TheQueen
05-13-2010, 09:52 AM
May 12, 2010
Court Rules Web Site Infringed Copyrights
By JOSEPH PLAMBECK
A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that LimeWire, the popular file-sharing service, was liable for copyright infringement, the latest in a growing list of decisions against services that allow users to easily distribute music and videos around the Internet at no cost.
Judge Kimba M. Wood of United States District Court in Manhattan said in summary judgments that LimeWire and its creator, Mark Gorton, had committed copyright infringement, engaged in unfair competition and induced others to commit copyright infringement.
The suit had been brought by a coalition of the nation’s largest record companies in 2006. A hearing is scheduled for June 1 to discuss outstanding issues in the case, including damages.
“We think a high-damage award would be appropriate,” said Steven Marks, the general counsel for the Recording Industry Association of America, a trade group that represents music companies. “I think it’s very clear from the decision that there’s a lot of evidence of willful behavior by LimeWire and its principals.”
LimeWire, which said that it “strongly opposes” the ruling, indicated that it intended to stay in business.
CONTINUE READING (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/technology/13lime.html?ref=technology)
Court Rules Web Site Infringed Copyrights
By JOSEPH PLAMBECK
A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that LimeWire, the popular file-sharing service, was liable for copyright infringement, the latest in a growing list of decisions against services that allow users to easily distribute music and videos around the Internet at no cost.
Judge Kimba M. Wood of United States District Court in Manhattan said in summary judgments that LimeWire and its creator, Mark Gorton, had committed copyright infringement, engaged in unfair competition and induced others to commit copyright infringement.
The suit had been brought by a coalition of the nation’s largest record companies in 2006. A hearing is scheduled for June 1 to discuss outstanding issues in the case, including damages.
“We think a high-damage award would be appropriate,” said Steven Marks, the general counsel for the Recording Industry Association of America, a trade group that represents music companies. “I think it’s very clear from the decision that there’s a lot of evidence of willful behavior by LimeWire and its principals.”
LimeWire, which said that it “strongly opposes” the ruling, indicated that it intended to stay in business.
CONTINUE READING (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/technology/13lime.html?ref=technology)