Friday, August 31, 2007

RIAA Moves to Dismiss Counterclaims in Elektra v. Santangelo II

The RIAA has filed a motion to dismiss the defendants' two (2) counterclaims, one for copyright misuse, the other for breach of duty to warn, in Elektra v. Santangelo II

Plaintiffs' Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Dismiss Counterclaims*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation



Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




Have a Great Labor Day Weekend, Folks

Have a great Labor Day Weekend, folks.
-R.B.


Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




Suit Filed with FTC Charges Universal, NBC, Dreamworks, NFL, MLB, and Others With Misrepresenting Copyright Law by Ignoring Fair Use Statute

We have received a copy of the complaint filed with the FTC by the Computer & Communications Industry Association against such content owners as Universal, NBC Universal, the National Football League, Major League Baseball, Dreamworks Studios, and others, for misrepresenting copyright law in their "copyright warnings".

The case is

In the Matter of
Misrepresentation of Consumer Fair Use and
Related Rights
by
National Football League, NFL Properties,
Inc., NFL Enteprises LLC
and
Major League Baseball, Major League
Baseball Properties, Inc., Major League
Baseball Advanced Media, LP
and
NBC Universal, Inc., Universal Studios, Inc.,
and Morgan Creek Productions, Inc.
and
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.,
DreamWorks LLC, a Viacom property
and
Harcourt Inc.
and
Penguin Group (USA), Inc.
The complaint starts off saying:
This complaint concerns the systematic misrepresentation of consumers’ rights to use legally acquired content by certain copyright-holding corporations. These corporations have engaged, and continue to engage in, a nationwide pattern of unfair and deceptive trade practices by misrepresenting consumer rights under copyright law, and in some cases threatening criminal and civil penalties against consumers who choose to exercise statutorily or Constitutionally guaranteed rights. These false representations violate the letter and spirit
of the Federal Trade Commission Act’s prohibition against unfair or deceptive acts or
practices in or affecting commerce.
and then goes on to provide very specific examples of false and deceptive statements by the content owners, attaching selected examples as exhibits.

Non-pdf versions of the full complaint are available online here at Groklaw (without exhibits) and here at Defend Fair Use (with exhibits).

Complaint in "Matter of Misrepresentation of Consumer Fair Use and Related Rights* (Full version, including exhibits, in *pdf format)

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Commentary & discussion:

Ars Technica
C/Net News
GrokLaw
p2pnet.net





Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




Great Copyright Law Article on C/Net, Reminds us about "Fair Use" and Content Cartel Overreaching

Came across this great copyright law article on C/Net News. (Tip of the hat to Steve Meyer's DISC & DAT email newsletter for bringing Maura's article to my attention). -R.B.

Perspective: Separating fact from fiction on digital copyrights
Qorvis' Maura Corbett says copyright law wasn't intended to serve as a stick for rights holders to wield against the freedom of information.
By Maura Corbett
Published: August 27, 2007, 4:00 AM PDT


I'll bet you can recite most of the copyright warnings that appear on your screen when you pop in a DVD, or at the end of football game, can't you?

At the very least, we all know that when the warning signs appear, what follows are a few very-important-sounding sentences noting the dire consequences of unauthorized use of what we're about to see. We don't necessarily understand it, but we know it's bad. And if we were to believe what they tell us, discussing Barry Bonds' homeruns around the water cooler would put us all in jail.

Did it ever occur to you that, in many cases, these serious, ubiquitous warnings may not actually be accurate?


..................

.....For example, warnings on many Universal DVDs state, in part, that "any unauthorized exhibition, distribution or copying of this film or any part thereof (including soundtrack) is an infringement of the relevant copyright and will subject the infringer to severe civil and criminal penalties."

This statement is simply untrue--the federal copyright statutes specifically allow unauthorized reproduction for criticism, commentary and other purposes. Just recently, the NFL threatened the media by withholding press credentials for any organization that showed more than 45 seconds of a game.

This is not the way forward. We should not permit rights holders to use copyright law to create new powers for themselves........
Complete article



Commentary & discussion:

p2pnet.net





Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




Variety and Associated Press Note Significance of Andersen v. Atlantic Class Action

Recent reports by Variety and by the Associated Press underscore the potential importance of the class action brought by Tanya Andersen against the RIAA, the record companies, Media Sentry and others, Andersen v. Atlantic.

Variety reports:

RIAA faces serious piracy lawsuit
Music org's stern policy in jeopardy
By WILLIAM TRIPLETT

A lawsuit recently filed against the Recording Industry Assn. of America could ultimately force the org to drop or dramatically change the way it uses its principal weapon in the fight against online piracy, according to experts and observers.

The case -- filed in Oregon and asserting claims under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act -- details the RIAA's alleged use of "illegal and flawed" methods when investigating people for downloading or swapping copyrighted songs without paying for them.

The plaintiff in the case, disabled single mother Tanya Andersen, claims the RIAA was aware of the faulty methods but has nonetheless filed lawsuits against innocent people in some cases.

Andersen claims she is not the only victim of such tactics and is therefore seeking class-action status for her suit. If the court grants that status, the RIAA could be facing a losing proposition because class-action suits can be extremely risky for defendants, in this case creating the potential for a big payout by the music labels.

"If class action is certified, it's more likely that the record companies would settle," said Ronnie London, an attorney versed in class-action law with the firm of Davis Wright Tremaine, which specializes in communications law.

Settlement could also lead to less aggressive legal tactics in pursuit of online pirates.
Complete Variety article

The Associated Press (via Forbes.com) reports as follows:
Woman Targets RIAA With Lawsuit
By WILLIAM McCALL 08.29.07, 4:05 PM ET

PORTLAND, Ore. -

An Oregon woman has filed a class-action lawsuit against the Recording Industry Association of America, accusing it of illegal spying and intimidation against thousands of people across the nation to crack down on music pirating.

The lawsuit by Tanya J. Andersen claims the association and a company called MediaSentry "conspired to develop a massive threat and litigation enterprise targeting private citizens across the United States."

The lawsuit also accuses the association of violating state and federal racketeering laws.

The complaint filed August 15 in U.S. District Court in Portland claims that MediaSentry has admitted it has misidentified people suspected of illegally downloading music.
Complete Associated Press (via Forbes.com) article


Commentary & discussion:

p2pnet.net
Slashdot
Glorious Noise




Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




Wednesday, August 29, 2007

RIAA Opposes Michelle and Bobby Santangelo Motion to Add Kazaa and AOL as third party defendants

The RIAA has filed papers in Elektra v. Santangelo II, in opposition to the defendants' motion to add Kazaa and AOL as third party defendants.

Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Motion for Leave to File 3rd Party Complaint*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Commentary & discussion:

p2pnet.net





Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




RIAA Fights Back in Barker, Says Latin American Music Case Doesn't Negate Its "Making Available" Theory

The RIAA has responded to the defendants' submission of the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Latin American Music v. Archdiocese of San Juan, in Elektra v. Barker, submitting a 3-page single-spaced letter to Judge Karas arguing that the decision does not negate its "making available" theory.

August 29, 2007, Letter of Richard Gabriel (re Latin American Music case)*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation




Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




"RIAA v. The People : Four Years Later", New Report by EFF

Via Jon Newton at p2pnet.net (Thank you, Jon!):

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has come out with an interesting overview of the RIAA's litigation campaign, RIAA v. The People : Four Years Later, which concluded:

Four years and more than 20,000 lawsuits later, the RIAA’s campaign of suing individual American music fans has failed. It has failed to curtail P2P downloading. It has not persuaded music fans that sharing is equivalent to shoplifting. It has not put a penny into the pockets of artists. It has failed to drive the bulk of filesharers into the arms of authorized music services. In fact, the RIAA lawsuits may well be driving filesharers to new technologies that will be much harder for the RIAA’s investigators to infiltrate and monitor.
Complete report (pdf)


Commentary & discussion:

p2pnet.net
Security Focus
Ars Technica
eCommerce Times
bit-tech.net
Yahoo! Tech
Security Focus







Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




RIAA Moves to Strike "Copyright Misuse" Affirmative Defense in UMG v. Lindor

Although the RIAA has made several motions to dismiss charges of "copyright misuse" when they had been interposed as a counterclaim, it has now -- for what is believed to be the first time -- filed a motion to strike when "copyright misuse" was asserted solely as an affirmative defense, in UMG v. Lindor.

Although Ms. Lindor interposed no counterclaim, the RIAA's arguments are virtually identical to the arguments it made in attacking the counterclaims in four (4) other cases.

The defense asserted by Ms. Lindor, first raised by her in March, 2006, alleges:

8. The plaintiffs, who are competitors, are a cartel acting collusively in violation of the antitrust laws and of public policy, by tying their copyrights to each other, collusively litigating and settling all cases together, and by entering into an unlawful agreement among themselves to prosecute and to dispose of all cases in accordance with a uniform agreement, and through common lawyers, thus overreaching the bounds and scope of whatever copyrights they might have.
9. As such, they are guilty of misuse of their copyrights.
Ms. Lindor's opposition papers are due September 18th, and the RIAA's reply papers are due October 2nd.

RIAA Motion to Strike 4th Affirmative Defense, Copyright Misuse*
RIAA Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Strike 4th Affirmative Defense, Copyright Misuse*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Commentary & discussion:

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p2pnet.net
Ars Technica


















The above donation button links to a PayPal account established by Marie Lindor's family for people who may wish to make financial contributions to Ms. Lindor's legal defense in UMG v. Lindor. Contributions are not tax deductible.



Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Recent US Court of Appeals Decision Reiterates "Authorization" Is Not "Infringement"; Contrary to Argument RIAA Made in Barker, Cassin

In its attempt to create a right to sue for "making available", the RIAA has argued, at the oral argument in Elektra v. Barker, and more recently in its opposition brief in Warner v. Cassin, that the term "to authorize" in the preamble language of 17 USC 106 means that merely "authorizing" something is tantamount to "infringement". This argument was recently repudiated by the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, in Latin American Music Co. v. Archdiocese of San Juan.

Defendants' lawyers brought this recent holding to the respective Judges' attention in both the Barker and Cassin cases.

August 28, 2007, Letter of Ray Beckerman to Judge Robinson in Warner v. Cassin (Latin American Music decision)*
August 28, 2007, Letter of Ray Beckerman to Judge Karas in Elektra v. Barker (Latin American Music decision)*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Commentary & discussion:

Motel de Moka






Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




Friday, August 24, 2007

RIAA Cites New Pro Se Case on "Making Available" to Judge Karas and Judge Robinson in Barker and Cassin cases

The RIAA has written to Judge Karas in Elektra v. Barker and to Judge Robinson in Warner v. Cassin, to bring to their attention a new decision on the "making available" issue, which was issued in a pro se case, Atlantic v. Howell in Arizona. In an unusual tactic, they mailed their letters but did not file them electronically as the Court rules require.

Lawyers for Ms. Barker and Ms. Cassin responded to the RIAA's late submission, pointing out to the judges that (1) Mr. Howell had no legal representation in Howell, (2) the judge in Howell made incorrect references to 3 other decisions, and (3) the judge did not explain how 'making available' could fulfill the requirements of a "distribution" under 17 USC 106(3).

August 22, 2007, Letter of Richard J. Guida in Elektra v. Barker Transmitting Atlantic v. Howell*
August 22, 2007, Letter of Brian E. Moran in Warner v. Cassin Transmitting Atlantic v. Howell*
August 24, 2007, Letter of Ray Beckerman Responding to Guida Letter*
August 24, 2007, Letter of Ray Beckerman Responding to Moran Letter*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Commentary & discussion:

TechDirt
Ars Technica
p2pnet.net




Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




Pro Se Defendant Loses to RIAA in Atlantic v. Howell in Arizona, Judge Holds "Making Available" is a "Distribution"

In Atlantic v. Howell, a case against a pro se defendant in Arizona, the judge ruled in favor the RIAA and concluded that "making available" is in and of itself a copyright infringement.

This is the second time of which we are aware in which, in the context of a summary judgment motion against a pro se litigant, a judge has stated that merely "making available" is in and of itself a copyright infringement. The first was Motown v. DePietro in Philadelphia, where the RIAA's summary judgment motion was nevertheless denied.

August 24, 2007, Order Granting Summary Judgment to Plaintiffs*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Commentary & discussion:

TechDirt
Ars Technica
Wired.com
p2pnet.net
"Digital Daily" on "All Things Digital"
Patry Copyright Blog (Comment on DePietro case)



Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




State-by-State List of Cases.

Updated through 8/23/07

Alabama Arizona California Colorado Florida Georgia Illinois Massachusetts Michigan Mississippi New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Texas Virginia Washington Canada Netherlands

Alabama
Motown v. Liggins (M.D. Alabama)
UMG v. Heard (Birmingham, Alabama)

Arizona
Interscope v. Duty (Arizona)
Loud v. Sanchez (Tucson, AZ)

California
MGM v. Grokster (C.D. California)
Motown v. Lisberg, (C.D. California)
SONY v. Does 1-10 (Fresno, CA)
SONY v. Merchant (Fresno, CA)
UMG v. Hummer Winblad (San Francisco, CA)(Case Against Napster Investors)
Universal v. Hogan (San Diego, CA)(MPAA case)
Virgin v. Marson (Central Dist. California, Western Divis.)
Warner v. Maravilla (C.D. California)

Colorado
Arista v. Does 1-9 (Denver, CO)

Florida
Interscope v. Does 1-40 (Tampa, FL)
Virgin v. Morgan (Pensacola, FL)
UMG v. Del Cid (Tampa, FL)

Georgia
Atlantic v. Zuleta (Atlanta, GA)
Priority v. Beer (Columbus, GA)

Illinois
BMG v. Gonzalez (USCA 7th Cir.)
BMG v. Thao (Chicago, IL)
Elektra v. Wilke (Chicago, IL)
Lewan v. Sharman (Chicago, IL)(class action against Kazaa)
Warner v. DeWitt (N.D. Illinois, Eastern Div.)

Massachusetts
Capitol v. Fanguiaire (Boston, MA)

Michigan
Elektra v. Harless (Detroit, MI)
Motown v. Nelson (Detroit, MI)
Priority v. Chan (Detroit, MI)(Closed)
Priority v. Chan II (Detroit, MI)
Warner v. Paladuk (E. D. Michigan)
Warner v. Pidgeon (E. D. Michigan, Southern Div.)
Warner v. Scantlebury E.D. Michigan, Southern Division)

Minnesota
Elektra v. McCall (Minnesota)

Mississippi
Atlantic v. Myers (Jackson, MS)
Elektra v. Dennis (Jackson, MS)

New Jersey
SONY v. Scimeca (Newark, NJ) (Closed)

New Mexico
Capitol v. Does 1-16 (D. New Mexico)

New York
Arista v. Finkelstein (New York, NY)
Arista v. Lime Wire (New York, NY)(RIAA case against Lime Wire)
Atlantic v. Does 1-25(New York, NY)
Atlantic v. Huggins(Brooklyn, NY)
Atlantic v. Shutovsky (New York, NY)
Capitol v. Sitaras (Brooklyn, NY)
Elektra v. Barker (New York, NY)
Elektra v. Does 1-9 (Closed)
Elektra v. Santangelo (White Plains, NY)
Elektra v. Santangelo II (White Plains, NY)
Elektra v. Schwartz (Brooklyn, NY)
Elektra v. Torres (Brooklyn, NY)
Interscope v. Does (New York, NY)
Interscope v. Kimmel (Binghamton, NY)
Lava v. Amurao (White Plains, NY)
Loud v. Does (New York, NY)
Maverick v. Becker (Brooklyn, NY)
Maverick v. Chowdhury (Brooklyn, NY)
Maverick v. Goldshteyn (Brooklyn, NY)
Motown v. Does 1-99 (New York, NY)
SONY v. Does 1-40(New York, NY) SDNY 04cv473(Closed)
UMG v. Lindor (Brooklyn, NY)
Warner v. Cassin (White Plains, NY)
Warner v. Does 1-149 (New York, NY)

Ohio
Arista v. Does 1-15 (S.D. Ohio)

Oklahoma
Arista v. Does 1-11 (Oklahoma City, OK)
Capitol Records v. Foster (Oklahoma)
Warner v. Stubbs (Oklahoma City, OK)

Oregon
Andersen v. Atlantic (Oregon)
Atlantic v. Andersen(Oregon)
Elektra v. Perez (Oregon)

Pennsylvania
BMG v. Does (E. D. Pa. CV 04-650)
Motion v. DePietro (Pro Se case)(Philadelphia, PA)

Rhode Island
Elektra v. Werry (Providence, Rhode Island)

South Carolina
Atlantic v. Njuguna
Interscope v. Korb (Charleston, SC)
SONY v. DeMaria (Charleston, South Carolina)

Tennessee
Virgin v. Does 1-33 (Knoxville, TN)

Texas
Arista Records v. Greubel (Fort Worth, TX)
Arista v. Tschirhart (San Antonio, TX)
Atlantic v. Boggs (Corpus Christi, TX)
Atlantic v. Demassi (Houston,TX)
BMG v. Conklin (Pro se case in Houston, TX)
Fonovisa v. Alvarez (Abilene, TX)
Fonovisa v. Does 1-41 (Austin, TX)
SONY v. Arellanes (Sherman, Texas)
SONY v. Crain (Beaumont, Texas)
UMG v. Hightower (Houston, TX)
Warner v. Payne (Waco, TX)

Virginia
Interscope v. Does 1-7 (Newport News, VA)

Washington
Interscope v. Leadbetter (Seattle, WA)

Canada
BMG v. Doe (Canada)

Netherlands
Foundation v. UPC Nederland (Netherlands, District Court of Utrecht)

Commentary & discussion:

p2pnet.net

Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

Thursday, August 23, 2007

University of Tennessee Student Makes Motion to Quash Subpoena in Virgin v. Does 1-33

Tip of the hat to Jon Newton at p2pnet.net who brought this to my attention.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that in Virgin v. Does 1-33, the RIAA's attempt to obtain the identities of students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, "John Doe #28", a student at the University, has made a motion to quash the subpoena which has been served.

According to the News Sentinel, this is the first attempt to attack the challenge to the RIAA's discovery proceedings in Knoxville.

Knoxville News Sentinel article

Litigation documents:

Motion to Quash*
Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Quash*

The student is represented by Johnnie Louis Johnson III, of Memphis.

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




Wednesday, August 22, 2007

RIAA Tries to Push Case Against MS Victim in Elektra v. Schwartz

Despite a schedule agreed upon by the parties and fixed by the Magistrate Judge, the RIAA has written a letter demanding that the case proceed against the defendant, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, in Elektra v. Schwartz

August 22, 2007, Letter of Richard L. Gabriel to Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Commentary & discussion:

p2pnet.net






Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




RIAA Requests Permission to File "Sur-Reply" Brief in Warner v. Cassin; Files it Anyway

In Warner v. Cassin, the RIAA has taken the unusual step of making a motion for leave to file a sur-reply brief, and the even more unusual step of filing a sur-reply brief without the Court's permission having been granted.

The proposed brief would be in response to the reply memorandum served by Ms. Cassin in response to the RIAA's papers in opposition to Ms. Cassin's motion to dismiss the complaint.

Ms. Cassin opposed the "motion".

Motion for Leave to file Sur-Reply Brief*
Proposed Surreply Brief*
August 22, 2007, Letter of Ray Beckerman opposing Motion for Leave to file Sur-Reply Brief*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




Tuesday, August 21, 2007

RIAA Targets 503 New Students at 58 Colleges & Universities; Continues to Avoid Tangling with Harvard

Accorting to ZeroPaid.com, the RIAA has targeted 503 additional college students at 58 colleges and universities. We note that Harvard is not among them.

503 "lucky" new students get to start the Fall Semester even deeper in debt.

The RIAA has announced that it has targeted 503 new students in its latest "deterrence program" aimed at eliminating college campus piracy across the country. This brings the approximate number of targeted students to 2,926 and counting thus far.......

In the seventh wave of this new initiative, the RIAA this week sent letters to 58 schools including:


* Boston University

* University of Tennessee - Knoxville

* North Carolina State University

* Duke University, University of Maine System,

* Columbia University

* University of California, Los Angeles

* University of Texas at Austin

* Boston College

* Carleton College

* Georgetown University

* Indiana State University

* Marshall University

* New York University

* Tulane University

* University of Virginia

* Bethel University

* California State University, Fresno

* California State University, Sacramento

* Colgate University

* Emory University

* Loyola University Chicago

* University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

* University of Illinois at Chicago

* University of Mississippi

* Allegheny College

* Gettysburg College

* Lehigh University

* Seton Hall University

* University of Kentucky

* Washington University

* Bryn Mawr College

* Bucknell University

* California State University, Chico

* Creighton University

* Florida Institute of Technology

* Indiana University of Pennsylvania

* Rice University

* Texas A&M University

* University of Florida

* University of Notre Dame

* Bowdoin College

* Haverford College

* Mt. Saint Mary College

* Pepperdine University

* San Jose State University

* Smith College

* Trinity College

* University of Minnesota - Duluth

* American University

* California State University, Stanislaus

* San Diego State University

* University of Hawaii

* Villanova University

* Oberlin College

* Swarthmore College

* Virginia Military Institute

* Wellesley College.
Complete article


Commentary & discussion:

US News & World Report




Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs




Sunday, August 19, 2007

TheStreet.Com: "Music Labels Might Still be Shorts"

Interesting July article I just came across on investment website, RealMoney.com at TheStreet.com:

Music Labels Might Still Be Shorts
By Cody Willard
RealMoney.com Contributor
7/9/2007 1:38 PM EDT

I've been highlighting the idea that content owners and producers will benefit greatly from the collapsing distribution costs provided by the Internet for more than a year. For the last few weeks, I've been trying to embrace even the music labels. Yes, the same music labels that have actually not only been unable to figure out how to monetize free and instantaneous distribution of their content but that have actually been suing those who actively steal their content.

But as the headline of my alma mater's Daily Lobo underscored this weekend, these guys who own the rights to all the quality, popular music from the last century just keep self-destructing. They're supposed to be end-user empowering.

I spent some time during my visit home last week at the University of New Mexico's Albuquerque campus, where I still unofficially hold the record for points per minute average on the Lobo basketball team. While there, I saw the headline on the student paper: "Judge's ruling doesn't dismiss RIAA's case." Seems New Mexico Federal District Judge Lorenzo Garcia denied a request to subpoena the University of New Mexico for the personal information of Internet users suspected of music piracy.

I'm sorry, but what year is it? You're telling me that in July 2007, as industry revenue has fallen double digits this year, as the entire music industry is collapsing into possible bankruptcy, these guys are still actively suing college kids trading music files?

Revolutionomics 101 dictates that those who empower, win. Those who protect, lose.....

Complete article





Keywords: digital copyright online law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs