http://www.cnn.com/2001/LAW/02/20/napster.settlement.ap/index.html Go Napster go! ------------------ "Break off the block like Maurice Green" --- Steve Francis President of the Moochie Norris fan club.
I have no problem with a settlement if that means that Napster will then agree to some sort of subscriber service. I don't see the record industry agreeing to accept $1 billion if they figure their potential losses to be 10 times that or more in the next 5 years. If Napster pays AND agrees to do whatever is necessary to protect music from copyright infringement, I'm all for it. ------------------ "You know what they say about the music business. Here today, gone TODAY! - Chris Rock at the MTV Music Video Awards
Watch out for other EUROPEAN companys to come out with napster like program. ------------------ "Break off the block like Maurice Green" --- Steve Francis President of the Moochie Norris fan club.
Europe has intellectual property protections, as well (sometimes they have even tougher laws). Being in Europe likely won't keep a company from losing lawsuits. They need to be in some obscure Asian country where the Government has little respect for copyright and intellectual property. ------------------ Houston Sports Board The Anti-Bud Adams Page
mrpaige is correct. European intellectual property laws and trademark rules are MUCH tougher than in the US. ------------------ "You know what they say about the music business. Here today, gone TODAY! - Chris Rock at the MTV Music Video Awards
The RIAA is just saying no to Napster. Ironically, BMG Music (a HUGE company) has offered Napster tons of venture capital to go to a subscriber-based service and Napster has turned them down. Here's the part that has killed me about Napster and, if you don't think this has an effect on artists making money, then you never will... From the Chronicle... The (appeals) panel also said there was evidence of "massive, unauthorized downloading and uploading of plaintiffs' copyrighted works -- as many as 10,000 files per second by defendant's own admission." 10,000 per second by their own admission and they think that is ok? Are you kidding? Good grief. ------------------ "You know what they say about the music business. Here today, gone TODAY! - Chris Rock at the MTV Music Video Awards
The point is a good one though, because the internet does make this kind of thing a LOT easier. Technology is to the point where it doesn't really matter where the server is. For example, many software pirating sites are located in Central America, where governments just don't care. How difficult would it be for a Napster clone to appear somewhere where there are no copywright laws -- and no way for the recording companies to negotiate with the owner. Jeff the info about BMG is interesting, thank you. The problem I could see is that they aren't the only one suing, and having a Napster based BMG subscription company would be viewed as a compeditive threat to the other recording companies, making a settlement with them even more difficult. They have to reach an agreement with everyone. ------------------ Stay Cool...
