Do the RIAA subpoenas target static IP addresses or dynamic IP addresses? 
The RIAA cases involving national ISPs have sought to compel common
carriers to disclose contact information such as Name, address based
on the IP address associated with the alleged copyright infringement.

For ISPs using static IP addresses such as, but not necessarily, cable
companies,  the IP address associated with the alleged violator at the
times(s) of the offence are likely still assigned to same if they are
still a subscriber.
Example: IP address x was alleged to violate terms of use of
Copyrighted work y last December 01 @ 2345, so identify the user who
had that IP address.

For ISP using dynamic IP addresses such as, but not necessarily,
telcos providing DSL,  answering such questions even for yesterday may
be infeasible.
The IP addresses are assigned from a pool to a user for the duration
of a session and then returned to the pool to be given to someone else
hours, minutes or seconds later.  Determining who had one IP address
on December 01 may be infeasible.

So, does the RIAA differentiate between targeting static IP versus dynamic IP?

Hello, grthumongous-ga,

The RIAA subpoenas cite not only an IP address, but also a date and
time. Provided that the subpoena is issued in a timely manner, it is
possible for ISPs to search their activity logs and determine what
customer was assigned a particular IP address at a particular time of
day. The subpoenas do not specifically mention static versus dynamic
IPs but are careful to provide enough information to identify the user
in either case.

I have located the text of such a subpoena:

TechTV | Warning to Internet Service Providers
http://www.techtv.com/news/culture/story/0,24195,3489327,00.html

The same site offers an example of "attachment A," in which the actual
evidence of infringement is given:

TechTV | Fingering a Swapper
http://www.techtv.com/news/culture/story/0,24195,3489332,00.html

This is sufficient information to pin down the identity of a dynamic
or static IP user, provided that the ISP in question keeps log files
log enough.

Thanks for the opportunity to answer this question.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by grthumongous-ga on 24 Feb 2004 16:39 PST

Ground control to majortom,
Correction, the artist I was thinking of is actually named
Peter Schilling, song is  Major Tom (Coming Home). 

...I tried to add this entry as a "login to add a comment" but it may
show up as a "Request for Answer clarification".
Are we (non GAT members) no longer permitted to "add a comment"?

---

Clarification of Answer by majortom-ga on 24 Feb 2004 17:01 PST

Hello again, grthumongous-ga,

I'm not sure, but my best guess is that the question had passed some
time limit for commenting, but not yet passed a time limit for
requesting clarification. Now that you have requested a clarification,
it's open season on comments again, or something of the sort! Yes, I'm
familiar with both the David Bowie tune and the Peter Schilling song,
and like both of them.

Thanks majortom.
BTW, there is a Pete Shelley song that might be familiar to you.
It is similar to your moniker.