Court Rejects Suit Against Web Song-Swappers - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

The_Dude · 04-25-2003, 06:02 PM

thank you courts!

Quote:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal court denied a request to shut down Internet song-swapping services Grokster and Morpheus on Friday, handing a stunning setback to the record labels and movie studios that have sought to curb unauthorized downloading of their works.

U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Wilson said the two services should not be shut down because they cannot control what is traded over their systems. Like a videocassette recorder, the software in question could be used for legitimate purposes as well as illicit ones, he said.

"It is undisputed that there are substantial noninfringing uses for (the) Defendants' software," wrote Wilson, who serves in Los Angeles.

A recording-industry trade group involved in the case said it would appeal.

Wilson's decision marks the first significant legal setback for the entertainment industry in its battle against the wildly popular "peer-to-peer" services that allow users to download movies, music and other files for free.

Federal courts have ordered earlier peer-to-peer services such as Napster (news - web sites) to shut down, and courts have so far supported the industry's efforts to track down individual peer-to-peer users, as well.

But Wilson's ruling gives Grokster, Morpheus and other Napster successors some legal basis on which to operate. Just as the Supreme Court in 1984 said videocassette recorders should not be outlawed because they can be used for legitimate purposes, peer-to-peer services should not be shut down even though users are certainly trading copyrighted movies and music, he said.

Grokster President Wayne Rosso said he was surprised by the decision because it showed that the judge understood the technology. Peer-to-peer services could be used to enable the Pentagon (news - web sites) to better share information, among other uses, he said, and the recording industry should try to work with such services rather than driving them out of business.

"Grokster doesn't and hasn't ever condoned copyright infringement," Rosso said. "We hope this sends a clear signal to the rights owners in this case to come to the table and sit down with us."

The Recording Industry Association of America (news - web sites) said it was disappointed with the decision.

"Businesses that intentionally facilitate massive piracy should not be able to evade responsibility for their actions," RIAA CEO Hilary Rosen said in a statement.

Rosen highlighted two portions of the 34-page decision she found favorable: first, that individuals are accountable for copyright violations; and second, Wilson's statement that Grokster and Morpheus "may have intentionally structured their businesses to avoid secondary liability for copyright infringement, while benefiting financially from the illicit draw of their wares."

The Motion Picture Association of America, whose movie-studio members also filed suit, had no immediate comment.

The decision could also provide a shot in the arm to Kazaa, another popular peer-to-peer service involved in a separate legal battle with the entertainment industry. A Kazaa spokeswoman said the company's lawyers were still evaluating the decision.

A Morpheus investor, speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a conference in Silicon Valley, said the decision would give his product a boost just as the company plans to roll out a new version.

"The timing of this couldn't be better," said Bill Kallman, a managing partner at Timberline Venture Partners, which has invested about $4 million in Morpheus since 1999.

RIAA members include AOL Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Music; Vivendi Universal's Universal Music; Sony Corp (news - web sites).'s Sony Music; Bertelsmann AG (news - web sites)'s BMG Music Group; and EMI Group Plc (news - web sites)..

MPAA members include Walt Disney Co.; Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.;Paramount Pictures Corp.; News Corp Ltd.'s Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.; Vivendi Universal's Universal Studios Inc.; and AOL Time Warner's Warner Bros.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...ch_music_dc_10

BoCo · 04-25-2003, 06:04 PM

WOOHOO!!

laconic1 · 04-25-2003, 09:08 PM

For once I actually agree with The_Dude about something. This is a good decision.

Krycheck · 04-25-2003, 09:14 PM

Bout freakin time some judge didnt have their head up their ass and understands the technology.

laconic1 · 04-25-2003, 10:43 PM

Unfortunately the RIAA won one too.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/30399.html

juanvaldes · 04-25-2003, 11:20 PM

this is just the beginning....

Ghost Bladder · 04-25-2003, 11:51 PM

If that Trusted Computer thing materialises we're screwed but for now WOOHOO!!

Junchbailey · 04-26-2003, 08:16 AM

It's all pointless. No matter what they do there will always be file sharing. They can shut down every possible way to trade files, and someboby will find another way.

Johnny Rotten · 04-26-2003, 09:13 AM

The judge didn't say that file swapping was legal. All he said was that the software itself was legal. You can still get nailed for distributing and, in the case of Verizon versus the RIAA, even get nailed for downloading.

KBilly · 04-26-2003, 08:06 PM

The RIAA will just start going after file swappers more often now. They'll appeal the decision anyways. But its a start.

Gatecrasher · 04-27-2003, 03:01 PM

the whole issue will end up in the supreme court. the rulings in the courts, including the higher court of appeals, have been inconsistent and the issue has been discussed in senate hearings..... the case is destined for the supreme court.

04-25-2003, 06:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
BoCo Fear the bunny Location: Hanging off the tip of the Right Wing	*WOOHOO!!* __________________ Activism is a way for useless people to feel important.

04-25-2003, 09:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
Krycheck Sultana ruined my evil persona Location: Los Angeles	Bout freakin time some judge didnt have their head up their ass and understands the technology. __________________ His pants are tight...but his morals are loose!!

04-26-2003, 08:16 AM	#8 (permalink)
Junchbailey Psycho Location: Columbia Falls, MT	It's all pointless. No matter what they do there will always be file sharing. They can shut down every possible way to trade files, and someboby will find another way. __________________ Hey guys -- I finally got a semen sample after pumping on my wiener for 2 whole days

04-26-2003, 09:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
Johnny Rotten lost and found Location: Berkeley	The judge didn't say that file swapping was legal. All he said was that the software itself was legal. You can still get nailed for distributing and, in the case of Verizon versus the RIAA, even get nailed for downloading. __________________ "The idea that money doesn't buy you happiness is a lie put about by the rich, to stop the poor from killing them." -- Michael Caine

04-25-2003, 09:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
laconic1 Junkie	For once I actually agree with The_Dude about something. This is a good decision.

04-25-2003, 10:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
laconic1 Junkie	Unfortunately the RIAA won one too. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/30399.html

04-25-2003, 11:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
juanvaldes Banned Location: shittown, CA	this is just the beginning....

04-25-2003, 11:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ghost Bladder Banned	If that Trusted Computer thing materialises we're screwed but for now WOOHOO!!

04-26-2003, 08:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
KBilly Loser Location: Dayton	The RIAA will just start going after file swappers more often now. They'll appeal the decision anyways. But its a start.

04-27-2003, 03:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
Gatecrasher Tilted Location: 213	the whole issue will end up in the supreme court. the rulings in the courts, including the higher court of appeals, have been inconsistent and the issue has been discussed in senate hearings..... the case is destined for the supreme court.