D.C. Court of Appeals declares RIAA subpoena method illegal: "Last month a panel of three judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia overturned a ruling that had previously granted the Recording Industry Association of America permission to obtain names of suspected illegal file sharers from their Internet service providers.

"The ruling marked a victory for Verizon Communications Inc., who has spearheaded the opposition to the RIAA in the case.

"The RIAA had formerly been relying on a 'fast-track' method of issuing subpoenas. The method, which allowed clerks—rather than judges—to approve the subpoenas, was permitted by the federal Digital Millennium Copyright Act."