Several record companies have sued a Richland woman for allegedly violating federal copyrights by downloading or uploading music via the Internet.

The suit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Richland by the Recording Industry Association of America on behalf of Warner Bros. Records Inc., Sony BMG Music, Virgin Records and several other major recording labels against Merri Board.

Board, who has not seen the lawsuit, was blindsided by the news.

“It’s been over two years since I heard anything about this,” she said.

Then she received a letter from an attorneys office offering a settlement. But the amount was more than she could pay.

“I don’t even remember what it was,” she said.

But she never believed it would end up in a federal lawsuit.

The complaint lists 10 downloaded songs, including Nelly’s Ride Wit Me, Porcelain by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, You Make Me Sick by Pink and Michael Jackson’s Rock With You.

Not exactly her tastes, she said.

“I’ve got four teenage daughters, and they have friends come over, so it’s hard to say who downloaded what,” she said.

Board isn’t the only Tri-Citian to be targeted.

In 2004, Mary Houf of Pasco was going through the same experience. Houf agreed to pay $2,970 and picked up the record companies’ attorney fees of $530.

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