Judge rules RIAA case can be televised

A federal judge ruled today that Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet & Society can broadcast online a hearing in a recording-industry lawsuit scheduled for January 22. Sony BMG Music Entertainment is suing Joel Tenenbaum, a graduate student at Boston University, for alleged copyright infringement. "The public benefit of offering a more complete view of these proceedings is plain, especially via a medium so carefully attuned to the Internet Generation captivated by these file-sharing lawsuits," Judge Nancy Gertner wrote. Coverage will be gavel to gavel. Courtroom View Network will work with the court's IT department to stream video footage from cameras already installed in the courtroom to the Berkman Center for Internet and Society. Berkman will cover all costs for the streaming and the video feed acquisition, and the footage will be placed on the web for all to watch.