A federal judge has not yet ruled on the pending motion for discovery in the lawsuit between the Recording Industry Association of America and several Penn students, whose identities are still unknown.
If granted, the motion would require the University to hand over a list of the names that correspond to the Internet protocol numbers the RIAA has identified as illegal file sharers who use PennNet as their Internet service providers.
"There is no new information on the lawsuit," said Robert Terrell, a lawyer with Penn's Office of General Counsel.
The motion for discovery was originally filed in March with the Pennsylvania Federal District Court.
For cases in the Federal Court, the plaintiff usually has a period of 120 days from initiating a lawsuit in which to serve the subsequent summons and complaint.
Some Penn students have begun seeking legal assistance in anticipation of the decision.
The Undergraduate Assembly, which offers free legal services, has seen a recent increase in the number of students seeking legal help.
"There's been a good number more students than usual. There have been a couple, maybe two or three, that applied for file sharing purposes," UA Chairman Jason Levine said.
Government officials are becoming more stringent than ever in fighting piracy and illegal file sharing.
Last week, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced the creation of an Intellectual Property Task Force, designed to advise the Department of Defense on issues related to combatting piracy.
Ashcroft appointed David Israelite, a former partner in a New York-based law firm, as the head of the new department.
Ashcroft also announced plans for the department's "Operation Fastlink," which began last week.
Fastlink is a sweeping measure designed to shut down major piracy manufacturers -- those that create and sell illegal material -- around the globe as well as those who illegally share music, movies and software online on a wide-scale basis. The RIAA assisted with the investigations.
RIAA Chairman and CEO Mitch Bainwol praised the efforts of the task force thus far.
"They have undertaken and spearheaded an unprecedented, international initiative that strikes a forceful blow at global piracy operations that have been wreaking enormous damage on creative communities around the world," Bainwol said in a public statement.
"This is a sizeable achievement and creators all over the world owe a debt of gratitude."
