According to Ars Technica, it seems that RIAA has decided to strike back the current tactic to quash their subpoenas. Many students try to thwart the threat of RIAA’s pre-litigation letter by an escalating strategy of successive motion filings.

The tactic is simple: escalate the fees. RIAA proposes to settle the case for $3,000 after reception of the pre-litigation letter. This settlement fee jumps at $4,000 in case of going in front of the court. If the subpoena is challenged, then the fees rockets at $8,000.

Will this new tactic:
1- reduce the number of challenged subpoenas? Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) already challenges this new technique.
2- significantly reduce the amount of downloaded songs through P2P?

In addition to this US strategy, we see more and more legal offers of DRM-free downloads. This is probably the best strategy (If we believe that honest people stay honest.