The trade group doesn't plan to drop the that it already has filed against suspected music pirates.

But Ray Beckerman, a New York lawyer who has been defending individuals targeted by the RIAA, said he thinks it is highly unlikely that the existing lawsuits will be pursued with any great vigor in light of the latest development.

"I think [RIAA officials] will realize that there's going to be no point in throwing money into those cases any more," Beckerman said. "The only people who are going to come out of it making any money will be their lawyers."