MySpace is under attack from Universal Music Group
Universal hits MySpace with copyright claim
/v3-uk/news/1959577/universal-hits-myspace-copyright-claim
21 Nov 2006, Tom Sanders in California , V3
Universal Music Group has filed a legal complaint against MySpace, alleging that the social networking website is guilty of copyright infringements.
"The foundation of MySpace is its so-called 'user-generated content','' Universal stated in its complaint.
"However, much of that content is not 'user-generated' at all. Rather, it is the 'user-stolen' intellectual property of others, and MySpace is a willing partner in that theft."
Universal hinted last October that it could sue sites hosting so-called user generated content.
The label struck a deal with YouTube before Google acquired the video sharing site, and filed legal claims in October against video sites Bolt and Grouper.
Universal is demanding $150,000 for each allegedly infringing piece of content on MySpace, a sum similar to those demanded of Bolt and Grouper.
Universal and MySpace have an agreement that allows the website to display music videos. MySpace has also said that it will implement fingerprinting technology to automatically filter out copyrighted materials in video uploads.
Media conglomerate News Corporation acquired MySpace in July 2005 for $580m, making it the second most expensive Web 2.0 acquisition behind the $1.65bn Google YouTube deal.
Universal represents artists including Bon Jovi, Eminem, Jamie Cullum and U2.
MySpace could be freed from legal liabilities under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, however. The company is likely to claim that it is merely providing a service to consumers and that it does not itself engage in copyright infringement.
The service will remove material if the copyright holder files a complaint.
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
Free Speech/ Privacy
While I have to Admit that Universal NBC may have a complaint here , I would like to argue that they themselves may want to consider somethings such as:
1.With the fact that registration of myspace is now reaching over 110 million americans (roughly 1/3 of the total population),
Universal NBC may be facing a huge paradox,the right to defend thier copyrights vs. The marketplace of ideas. To use an overblown estimate of infringment against a web site is a usual tactic of the mob mentality of recording companies.
Remember when empowered by courts to sue individuals (whom are the real pirates),
the Record compaines choose to sue children and old people, the prefer thier targets weak and defenseless just as a mob boss does. Unlike Hollywood , who recently arrested the biggest in theater pirate in america, the recording industry really hasn't even attempted to go after true offenders.
But, as I stated above now they are trying to use ridculosly over blown damage projections (undoubtedly based on thier insanely over priced 49 cent Compact Discs)
to shut down myspace. plain and simple. think about it 150,000 per infringement,how many billions of honest or unintended infringments have occured as well , so thier end demand for sometining like 150 Quadrillion dollars is some thing even News Corp. can't pay.
Secondly I would like to know where Doug Morris get's off telling me when and where I can peaceably Assembly, to freely disscuss my religon,my govenment and whatever just happens to piss me off at the moment.say for instance a lawsuit.
For years Federal , State and local lawmakers have wanted to regulate the internet,I belive the it is the Supreme Court's job to determine the inherent value or legalities that are paticular to this electrionic fantasyland. The Federal Congress should when such decisions are made re-enforce such decisions at it's perogative of power.
I say give Universal NBC it's precious royalties , in exchange for bill of rights protection of the interntet.
Also , Give the user of the internet legal and precidented first amendment protoections against lawsuits designed to shut sites down that have a serious amonut of shoppers at that particular marketplace of ideas.
An equivalent of NBC Universal's myspace shut down would be Mc Donald's Shutting down Burger King because they invented the fast food concept and want 500.00 for every burger sold that wasn't on thier approved menu. That so outragous I would certainly vote for the corprate death penalty.
the reason all this is happening boys and girl's is that the people running this stuff are so old they can't see the future anymore. In that particular regard they are better off dead , at least for us.
Gabriel Bell
Posted by Gabriel Bell, 21 Nov 2006