DULUTH, Minnesota – Jurors hearing the nation's first illegal pirating civil litigation case brought to trial here Tuesday were confronted with more than just mulling whether to hold a single mother of two liable for copyright infringement.

They're also being confronted with technical jargon that often bogged down the first day's proceeding, despite U.S. District Court judge Michael Davis' fast-paced temperament that kept the pace flowing. Jurors' understanding, or lack thereof, of the technology behind the alleged misdeed might make the difference in the case's outcome.

Some of the 12 panelists told the judge during jury selection that they lacked basic computer knowledge. Some said they had never been on the internet or don't use it now. None admitted to using a file-sharing network. Five said they had a digital music player and two said they copied a compact disc.

Often, the trial would halt while a witness for the Recording Industry Association of America elaborated on a term used in describing how they nabbed "Tereastarr." That's Thomas' alleged username on Kazaa, the file-sharing network where she is accused of pirating at least 25 songs. (Username, pirating, Kazaa and file-sharing network all had to be explained.)

What's more, witnesses and attorneys also were forced to define playlist, P2P protocol, encryption, share folder, burning, ripping, internet protocol address, meta data, hex code and even pirate rip groups – which were described as clandestine organizations poised to upload music before it is even released.

Jurors were also schooled in the definition of the trace route, screen shot, binary folders and even computer forensics. Some of the definitions were elementary at best.

Doug Jacobson, an Iowa State University computer forensic scientist, described his practice in the most basic term. "Computer forensics is basically going through and analyzing all the information on the computer."

David Edgar, Charter Communications' internet security manager, described "client premise equipment" as being the "next device after the cable modem." He said Dynamic Hosting Configuration Protocol" allowed internet service providers (which had to be explained) to "auto-configure" IP addresses. (The jury was left hanging on that one.)

But the icing on the cake goes to Jennifer Pariser, Sony BMG's anti-piracy chief. And this one had nothing to do with technology parlance.

She reviewed to the jury the energy and expenses placed toward finding musical talent and financially milking that talent via advertising, radio, t-shirts, posters and tours in a bid to sell CDs and digital downloads..

"Often a band will tour, which is to say to perform in live venues," Pariser said.

Testimony continues Wednesday. The RIAA, the lobbying branch of the recording industry, has filed more than 20,000 lawsuits in the last four years targeting piracy.

No other case has gone to trial. Usually, they settle. In some instances the cases are dismissed for various reasons, including lack of evidence or the alleged pirate is deceased.