Computer Illiterate Mom Fined for Kid’s Filing Sharing

A German woman who doesn’t know how to use a computer has just been handed thousands of euros in fines for illegal file sharing. Any surprise it was her bratty kid who did it? The German courts have determined the mom is to blame even though she says she expressly forbade her kid from doing any such thing on the computer. They say simply laying down a rule isn’t enough - the lack of follow-through on her part won the record companies their case. Although it’s not much different from most of the file sharing cases that have gone through, with every day people getting mega fines they can ill afford, the issue of how much parental guidance is enough is a tricky one. posted on January 25, 2010 at 3:23pm EST