November 12, 2007

Online Storage/Locker

This looks interesting: MP3tunes, a company that appears to store your already PURCHASED music on-line, sued by the recording industry. The company offers users a "locker" with unlimited storage and streaming of music, enabling users to listen to their music on any computer, anywhere.

If the user has already purchased the music, what's the problem here? OTCS, regrettably, has not yet read the complaint. However, OTCS assumes this is a section 106 copying claim. Is this what the Copyright Act should protect? How is this any different than a purchaser taking their Case Logic book of CDs from their home-stereo, to their car, to their friend's home, to the office etc.? Music is mobile, and once purchased in one-format (e.g., MP3, 8-track) users should be able to enjoy the music on the corresponding playing -- no matter where. Aren't the labels trying to double-dip?

[Capitol Records Inc.; Caroline Records Inc.; EMI Christian Music Group Inc.; Priority Records LLC; Virgin Records America Inc.; Beechwood Music Corp.; Colgems-EMI Music Inc.; EMI April Music Inc.; EMI Blackwood Music; EMI Full Keel Music; EMI Golden Torch Music Corp.; EMI Longitude Music; EMI Virgin Music Inc.; EMI Virgin Songs Inc. v. MP3Tunes LLC; Michael Robertson. Filed S.D.N.Y. 11/9/2007; 07 CV-9931]

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