Sony BMG Music Entertainment v. Tenenbaum

HOWARD, Circuit Judge.

Joel Tenenbaum illegally downloaded and distributed music for several years. A group of recording companies sued Ten-enbaum, and a jury awarded damages of $675,000, representing $22,500 for each of thirty songs whose copyright Tenenbaum violated. Tenenbaum appeals the award, claiming that it is so large that it violates his constitutional right to due process of law. We hold that the award did not violate Tenenbaum’s right to due process, and we affirm.

I. Background

From 1999 to at least 2007, Tenenbaum downloaded and distributed copyrighted music without authorization,…