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Posts Tagged “Riaa”

royalties

iTunes Might Become Slightly Less Profitable

In truth, iTunes only accounts for 5% of Apple's revenue, but we all know that it's really there as a Trojan horse to get people to buy iPods/iPhones, equate Apple with more than just computers, and make people buy the wrong versions of songs. Today, that small chunk of income for Apple may become even smalller, as a panel of appointed judges called the Copyright Royalty Board (snooze alert of a name, guys!) will rule as to whether digital music retailers like iTunes, Amazon, and Rhapsody will have to pay larger royalties to music publishers. More »

10:30 AM on Thu Oct 2 2008
By Lucas Jensen
250 views, 6 comments

Latest by DW: I couldn't care less. I don't buy from iTunes. As Apple says "The iTunes Store exists to sell hardware." I love it's simplicity, but I refuse to be tied to hardware 10 years out. Also the greedy CRB can go sh** more »

fireside chats

Muxtape Founder Gives A Glimpse Of The Major Labels' "Negotation" Tactics

A month after his playlist-sharing site Muxtape was shut down by the RIAA, founder Justin Ouellette has broken his silence, with a detailed timeline of what led up to the closure on Muxtape's front page, along with a note that the site would be relaunching as a way for bands to share their music in the immediate. In the wake of the lackluster launch of MySpace Music, this inside look at how the major labels make (or, I should say, try to make) deals is, at the very least, insightful as far as helping one realize just why so many sites with licensed music are, shall we say, less than satisfying. An excerpt from Ouellette's story after the jump. More »

6:30 PM on Thu Sep 25 2008
By Maura Johnston
731 views, 5 comments

Latest by ImmaculateMisconception: Help me out: Is there no way for you to offer free downloads with the new Myspace Music player? We had a couple demos available for people to download, and there's no obvious way to do that with the new more »

Yesterday, a federal judge threw out the $222,000 judgment against Jammie Thomas, who was found guilty for sharing a bunch of crappy songs a year ago and ordered to pay the RIAA the aforementioned fine. The judge, Michael Davis, said that he misled jurors when he told them that simply making files available on a peer-to-peer network was the equivalent of copyright infringement, and that there was no proof that Thomas had in fact shared the files. In response, comment sections of Web sites around the world were filled with voices that curiously sounded like that of Nelson Muntz. [CNet]

2 comments

copyfight

Digital Rights Agreement Reached... Um, Yay?

The corner of the Internet reserved for music news is all abuzz over the digital-royalties agreement agreed to by the RIAA, the Digital Media Association, and several publishers' and songwriters' groups; the agreement puts into place a royalty structure for music distributed through certain online models. Still, besides just what's in the press release, what does this actually mean? More »

4:15 PM on Tue Sep 23 2008
By Dan Gibson
548 views, 6 comments

then, they came for the bloggers

The RIAA Would Like Nothing More Than To Force You To Love It

At this point, everyone's familiar with the RIAA and their delightful campaign to sue whoever it can, including that guy who sneezed in a sort of funny way that made it sound like he was saying "Kazaa." Now, the organization is trying a new angle: Going after people who dare engage in smack talk. More »

1:30 PM on Fri Sep 19 2008
By Dan Gibson
652 views, 6 comments

the law

The Conquering Of OiNK Was Just The Beginning: Behold, Some New RIAA-Backed Legislation

I wouldn't describe myself as being comforted by the fact that a new piece of RIAA-backed legislation is heading through Congress, particularly since the bill would create an office within the White House for someone called the "IP Enforcement Coordinator." But even though I'm a voter, the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Act made it through the Senate Judiciary Committee today by a vote of 14 to 4. Of course, the music industry's trade association was thrilled, describing the bill as "a welcome verse in a great song," while the American Library Association was less excited, stating "There is absolutely no reason for the federal government to assume this private enforcement role." Of course, why would anyone be concerned? These antipiracy organizations haven't abused their authority and influence before, right? [FMQB]

5:00 PM on Fri Sep 12 2008
By Dan Gibson
332 views, 3 comments

Latest by LostTurntable: @loudersoft: You're aiming the bombs at the wrong side. more »

share the lawsuits

Some Muxtape Stan Out There Might Be Trying To Get "Revenge" On The RIAA

Last week's RIAA-assisted shuttering of the shared mixtape site Muxtape caused many an Internet-savvy person who liked "indie" music and Helvetica to shed a tear or two. But apparently someone out there has decided that Muxtape will not only live on, it will thrive! And grow, like kudzu or dandelions in a field! Behold Opentape, "a free, open-source package that lets you make and host your own mixtapes on the web." Yes, that's right: For the price of some time slapping the code on a site and some Web space, you can have all the liability that Justin Ouellette had when he was hosting Muxtape users' MP3s on a server that he paid for! More »

3:00 PM on Tue Aug 26 2008
By Maura Johnston
336 views, 2 comments

Latest by cheesebubble: Muxtape + zombie bite = Opentape more »

copyfight

Muxtape Gets Jammed

User-generated streaming-mixtape site Muxtape is currently down because of "a problem with the RIAA," according to the site's front page. With the current tussling over how much online services should pay to stream audio, this sort of "problem" isn't all that surprising, but it is interesting to note that a post on the service's blog says "no artists or labels have complained," and that this closure isn't permanent. Developing... (Disclosure: I met Muxtape founder Justin Ouellette at a panel discussion last week, and found him to be very charming and—more importantly—very concerned about how artists could benefit from the site, which would seem to be why there's a project called "Muxtapes For Bands" in beta right now. Also I have (had?) a Muxtape, although linking to it now is kinda moot.) [Muxtape]

8:30 AM on Tue Aug 19 2008
By Maura Johnston
280 views, 6 comments

Latest by TheolaCachimba: Sites like Muxtape face a number of challenges, not just the RIAA. They have to address basic copyright issues (like that you have to have an explicit license if you are going to offer "interactive" content as they do), and they have more »

copyfight

File-Sharing, The Government, And You: A News Roundup

• The RIAA has finally paid $107,834 (plus $117.03 interest) to Tanya Andersen, a former target of a lawsuit by the record-industry consortium who spent two years defending herself in court. Andersen has since countersued the RIAA under conspiracy laws, a suit that she's hoping to turn into class-action litigation. [BusinessWeek via The Daily Swarm]
• A federal court is going to decide whether or not the RIAA's lawsuit against Jammie Thomas, who was found guilty of "making available" copyrighted material via Kazaa and subsequently ordered to pay the record companies $220,000 for sharing some not-that-great songs. The decision hinges on whether or not "making available" is considered copyright infringement; a District Court decision said that it didn't. [WSJ]
• President Bush has signed a bill that gives universities money as an incentive to fight on-campus piracy. [Variety]

5:00 PM on Fri Aug 15 2008
By Maura Johnston
205 views, 1 comment

Latest by bburl: Tanya Andersen is a rarity in so far as she had $110 000 to spend on a court case and she actually spent it. Most innocent people (and yes there are innocent people caught in the non-governmental, non-accountable RIAA more »

Despite efforts from the MPAA, the RIAA, the CIA, and the KKK, P2P networks were responsible for 44 percent of total Internet bandwidth last month, a 3 percent increase from last year. The networking equipment company Sandvine credits this rise to interest in video content (you can fit a lot of "Viva La Vida"'s in an Iron Man), but one can assume Paul McGuinness and others in the music industry will use this information to further shame to ISP providers who refuse to regulate these hooligans. Maybe those FBI warning labels just aren't big enough. [Digital Music News]

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all my promo thugs, say yeah!

Selling Promo CDs Is Not Copyright Infringement! Woo Hoo!

A federal district court has thrown out Universal Music Group's lawsuit against Troy Augusto, who had the gall to sell pre-release CDs on eBay. More and more promos are copy-protected, or released sans artwork, and soon labels may just issue MP3s (if anything) to critics and other industry hangers-on with entitlement issues, but it's good to know people are allowed to get rid of the crappy promotional CDs they already have. Plus, by stipulation this decision means that people are even allowed to throw them away. More »

2:30 PM on Thu Jun 12 2008
By Anthony Miccio
685 views, 7 comments

Latest by Rob Murphy: Although this decision sounds like good news for music critics and bloggers, I fear it will result in a myriad of unintended consequences, possibly including unemployment for Dicey. more »

and the single parents of america are free to kazaa another day

RIAA Takes Its Suit And Goes Home

The RIAA has voluntarily dropped the case of Warner Vs. Cassin, one of several suits that revolved around the question of whether making MP3s available for download qualified as copyright infringement. It's noteworthy that the RIAA dismissed the case itself, rather than waiting for the court to follow recent predecent, as it will be pretty much impossible for the trade group to attempt to make another similar suit again. Say it again: "Merely making an unauthorized copy of a copyrighted work available to the public does not violate a copyright holder's exclusive right of distribution." [Record Industry Vs. The People]

2:45 PM on Wed Jun 11 2008
By Anthony Miccio
197 views, 1 comment

Latest by Tenno: In the end, everyone knows how ridiculous their position is. Man I despise these guys. more »

the biz

Radio, RIAA Fight While Their Industry Burns

The battle over royalties continues between everyone's favorite lobbying groups, the National Association of Broadcasters and the Recording Industry Association of America. The RIAA, not surprisingly, would like radio stations to cough up more cash to major labels in exchange for the joy of broadcasting the new Puddle of Mudd single. The broadcasters contend that they provide a valuable service to the labels by playing their lousy music. So, who's right? Thankfully, they commissioned a study to find out. More »

12:45 PM on Tue Jun 10 2008
By Dan Gibson
481 views, 2 comments

Latest by okiedoke: "17 artists covering all genres and varying levels of success," you say? That sure sounds statistically significant! I have a better survey. I must have heard on the radio last year 10,000 songs representing all genres and varying levels of success. more »

riaa

Courts Don't Tell RIAA Anything They Want To Hear

Hey, RIAA! You know how you've got MediaSentry pulling files from people's hard drives? That doesn't really prove they're sharing information. And that "making available" precedent you like to use in cases? That was in regards to the "actual dissemination of copies and phonorecords," so it may not apply. And those big money lawsuits you wantonly hurled at housewives and single parents? Judges would love to see you pay their legal fees. The labels that fund you have gradually realized that learning to harness new technology might be wiser than trying to curb its use, and with the endless crap being flung your way by the legal system, it might be a good idea to drop the old method of fighting illegal downloads entirely. More »

12:30 PM on Fri May 16 2008
By Anthony Miccio
514 views, 2 comments

Latest by westendgirl: This is the judicial branch's best week ever. I'm going to hop a plane to L.A., marry another woman, and then we're going to download some songs. more »

Jammie Thomas, the Minnesota woman ordered to pay $222,000 to the majors for engaging in the sharing of many crummy songs, may get a second chance with a jury. Thomas has moved for a new trial on the grounds that her punishment was excessive and therefore unconstitutional; meanwhile, the presiding judge is calling for a hearing on whether or not simply making a song available to other filesharers because he found a 1993 ruling from the 8th Circuit that defines infringement as "an actual dissemination of either copies or phonorecords"—which may make last year's verdict null and void. Both sides will make oral arguments July 1 in Duluth, Minn. [Bit Player]

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gold records and diamond tears

Newsflash: Staff Of R.I.A.A. Sensitive, Misunderstood

I can't pretend to speak for the entire staff of Idolator... contributors, editors, etc. At the end of the day, I'm just a guy who for some mysterious reason is given the occasional chance to comment on whatever comes up on Google News. However, I would like to take this opportunity on Monday, March 3, to apologize to the staff of the RIAA. Nearly anyone who has seen a computer in the last few years views your organization as a ridiculous enterprise working tirelessly to prosecute and harass music fans across the country. They're all wrong, my lovely lawsuit-lovin' friends; you've just been hurt, like we all have. Thank you, RIAA director of communications, Cara Duckworth. You've made me see the vulnerable hearts full of goodness hidden underneath those undoubtedly very expensive lawyer clothes. More »

12:20 PM on Mon Mar 3 2008
By Dan Gibson
714 views, 2 comments

Latest by SuperUnison: I'm really glad that by 2010, the RIAA will have ceaseed to put out anything you'd want in the first place. more »

from the vaults

RIAA: Murderers, Terrorists, And Other Criminal Minds May Be Graduating To Pirating Music

Yesterday the RIAA-produced video In Trial, which covers the societal dangers of music piracy, made its way out to torrent sites, and among its contents are instructions on how to get RIAA investigators qualified as expert witnesses, a guide to identifying pirated CDs, and the above bit, about the links between people who profit from pirated music and people who deal weapons, populate terror cells, and murder their fellow man for sport. Surely I'm not the only person who thinks that this particular bit on the "kill 'em all" impulses of miscreants dealing in fifth-generation copies of Graduation would hit home a little more effectively if it were accompanied by a bangin' soundtrack? [Listening Post / Gizmodo]

12:40 PM on Thu Feb 21 2008
By Maura Johnston
863 views, 7 comments

Latest by Klatoo: So essentially what their saying is this: When you go to a black market area that sells guns and drugs and is plagued by violence, they also sell pirated CDs sometimes. Who would have suspected that violent career criminals don't respect copyright? more »

LOL OMG @ script kiddies taking down the RIAA's site over the weekend and installing links to the Pirate Bay and error messages that read "FTW"! Surely these pranks will make people around the world take your "all music should be free for me and my friends right now" argument really, really seriously. [TorrentFreak]

4 comments