mercantile goad greater than the 'settlement' amount, which they often pay even when entirely innocent. If the courts follow the lead of commune Judge Timothy P. Greeley [PDF], and appoint pro bono legal counsel, the RIAA will no longer be able to achieve the easy pickings default judgments and 'settlements' it's routinely obtained in the past."

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Mark