In a bizarre story that will amuse only RIAA, Sharman Networks, developer of Kazaa P2P software, has sued P2P online news site P2Pnet. P2Pnet and its owner and editor Jon Newton have long been a supporter of both P2P developers and users.

Sharman is claiming libel regarding the disclosure and comments on CEO Nikki Hemming's financial affairs. This suit appears to be entirely without merit. Hemming's information was a salient issue at Kazaa's court case in Australia and had already been made public by various news sources. Personal comments on the matter were made not by P2Pnet, but by anonymous P2Pnet readers.

Sharman provided the following vacuous statement to The Register newspaper:

"Sharman Networks Limited and Nikki Hemming have filed a libel lawsuit in the Supreme Court of British Columbia against Jon Newton of www.p2pnet.net. The Writ of Summons charges that Mr. Newton has published false and injurious statements which are calculated to damage Ms. Hemming and Sharman Networks.

"The writ was delivered following two formal attempts, on May 5 and May 8, requesting Mr. Newton to remove the material in question and post an Apology on www.p2pnet.net . Only after being served with the writ did Mr. Newton act to remove - if only temporarily - the defamatory material.

"The libels were so gratuitously offensive, personal and unnecessary that Miss Hemming had little choice but to respond by asserting her rights through legal action after attempts to remedy the matter without litigation failed. The libelous story and postings complained of in the writ were so significantly beyond anything relevant to any business matters in the P2P market that Sharman Networks Limited and Ms. Hemming felt they had no option but to take action.

"Sharman Networks Limited and Ms. Hemming are suing for general, special, aggravated and punitive damages."