Copyright Law

Prof. Yongdae Kim of Univ. of Minnesota will be expert witness for Jammie Thomas; motion for extension of expert discovery granted

By Ty Rogers and Ray Beckerman

In Capitol Records v. Thomas, Jammie Thomas's motion for an extension of the discovery deadline, in order to enable her to designate Assistant Professor Yongdae Kim of the University of Minnesota as her expert witness, has been granted by Magistrate Judge Raymond L. Erickson.

The Judge ruled that "there can be no doubt that Dr. Kim is expected to provide expert opinion evidence that is important to the Defendant?s case, and that was not readily accessible to her prior to her receipt of a grant from an interested Foundation".

The RIAA had strenuously opposed the motion.

Professor Kim will testify about the techniques of group and internet security, inclusive of the means by which an internet protocol address can be ?hijacked,? or impersonated, by others who are not the owner of that address.

Ms. Thomas's hiring of an expert was made possible by a $3000 grant from the "Expert Witness Defense Fund" administered by the Free Software Foundation.

February 12, 2009, Decision Granting Extension of Expert Discovery Deadline

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Full post as published by Recording Industry vs The People on February 12, 2009 (boomark / email).