Saturday, September 30, 2006

Streamcast Held Liable for Copyright Infringement in MGM v. Grokster, Round 2

The lower court has granted the content providers' motion for summary judgment as to liability against Streamcast in MGM v. Grokster, Round 2.

September 27, 2006, Order and Decision, Granting Plaintiffs Summary Judgment as to Liability Against Streamcast

This means that Streamcast is determined by the judge to be liable, and that the only thing left to decide is what remedies, such as damages or injunctions, are appropriate.

Beta News reports that Streamcast is considering whether to attempt to appeal from the decision.

(Thanks to Digital Music News for publishing and hosting the order and decision.)

Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

RIAA Tries to Keep Defendant's Lawyers from Seeing MediaSentry Contracts in UMG v. Lindor

In UMG v. Lindor, the RIAA has made a motion to prevent the defendant's lawyers from seeing plaintiffs' contracts with MediaSentry.


Notice of Motion for Protective Order (MediaSentry agreements)*
Memorandum of Law*
Declaration of Richard Gabriel*
Exhibit D to Declaration of Richard Gabriel*
Declaration of Bradley Buckles*

In the Buckles declaration they admitted that the "instructions and parameters" for MediaSentry's "on-line investigations" were developed by the RIAA's lawyers. (See Buckley Declaration, paragraph 6, page 2).

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

Monday, September 25, 2006

Lime Wire Sues RIAA for Antitrust Violations

In Arista v. Lime Wire, in Manhattan federal court, Lime Wire has filed its answer and interposed counterclaims against the RIAA for antitrust violations, consumer fraud, and other misconduct. Lime Wire alleged that the RIAA's

goal was simple: to destroy any online music distribution service they did not own or control, or force such services to do business with them on exclusive and/or other anticompetitive terms so as to limit and ultimately control the distribution and pricing of digital music, all to the detriment of consumers. (Counterclaim, paragraph 26, page 18).

....

This case is but one part of a much larger modern conspiracy to destroy all innovation that content owners cannot control and that disrupts their historical business models.(Counterclaim, paragraph 28, page 18).



Lime Wire has demanded a trial by jury.

Answer and Counterclaim of Lime Wire defendants*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Commentary and discussion:

English language:
Slashdot
Digg
TechDirt
p2pnet.net
Slyck
cdfreaks.com
Digital Music Weblogs
Digital Music News
Good Morning Silicon Valley
Flexbeta
Broadband Reports
Axiom Sun
Tinfoil
Boycott-RIAA.com
gnutella.com
New York Times.com (Must be registered to read article)
Stay Tuned
chillingeffects.org
Torrent Freak

Other languages:
PCM
Scoopeo
Thorion
Forum Italia
testticker.de
gulli.com
Radio Al Aire

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Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

Friday, September 22, 2006

Preclusion Motion Filed in UMG v. Lindor; Lindor Says RIAA Cannot Introduce Songs into Lawsuit if it Has Not Produced Song Files

In UMG v. Lindor, the defendant Marie Lindor has made a motion to preclude the RIAA from introducing into the case songs as to which it has failed to produce the song files. Ms. Lindor's lawyers submitted to the Court the RIAA's interrogatory responses where the record companies had stated under oath that their case was based upon (a) Media Sentry's detection of song files being 'distributed' and (b) Media Sentry's allegedly making "perfect digital copies" of those files. Ms. Lindor's attorneys argued that the RIAA cannot prove that it made perfect digital copies of the songs if it doesn't have the song files.

Notice of Motion*
Affidavit of Morlan Ty Rogers*
Opposition Affidavit of Richard L. Gabriel*
Memorandum of Law in Opposition*
Reply Affidavit of Morlan Ty Rogers*
Reply Memorandum of Law*
Exhibit A (Plaintiffs' Response to Defendant's First Interrogatories)*
Exhibt B (Plaintiffs' Response to Defendant's Followup Interrogatories)*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Commentary and discussion:
Comments here on the blog (some fascinating dialogue going on among our more technically knowledgeable readers going on: don't miss it)
Digg
Slashdot
BoingBoing
p2pnet.net
Slyck
Digital Music Weblog

Table of Cases

Digg!

Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

Saturday, September 16, 2006

An Important Open Letter from Our Friends Resisting the RIAA in Hungary

I received this important letter from those fighting the RIAA's counterpart in Hungary. Although it was initially addressed to me, its author has authorized me to publish it on the blog. I consider this letter an important, historic clarion call to action for those of us in the United States. It is clear that these folks in Hungary are way ahead of us in thinking this problem through, and in organizing the resistance, and that we have much to learn from them. I urge all of my readers to (a) disseminate this open letter far and wide, and (b) get together and act upon it:

Re: Fighting Back Against the RIAA Internationally

"Dear Colleagues,

"Thank you for answering the multitude of questions on Slashdot. That is
how I have learned about you and your work. Let me inform you that there are
others, in other countries, who are fighting the same fight you are.

"In particular, we have established a self-defense fund called Elite Defense
(web-page in Hungarian: http://defense.4242.hu) in Hungary that provides legal assistance to those attacked by RIAA's Hungarian subsidaries. We are providing this service in partnership with an attorney, who actually does the legal representation. His name is dr. Zsolt Dallos (email address:
zsolt@dallosugyvediiroda.t-online.hu). I would like to share our experiences with you in order to avoid reinventing the wheel (by either of us).

"Hungarian law with respect to file sharing is more similar to that of Canada
than that of the US. On top of that, we have a legal system based on
code law rather than common law. This alters the tactics of our adversaries
as well as that of most effective defense, but I still think that some of
our experience may be useful to you and vice versa.

"For instance, I find that the main weapon of the copyright-mafia is
intimidation and scare tactics. The actual number of cases is relatively low
(compared to the number of people actively involved in file-swapping), but
they try to give each one of them big publicity in order to scare the rest
of us. Consequently, the actual risk of a person being sued is far
smaller than what the copyright-mafia would want us to believe. This, in
turn, implies that there's a market for insurance-like services: for a
modest monthly fee (approx. $1/month), we provide free legal representation and
a T-shirt (saying: "they wanted to fine me for file-swapping, but all I got
was this lousy T-shirt") to those attacked. The T-shirt is actually very
important: instead of being something shameful, it shows resistance to these lawsuits to be
something to be proud of, which is very important in defeating their very
purpose.

"Another very important activity of ours is that of countering the record industry's false propaganda. As you have written, the formation of the legal framework is still in progress, thus public opinion matters a lot. It is very important to show the world that it is we, not they, that have the moral and legal high ground. We organize public debates with the representatives of the copyright-mafia on university campuses, where we expose the immoral and
hypocritical behavior of these guys, which is motivated by greed and nothing
else. Here are some powerful arguments that have been made in these debates:

"There is a difference between music and a recording thereof. The recording
industry has actually robbed many musicians of an opportunity to make money
by playing music: in many places (pubs, markets, skating rinks, etc.) where
there was (diverse) live music (for centuries!), now we can only listen to
(the same) recorded mucic. It is more cost-effective for the recording
monopolies to hand-pick a small number of performers making them superstars
and flooding the whole world with the same (often very shallow) music than
to allow for greater cultural diversity. Thereby, they are inflicting
enormous damage to humanity's cultural heritage.

"There is no better advertising for a musician, than the recording of their
performance. If recordings are circulating freely and the music is good,
people will notice and demand that music. Now, the recording industry wants
to rob musicians of this potent, yet low-cost, marketing tool in order to
maintain their control over the tastes of people and to keep the number of
popular musicians as low as they can. The overwhelming majority of musicians
are actually benefitting from file-sharing, and file-sharing allows for making
money by means other than seeking the favors of recording monopolies.

"Music copyright has killed folk music. How many folk-songs do you know from
the second half of the 20th century? That is because the recording industry has made
copyright the only way for musicians to make money. The tradition of taking
a song and performing it according to one's own tastes, which lies at the
basis of folk-music, was rendered unprofitable and thus almost extinct.

"In countries where music copyright is not enforced (Russia is a prime
example), there are many more live performances. Even the most popular bands
need to tour the contry and give concerts in order to earn their living. And
guess what, they usually make their mp3's available for download right on
their websites for free, because that's how they lure people to
performances. That is, from the society's point of view, a far better
situation that what you have in America and other countries with zealously
enforced music copyright.

"The marginal costs of making another copy of a recording is, for all
practical purposes, zero. This is reflected in the fact that
Universal Music is now offering free downloads. At this point, the claimed damage per shared song should be closer to $0, than to the RIAA's standard $750 (there is a different figure in Hungary, but that's not relevant in your case).

"Best,

"-Daniel

nagydani@epointsystem.org

Commentary and discussion:
p2pnet.net

Digg!

Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

Friday, September 15, 2006

Ars Technica Comments on Proposed New York Rules Which Would Affect Blogging by Lawyers

Eric Bangeman of Ars Technica has written an article on proposed new rules in New York State which would make blogging by lawyers in that State a virtual impossibility:

"New York courts may keep lawyers from blogging"
By Eric Bangeman

Proposed rules

Further commentary and discussion:
Corante
webpronews.com
Consumer Law & Policy Blog
jabbertech.com


Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

Thursday, September 14, 2006

RIAA Changes Local Counsel in New York City Area

The RIAA has changed its local counsel in the New York City area.

Stipulation of Substitution*

The new firm is Robinson & Cole, LLP.

The outgoing firm is Cowan Liebowitz & Latman, P.C.

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

Slashdotters Grill Beckerman

Just to let you know I've really been "Slashdotted"... a tough interview, and merciless pounding afterwards. But it was an honor to be selected, and going through it has been a lot of fun, kind of like a Friars Club Roast except without the "love" part.
-R.B.

Commentary and discussion:
zdnet.com
cdfreaks.com
p2pnet.net

Table of Cases


Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

UMG Files Section of Deposition Transcript Admitting that Witness Only Asked 3 People About p2p Use in Lindor Case

In "opposition" to Marie Lindor's motion to compel and for discovery sanctions in UMG v. Lindor, the RIAA submitted to the Magistrate a section of the deposition transcript in which UMG's witness, an in-house lawyer at UMG, admitted that the only people she had contacted at UMG in trying to find out about p2p file sharing between UMG and radio stations were 2 lawyers and an officer involved in procurement (Transcript, p. 42, ll. 4-15), and that she never contacted anyone in the radio promotion departments (Transcript, p. 32, ll. 20-23). She further testified that the only question she was purporting to ask was whether p2p file sharing had been used by "the company" or "Universal"(Transcript, p. 32 li. 24-p. 33 li. 7)(Transcript, p. 34 ll. 13-17), as opposed to the question Ms. Lindor's lawyers had asked -- and the Magistrate had ordered them to answer -- whether p2p had been used by the company's employees to send song files to radio stations.

RIAA Response to Ms. Lindor's application:

September 13, 2006, Letter of Richard Gabriel*
Transcript of September 7, 2006, Deposition of JoAn Cho, pages 1-3, 30-43*

Ms. Lindor's application:

September 8, 2006, Letter to Magistrate*
Document Request Number 4*
Response to Document Request Number 4*
Interrogatory Number 5*
Response to Interrogatory Number 5*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Table of Cases

Digg!

Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

Case Against Georgia Man Discontinued by RIAA; Atlantic v. Zuleta

The RIAA's case against a Georgia man, Atlantic Recording v. Francisco Zuleta, in Atlanta, has been discontinued.

Mr. Zuleta had filed a counterclaim against the record companies for abusive litigation,. He also submitted a declaration in which he testified that he had never downloaded any music.

Mr. Zuleta testified in his declaration that he had a roommate with a computer and that he had an open wireless router. There had been downloads to a router. The name on the Kazaa! account was the roommate's first name.

The RIAA withdrew its claim, and Mr. Zuleta withdrew his counterclaim. Both dismissals were "without prejudice".

Declaration of Francisco Zuleta*
Amended Answer and Counterclaim of Francisco Zuleta*
Stipulation of Dismissal*
Evidence of filing of Stipulation of Dismissal*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Table of Cases


Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

Saturday, September 09, 2006

RIAA Says That Without Pretrial Discovery, It Does Not Have Enough Facts to Oppose Paul Wilke's Summary Judgment Motion

In Elektra v. Wilke, the Chicago RIAA case in which defendant Paul Wilke has moved for summary judgment, the RIAA has filed a motion for "expedited discovery", alleging that it does not have sufficient evidence to withstand Mr. Wilke's motion. The RIAA's lawyer said

"Plaintiffs cannot at this time,
without an opportunity for
full discovery
present by affidavit
facts essential to justify
their opposition to Defendant's motion.
Motion for Expedited Discovery*
Affidavit in Support of Motion for Expedited Discovery*

In his summary judgment motion * Mr. Wilke had stated that

1. He is not "Paule Wilke" which is the name he was sued under.
2. He has never possessed on his computer any of the songs listed in exhibit A [the list of songs the RIAA's investigator downloaded] He only had a few of the songs from exhibit B [the screenshot] on his computer, and those were from legally purchased CD's owned by Mr. Wilke.
3. He has never used any "online media distribution system" to download, distribute, or make available for distribution, any of plaintiffs' copyrighted recordings.

Mr. Wilke is represented by Daliah Saper of Saper Law Offices 188 West Randolph, Suite 1705 Chicago, IL 60601 312.404.0066 dsaper@saperlaw.com

Commentary and discussion:

p2pnet.net (including profile of Mr. Wilke's lawyers)
p2pnet.net
Slashdot.org
The Inquirer
BoycottRIAA.com
Ars Technica
Heise Online (German language website)
bit-tech.net

* Document available online at Internet Law & Regulation

Table of Cases

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Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

UMG, Interscope, & Motown Refuse to Testify About Their Employees' Use of FileSharing with Radio Stations, in UMG v. Lindor

The RIAA has refused to testify on yet another subject in UMG v. Lindor, its radio promotion employees' use of peer to peer file sharing to send song files to radio stations, this despite the Magistrate Judge's having ordered them to provide such testimony at a July 25, 2006, discovery conference:

September 8, 2006, Letter to Magistrate*
Document Request Number 4*
Response to Document Request Number 4*
Interrogatory Number 5*
Response to Interrogatory Number 5*

The RIAA plaintiffs have taken the position that they only need to testify about whether the companies used p2p file sharing, arguing that the Magistrate limited Ms. Lindor's interrogatories by removing the term "employees".

Commentary and discussion:
TechDirt
Ars Technica
p2pnet.net

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Table of Cases

Digg!

Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

Motion to Dismiss Complaint Denied in Arista v. Greubel; Judge Follows Elektra v. Santangelo, Interscope v. Duty, and others

In Arista v. Greubel, pending in Fort Worth, Texas, the judge has denied Mr. Greubel's motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim.

September 1, 2006, Decision Denying Motion to Dismiss Complaint*

The judge followed Elektra v. Santangelo in White Plains, NY, Interscope v. Duty in Arizona, two other Texas cases, Warner v. Payne, and Fonovisa v. Alvarez, and a Brooklyn case, Maverick v. Goldshteyn.

This is the sixth of seven fully briefed dismissal motions of which the author is aware, and the sixth that has been denied. All of the decisions are from the lower courts. All were non-appealable, so no appeals have been filed. The only remaining dismissal motion of which the author is aware is Elektra v. Barker, pending in Manhattan before Judge Kenneth M. Karas.

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Table of Cases

Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

Friday, September 01, 2006

In SONY v. Arellanes, RIAA Opposes Appointment of Independent Expert; Insists on Having its own

In SONY v. Arellanes, the RIAA has opposed the defendant's suggestion that the inspection be by an independent expert, instead of the RIAA's hired expert:

RIAA Reply Memorandum*
Arellanes SurReply Memorandum*

Additional commentary and discussion:
Tech Dirt
Ars Technica
digg.com
bit-tech.net

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

Confidentiality Stipulation Entered into for "Chain of Title" Copyright Documents in UMG v. Lindor

The parties have entered into a confidentiality stipulation covering the "chain of title" copyright documents produced by the RIAA plaintiffs in UMG v. Lindor.

Stipulation Filed August 31, 2006, Concerning Confidentiality of Certain Documents*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

RIAA Files "Errata" in Warner v. Stubbs, Correcting "Error" in Motion to Dismiss

The RIAA filed an "errata" in Warner v. Stubbs, correcting its prior motion to dismiss its own case.

"Errata" Correcting RIAA's Motion to Dismiss*

In its initial motion it had said it was moving "without prejudice" in several places, but in its final "ad damnum" clause asked the judge to dismiss "with prejudice".

"Without prejudice" means they could sue again at a later time for the same thing.

"With prejudice" means they could not sue again for the same thing, and that the case is totally closed.

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs

RIAA Embarks on Campus Propaganda Campaign

Jon Newton at p2pnet.net reports that an RIAA DVD being distributed on college campuses is under attack as being misleading:

Groups attack RIAA video

p2pnet.net News:- For years p2pnet has been criticizing spurious entertainment and software cartel pseudo-educational programs which attempt not merely to implant false standards, but also outright lies, into the heads of children around the world.

Now a number of public interest organizations have in a joint statement vigorously attacked Campus Downloading, a Big Four Oranized Music video travesty fronted by EDUCAUSE vp Mark Luker and the Big Four's RIAA.

An appallingly blatant example of pure corporate music industry mis- and disinformation "baloney," it purports to 'instruct' students about copyright law.
Complete article.

A press release of the Consumer Electronics Association, expressing its view and that of the Computer & Communications Industry Association, Public Knowledge, and the Home Recording Rights Coalition, attacking the RIAA video as "Baloney", is set forth in full here:

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/
index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060830005520&newsLang=en

For commentary and discussion about RIAA brainwashing campaign:
p2pnet (funny new article by Bill Evans)
Tech Dirt
I4U News
InternetNews.com
Digital Copyright Canada
Digital Music News
CNET News
FMQB

A word to college students who are on the receiving end of this DVD: never take legal advice from anyone except your lawyer. The RIAA is not your lawyer.
-R.B.
.



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Debbie Foster Asks Oklahoma Court to Take Judicial Notice of Tallie Stubbs Case; Supports Amicus Curiae Brief

In Capitol v. Foster, where Ms. Foster is seeking approximately $50,000 in attorneys fees against the RIAA, her attorney has asked the Court to (a) take judicial notice of another Oklahoma case, the more recent Tallie Stubbs case (another case which the RIAA dropped because it had no evidence against the defendant), and (b) to grant the motion for leave to file amicus curiae brief submitted by the EFF, the ACLU, Public Citizen, the American Association of Law Libraries, and the ACLU Foundation of Oklahoma.
Request for Judicial Notice and Response to RIAA's Opposition to Court's Acceptance of Amicus Curiae Brief*

* Document published online at Internet Law & Regulation

Keywords: digital copyright online download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs