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BU Student Appealing $67K Download Fine

A Boston University graduate student is appealing a judge's order to pay tens of thousands of dollars to record companies for illegally downloading 30 songs.

Joel Tenenbaum says he would have to file for bankruptcy if forced to pay the award, even though the judge already reduced it by 90 percent.

"Sixty-seven thousand dollars is not really satisfying, even though it is a large reduction from $675,000," Tenenbaum said. "I don't have that, either, so these are to me purely symbolic numbers."

Tenenbaum says even the judge acknowledges the reduced amount is "harsh."

The four record companies involved are also appealing the reduced award.

This program aired on August 26, 2010. The audio for this program is not available.

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