The recording industry filed hundreds of lawsuits Monday against individual music lovers whom music companies accuse of illegally downloading and sharing songs over the Internet. Some defendants were surprised to be named.

SURVEY With the recording industry acting on its threat to sue hundreds of people for illegally downloading songs, does this make you less likely to download songs on the Internet? Yes. I'm scared I could be sued next. No. There's too many of us, they'll never catch me. I don't download songs on the Net. Results  |  Disclaimer

The lawsuits, filed in federal courts around the country, had been expected, as the industry has become increasingly aggressive in cracking down on the trading of pirated music files online. The source spoke on condition of anonymity.

The source said more than 261 lawsuits are being filed by the Recording Industry Association of America on behalf of its members, which include Universal Music Group, BMG, Atlantic, EMI, Sony Music and Warner Music.

Denver television station KMGH talked to Janet Bebell, one of 20 Coloradans named in lawsuits. She was stunned to learn that she was being sued for downloading songs on the Internet.

"This is a big deal. I thought they were going after high-volume users. I didn't think (me and my son) would qualify," Bebell said.

RIAA spokesman Cary Sherman said education efforts alone haven't made enough of a difference in stopping the tide of file swapping, which has ballooned to 3 billion illegal song downloads per month.