labels
Tenenbaum Offers $21 Counter Offer to the RIAA
Convicted file-sharer argues that actual damages caused by illegally downloading 30 songs on KaZaA was $21, that being 70 cents for each song record labels would have received if he purchased the music from Apple’s iTunes. Joel Tenenbaum was found guilty of copyright infringement for illegally downloading 30 songs on KaZaA this past August, and was fined a total of $675,000, or $22,500 p/song. His attorney, Harvard Law Professor Charles Nesson, has already decided to appeal the verdict on the grounds that downloading music without a copyright holder’s permission qualifies for “fair use” exemption from copyright laws, and that if an individual file-sharer is not proven to have caused actual losses that they can’t be held liable for damages.
Continue reading »EU has doubts as ISP rolls out DPI for copyright enforcement
Back in November, UK ISP Virgin Media announced that it would start using deep packet inspection gear to start riffling through user traffic. The goal was to search some of the leading P2P networks in order to measure copyrighted material passing through them. Today, the European Commission indicated that the plan is problematic, and it will keep a close eye on the trial.
Continue reading »‘Piracy Isn’t Killing Music’ Radiohead’s Guitarist Says
In an attempt to take a stand against the labels, several well known artists including Radiohead formed the Featured Artists Coalition last year, a lobby group that aims to end the extortion-like practices of record labels and allow artists to gain more control over their own work. Radiohead and others are unhappy with the fact that the labels, represented by lobby groups such as the RIAA and IFPI, are pushing for anti-piracy legislation without consulting the artists they claim to represent. Radiohead, who used BitTorrent to leak one of their songs, went as far as being willing to show up as a witness against the RIAA in court.
Continue reading »Digital music prices: are they illegally fixed?
A federal lawsuit alleging collusion among the major music labels over digital download pricing can proceed, a three judge Appeals Court panel ruled today. As lawsuits go, this one’s a humdinger, charging that the labels engaged in a price-fixing conspiracy to ensure that they each made about 70 cents per track sold online, and that no one received a better deal than anyone else. The case had earlier been tossed for a “failure to state a claim,” but the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated it and ordered the trial judge to proceed with the case.
Continue reading »etc: It’s time for The Pirate Bay to pay up, say the record labels, who want a judge to fine the admins about $71,000 because the site is still up and…
It’s time for The Pirate Bay to pay up, say the record labels, who want a judge to fine the admins about $71,000 because the site is still up and running. Read More: PC World
Continue reading »
