Judge rules against BU student in downloading case

BOSTON -- A federal judge has ruled that a Boston University student violated copyright infringement laws when he swapped music online.

Joel Tenenbaum, of Providence, admitted on the witness stand Thursday that he downloaded and distributed 30 songs.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Gertner ruled late Thursday that the only issue for the jury now is whether his infringement was willful, and how much in damage to award four record labels that sued him over the illegal file-sharing.

The jury is expected to begin deliberating the case later Friday. The case in Boston is only the nation's second music downloading case against an individual to go to trial.

Last month, a federal jury in Minneapolis ruled a Minnesota woman must pay nearly $2 million for copyright infringement.