Napster

6 Pages 1438 Words

Just do IP


Issue 42, August 2, 2000

"People are copying music because they feel somewhat disenfranchised with the options they have at their disposal in the digital space. It's up to the content industry to create value in the digital arena and they've made phenomenal steps in that direction."
Talal Shamoon, a key technologist for the SDMI (Secure Digital Music Initiative) Salon, 31 Jul 2000-08-01

JUDGE FINDS AGAINST NAPSTER
District judge Marilyn Hall Patel ruled in favour of the Recording Industry Association of America (http://www.riaa.com/) (RIAA) regarding the Napster copyright case, based on the sheer size of the infringement that was taking place. Judge Patel directed that Napster should stop its song-swap activities and refused a motion that would delay the injunction until after an appeal had been presented. Napster intends to appeal against the decision. Related article: 'Napster legal scrap could backfire on record industry'
Source: ZDNet News, 26 July 2000

CONSUMERS BUY MORE MUSIC PRODUCTS AFTER 'TESTING'
A PC Data Online (http://www.pcdataonline.com) survey reports that only 16% of respondents supported the RIAA's claim that Napster was in breach of intellectual property regulations and should be shut down. 57% agreed that it was unrealistic to control the free exchange of music. Many users said that they would not be dissuaded from downloading music even if it was deemed illegal. Almost 60% claimed that using Napster helped them in their music buying and 83% liked the ability afforded by the technology to test songs before purchasing CDs or cassettes.
Source: PC Data Online News Release, 27 July 2000

CONTROL OF MUSIC DOWNLOADING BEYOND INDUSTRY CONTROL
Despite all the media attention given to the Napster case, the Gartner Group (http://gartner11.gartnerweb.com/) believes that music downloading via the Net will prevail. Gartner suggests that it would have been more strategic for the RIAA to find a c...