 |
MusicNet Misuse of Copyright? Napster Saved? |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
ZDNet News has a report on the latest maneuvers in the case of Napster vs. RIAA (Napster trial twist: Labels 'smell bad'). The Register also has the story (Napster trial judge lambasts music biz). The problem Napster is complaining about is that MusicNet (one of the two major online music distribution efforts - the other is pressplay - neither of which is actually online right now) has gotten Napster to sign an exclusive deal for music distribution. Thus, Napster will only be able to distribute music that MusicNet can distribute. MusicNet has the backing of AOL/Time-Warner, RealNetworks, Bertelsmann and the EMI Group while pressplay has the backing of Sony, Vivendi Universal, Yahoo and Microsoft. The exclusive deal might be a violation of antitrust and, more frightening to the music labels, a misuse of copyright - which would strip the music labels of copyright protection for the works involved. The MusicNet joint venture "looks bad, sounds bad, and smells bad," U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel said. However, the issues are relatively complex, and Napster is unlikely to prevail, but it does mean the case will drag on for awhile more. The WashTech.com section of the Washington Post carries an abridged AP wire story (Judge Delays Ruling on Summary Judgment Against Napster). Of course Slashdot discusses this new development in the case (Napster Calls MusicNet Monopolistic; Judge Agrees). This issue isn't exactly new; in early August of this year, SiliconValley.com reported that the DOJ Antitrust Division was looking into the official online music services (Web music services face antitrust investigation).
P.S. Newsbytes reports that the RIAA's attack on Napster is working like a charm, if by working you mean encouraging people to switch to other file sharing systems that are even more difficult to stop (Users Of Napster Alternatives Up 500% In The U.S. - Survey).
Law.com has some good reporting (Licensing Deal Clouds Hearing Over Napster).
LA Times also reports (Napster Judge Questions Industry's Practices). In related news, InternetWire reports that Copyright.net is attacking the negotiations between the National Association of Music Publishers, aka the Harry Fox Agency, and the RIAA - establishing licensing rules for the MusicNet and pressplay - as unfairly ignoring independent artists (Copyright.net Statement On NMPA/RIAA Negotiation Announcement).
|
|
 |
| |
 |
Login |
 |
 |
Don't have an account yet? You can create one. As registered user you have some advantages like theme manager, comments configuration and post comments with your name. |
|
 |
 |
Related Links |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Article Rating |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Options |
 |
"User's Login" | Login/Create an Account | 0 comments |
| The comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content. |
|
|
Leges humanae nascuntur, vivunt, moriuntur
Human laws are born, live, and die
All stories, comments and submissions copyright their respective posters. Everything Else
Copyright (c) 2002 by the Information Society Project.
This material may be distributed only subject to the terms and conditions set
forth in the Open Publication License, v1.0 or later
(the latest version is presently available at http://www.opencontent.org/openpub/).
You can syndicate our news using the file backend.php
|