OT: RIAA and Their Law Suits

[Baron Munchausen]

Oh yes! There is a provision for voiding the copyright on works when the copyright is used in a monopoly fashion.

Kazaa Strikes Back:

http://news.com.com/2100-1023_3-982344.html

The “legal consequences” Sharman is seeking are potentially severe. Sharman is asking the judge to declare the copyright holders guilty of antitrust and related violations, and to bar them from enforcing any of their copyrights.

It's a long shot, but not impossible. Napster was working in this direction before it was finished off.

Last year, federal judge Marilyn Hall Patel ordered an investigation into the record labels’ licensing practices towards Online companies and into the structure of Pressplay and Musicnet, services largely owned by record labels.

"The evidence now shows that the plaintiffs have licensed their catalogues of works for digital distribution in what could be an overreaching manner," Patel wrote in a February 2002 decision that was part of the Napster lawsuit. "The evidence also suggests the (record labels’) entry into the digital distribution marketplace may run afoul of antitrust laws."

If they are 'barred from enforcing' their copyrights they are effectively stripped of them. 50 years of 'Rock-n-roll' would be free for the copying!

[ September 24, 2003, 22:34: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]