Saturday, February 27, 2010

5th Circuit rules innocent infringement defense not supported in Maverick v Harper

In Maverick Recording v. Harper, a case against a Texas teenager in which the trial court had held that there were triable issues concerning whether or not she could avail herself of the "innocent infringement" defense, the Fifth Circuit has reversed, and held that defendant could not invoke "innocent infringement" where she:

-had admittedly made unauthorized downloads of all of the 16 song files in question; and
-never disputed that she had "access" to the CD versions of the songs which bore copyright notices

The Court also found that the "making available" issue was irrelevant to the appeal, and that the "due process" issue as to the excessiveness of the statute's $750-per-infringed-work statutory damages had not been preserved for appeal.

5th Circuit Decision

[Ed. note. The Court's treatment of the innocent infringement defense is unsatisfactory. It appears that the Court may be misinterpreting the word "access" in the statute, following the same error committed by the Gonzalez court. The mere fact that a copy exists somewhere on the planet with a copyright notice does not preclude the "innocent infringement" defense. The defense was created to protect someone who -- like Ms. Harper -- had copied something which bore no copyright notice. The Court likewise errs in assuming, without plaintiffs' ever having proved, that the defendant had access to copies which bore the copyright notice.

I do not disagree with the proposition that the statute makes a person's lack of legal sophistication irrelevant if he or she made the infringing copy from a copy which bore the copyright notice. But that is a big "if", since it did not occur here. -R.B.
]

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Thursday, February 25, 2010

Marie Lindor requests pre-motion conference for attorneys fee motion

In UMG Recordings v. Lindor, Ms. Lindor has requested a pre-motion conference in connection with a planned motion for an order:

-determining the statute of limitations to have expired;
-determining her to be the prevailing party within the meaning of 17 USC 505; and
-awarding her costs, including reasonable attorneys fees.

February 25, 2010, letter of Ray Beckerman to District Judge Hon. David G. Trager



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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Tenenbaum case argued, decision reserved

According to a news report in the Boston Globe, the SONY BMG Music Entertainment v. Tenenbaum motion was argued yesterday, as scheduled, and decision reserved.


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Thursday, February 18, 2010

Tenenbaum files reply brief rebutting RIAA arguments

In SONY BMG Music Entertainment v. Tenenbaum, defendant has filed a reply brief rebutting the RIAA's opposition papers, rebutting the RIAA's contention that an award of $675,000 -- or about 65,000 times the maximum actual damages sustained -- satisfies due process standards.

Defendant's reply brief in support of motion for new trial or remittitur

[Ed. note. This brief, unlike the RIAA and Justice Department briefs, actually does discuss the applicable authorities on the due process argument, and shows that the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit -- in which the Massachusetts District lies -- has itself applied Gore and Campbell to statutory damages awards. Also the brief actually does look at Gore and Campbell, as well as Williams, and discuss them intelligently. So it looks like the issue has finally been properly framed, and it is now unimaginable that District Judge Gertner will accept the RIAA argument and reject the First Circuit's holding. Motion granted. -R.B.]





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RIAA withdraws sanctions motion against Prof. Nesson

In SONY BMG Music Entertainment v. Tenenbaum, the RIAA has withdrawn its sanctions motion against Professor Nesson.

Notice of withdrawal of motion

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Thursday, February 11, 2010

Despite beating UMG in the frivolous case it brought, Veoh has to close its doors

The litigious UMG Recordings has succeeded in shutting the doors of a competitor by bringing a frivolous lawsuit against Veoh, and losing. But apparently the drain of the lawsuit caused the startup to fail:

Veoh Closing Down, UMG Lawsuit Blamed (Billboard.biz)

Sad.


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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

RIAA opts for new trial in Capitol Records v. Thomas-Rasset

In Capitol Records v. Thomas-Rasset, the RIAA has opted to request a new trial.

Notice of election for new trial

[Ed. note. Not satisfied with a judgment for 6500 times their actual damages, the RIAA has opted to spend additional time and attorneys fees on a trial that cannot result in a higher amount than that, and may well result in a lower amount. Hopefully Judge Davis will reach the constitutional issue next time around, and limit the plaintiffs to the constitutional limit, would be around $1.40 per infringed work. -R.B.]-


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Monday, February 08, 2010

RIAA opposes Tenenbaum's motion for remittitur

In SONY BMG Music Entertainment v. Tenenbaum, the RIAA has filed its opposition papers.

RIAA's memorandum in opposition

[Ed. note. As is their habit, and as their friends at the Department of Justice did as well, the RIAA's lawyers have ignored (a) all but one of the leading cases, (b) all of the leading law review articles and other scholarship, and (c) the actual contents of the Supreme Court's decisions. Fortunately these are contained in the amicus curiae brief we filed last year on behalf of the Free Software Foundation. -R.B.



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Oral argument rescheduled in SONY v Tenenbaum to Feb 23rd at 3:15 pm

The oral argument of all of the pending motions in SONY BMG Music Entertainment v. Tenenbaum has been adjourned to February 23rd, at 3:15 PM:

Judge Nancy Gertner: Electronic ORDER entered GRANTING [35] JOINT Motion to Continue Mtn Hearing....motion hearing reset from 2/16/10 to 2/23/10 at 3:15pm in ctrm #2, 3rd floor. Hearing will be held on MOTION for New Trial or Remittitur (Civ. Act. No. 07-cv-11446, document #26), and all pending motions. (Molloy, Maryellen)


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Tuesday, February 02, 2010

UMG v Lindor dismissed without prejudice. No sanctions, no attorneys fees.

In UMG Recordings v. Lindor, the District Judge has adopted the report and recommendations of the Magistrate Judge, which
-denied the RIAA's motion for discovery sanctions; and
-granted the RIAA's motion for voluntary dismissal without prejudice, without costs or attorneys fees.
Although the Court did not expressly refer to the defendant's motion for Rule 11 sanctions, it closed the case, and it is inferable from the decision that the motion was intended to be denied.

Memorandum and Order Dismissing Case, Denying Sanctions Motion

[Ed. note I can't really comment fully on the decision just yet, since the case is not yet final, but the Judge's decision is glaringly erroneous as a matter of law, and would be reversed on an appeal. If you read my Declaration in Opposition to the RIAA's motion carefully, Judge Trager's error will leap out at you. -R.B.]



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Sad news: p2pnet.net shutting down, or going on hiatus

I just learned that the excellent site, p2pnet.net, published by outstanding writer, digital music expert, and human being Jon Newton, is shutting down for lack of funds:

"p2pnet – last post"

Jon has been a great friend to "Recording Industry vs. The People" and to the victims of the RIAA's mean spirited litigation campaign. And he is a great friend to me.

I hope donations flow in, and/or he finds another way to continue his important work.

Thankfully, the financial entry barriers to publishing aren't what they used to be, thanks to the internet, so it probably wouldn't take too much to get back p2pnet.net back up on its feet.

Thank you, Jon. Good luck with everything. Hope to see p2pnet.net back soon.

Your friend,

Ray


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Monday, February 01, 2010

Oral argument scheduled in SONY v Tenenbaum, February 16th, 9:30 A.M.

In SONY BMG Music Entertainment v. Tenenbaum, the Judge has scheduled oral argument of all of the outstanding motions for February 16th, at 9:30 AM.

ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Hearing on [26] MOTION for New Trial or Remittitur (Civ. Act. No. 07-cv-11446, document #26), and all pending motions, including, Plaintiffs' Motion for Costs and Fees Under Rule 37(a)(5) (Civ. Act. No. 03-cv-11661, document #851); Plaintiffs' Motion to Compel Defense Counsel to Cease Unauthorized Recording Activities, to Cease Publication of Discovery Materials and for Sanctions (Civ. Act. No. 03-cv-11661, document #865). Motion Hearing set for 2/16/2010 09:30 AM in Courtroom 2 before Judge Nancy Gertner.(Molloy, Maryellen)


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