Makers of Kazaa Are Suing Record Labels

[papau]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-File-Sharing-Lawsuit.html

Makers of Kazaa Are Suing Record Labels
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS



Filed at 11:08 a.m. ET
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Turning the tables on record labels, makers of the most popular Internet song-swapping network are suing entertainment companies for copyright infringement. Sharman Networks Ltd., the company behind the Kazaa file-sharing software, filed a federal lawsuit Monday accusing the entertainment companies of using unauthorized versions of its software in their efforts to root out users. Entertainment companies have offered bogus versions of copyright works and sent online warning messages to users.Sharman said the companies used Kazaa Lite, an ad-less replica of its software, to get onto the network. The lawsuit also claims efforts to combat piracy on Kazaa violated terms for using the network.
Sharman's lawsuit also revives its previous allegation that the entertainment companies violated antitrust laws by stopping Sharman and its partner from distributing authorized copies of music and movies through Kazaa.U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson rejected those claims in July but last week allowed Sharman to try again. Sharman is incorporated in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu with main offices in Sydney, Australia.<snip>

Ward, of Newbury, Mass., was accused of illegally sharing more than 2,000 songs through Kazaa, including rapper Trick Daddy's ``I'm a Thug.'' The music companies threatened to hold her liable for up to $150,000 for each song. After Ward's lawyer complained that Ward is a ``computer neophyte'' who never installed file-sharing software or downloaded any songs, the case was dropped in federal court in Boston on Friday.

[sarin]

1. although

"Ward, of Newbury, Mass., was accused of illegally sharing more than 2,000 songs through Kazaa, including rapper Trick Daddy's ``I'm a Thug.'' The music companies threatened to hold her liable for up to $150,000 for each song. After Ward's lawyer complained that Ward is a ``computer neophyte'' who never installed file-sharing software or downloaded any songs, the case was dropped in federal court in Boston on Friday.
"




it is sort of funny to think of granny jammin' to gasta' rap;)

RIAA is such a pain in the butt, they are going to fall soon enough I hope. I suspect when Bush and Co are out of office, RIAA will soon fall quickly afterward.

Sarin

[Nottingham]

2. Obviously the Recording companies are going to have trouble

suing all these kids in the projects and lil old ladies!

:bounce: