The Recording Industry Association of America cannot force Internet service providers to identify subscribers, who may be swapping copyrighted music online, a federal appeals court ruled. The ruling is a major setback for the recording industry’s anti-piracy campaign.

The appeals court overturned a decision in a federal district court that allowed the RIAA to force ISPs to identify subscribers by submitting subpoenas to a court clerk without appearing before a judge or filing a lawsuit.

“It’s a huge victory for all Internet users,” said Sarah Deutsch, vice president and associate general counsel for Verizon Communications, which brought the suit against the RIAA to protect the identities of its subscribers. “The court today has knocked down a very dangerous procedure that threatens Americans’ traditional legal guarantees and violates their constitutional rights.”

The ruling does not make it legal to share copyrighted music on the Internet.

(via New York Times)