The Recording Industry Association of America is reported to be ready to offer a “general amnesty” to Internet users who admit to illegally sharing music files online and promise not to do it again.

“The offer would require people to sign a notarized form promising to delete illegally downloaded files from their computer, submit a copy of a photo identification and pledge to stop the infringing behavior. In return, the RIAA would agree to not sue them,” Wired News reported.

The RIAA is expected to file lawsuits early next week against hundreds of online music traders. Those facing lawsuits do not qualify for amnesty.

“Just as we have been cautious about programs like Total Information Awareness, anytime a giant entity starts collecting information on individual Americans, we should be suspicious of how that information can then be used,” said Jason Schultz, staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

“Its not at all clear what the RIAA is going to go with that information once they’ve gathered it,” he said. “In the end, this still doesn’t solve the problem.”

“Before people make their deal with the devil, they should be careful to make sure that, in fact, they won’t get sued by anybody for what they did,” Schultz said.

The RIAA does not represent all copyright holders, songwriters and music publishers. People who choose amnesty could still be sued.

(via Wired News)