Tag: legal
Virgin Media sends written wrist-slap to 800 file-sharers
Around 800 Virgin Media broadband customers have been sent letters informing them that they have been identified as file-sharers and politely telling them to cease downloading copyright protected content, specifically music. They are also warned that if they don’t stop, “further steps” will be taken against them.
Weak bloggers cave in to Metallica's new album non-review demands
This story’s a bit of a mess. We know some UK bloggers were invited to listen to an “unmixed” demo of the new Metallica album and weren’t required to sign any non-disclosure agreements or stick to an embargo regarding what they heard.
Which meant they could all, quite legally, tell the world all about it on their blogs.
So sites like The Quietus ran with reviews (cached version here) – only to get told to take them down shortly afterwards. This has, predictably enough, turned into a mammoth Metallica HATE-FEST with everyone blaming the put-upon band for trying to break the internet again…
After a wobbly start, Qtrax announces licensing deals with EMI, Sony and TVT Records
The ‘world’s first free, legal P2P service’ Qtrax has redeemed itself since it ‘launched’ at the end of January, when they failed to deliver music from Universal Music Group, Warner Music, Sony BMG and EMI as promised.
Wired’s Listening Post scored an exclusive scoop on the Service That Embarrassed Itself, and reported that Qtrax has succeeded in signing up EMI, Sony/ATV Music Publishing and TVT Records. Not quite the big four as first claimed, but it’s a good start for what’s essentially a legal BitTorrent.
The files contain DRM, however…
QTRAX launches, claiming legal access to 30 million tracks. Server overwhelmed
QTRAX, which originally launched back in 2002 but closed down due to avoid the risk of legal action, has relaunched today.
It claims that users will be able to find and download between 25 and 30 million copyrighted music tracks, with the blessing of a large proportion of the music industry.
“QTRAX is a magical and game-changing service that revolutionizes the way fans consume digital music,” said QTRAX President and CEO Allan Klepfisz.
Well, possibly not revolutionary. We’ve seen a shift towards “free” ad-supported music streaming and download services recently.
The RIAA reveals its next target – Usenet
It’s been the biggest mystery of the modern internet era – why have none of the anti-piracy campaigns bothered targeting usenet?
The “newsgroup” scene dwarfs the amount of movie and music available on newer file-sharing systems and Bittorrent, with hardcore web users swearing by the anonymous usenet…
Joox.net struggling, may have shut down due to legal threats
It appears that Joox.net, which we’ve only recently got excited about, could be struggling to stay afloat. Indeed, it could already have shut down, thanks to pressure from copyright holders, if comments at Oh Gizmo! are anything to go by.
Joox.net, which brought us cult movies and classic TV programmes, may not have “given a crap about any copyright violations” — as per their many visitors — but the threat of being sued is enough to make smaller players on the Net take notice.
EU court rules telecom companies don't have to hand over details of suspected illegal file sharers
Possible good news for those who operate file sharing networks for distributing music and other media via the likes of KaZaA and other software. A top European Union court has ruled, in the civil case of Spanish music and audiovisual…
Is Sony facing an uphill struggle with Blu-ray?
Andy Merrett writes…
Yes, it’s another instalment of the HD DVD versus Blu-ray debate / war, but this time things are a little different.
Instead of a war of words between various equipment manufacturers and official associations on both sides, this is to do with lawsuits.
We’ve spent a lot of time reporting on lawsuits – a lot of them come from Apple – but Sony has been hit with two in a single week. They both affect Blu-ray.
Nude web chats are fine, thanks to Chinese law loophole
Chinese prosecutors have had to drop charges of "organising pornographic activities" against a 36-year-old woman after it found that nude chat rooms were not defined in China's pornography laws.
FM transmitters legalised from December 8th
Our suggestion back in the summer that FM transmitters, on which gadgets such as the iTrip and iFreq rely, would be legalised in the UK by the end of the year, is now almost a reality. The new Wireless Telegraphy…
