A Wisconsin grandfather is being sued by the Motion Picture Association of America, after his grandson downloaded four movies through an Internet file-sharing service. Fred Lawrence said his grandson did not know what he was doing was illegal.

Lawrence said he does not even know what file sharing was until he found out he was being sued for as much as $600,000. The MPAA later offered to settle with Lawrence for $4,000, but Lawrence is retired and on a fixed income. He said he can't afford $4,000 any more than he can afford $1,000,000. Lawrence said he cannot afford to pay the $4,000 even in installments.

Lawrence, a former employee of Snap-on Inc. and a seasonal worker for the City of Racine, said he is still trying to find an attorney to defend him in the suit. He was one of several people the MPAA contacted this year who were offered an out-of-court settlement. Those who declined or did not respond, including Lawrence, now face individual lawsuits.