RIAA sues XMRadio over copyright

[Galaril]

This kind of pisses me off especially since I was going to buy one of these new XM Radio INNO radio devices. But, after the Blackberry scare a few months back I am thinking of holding off to see who wins this. It sounds from talking to some lawyer friends that these will probably be thrown out.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060517-082556-7333r

[Shkspr]

Timeshifting, baby. Timeshifting. Sorry, RIAA.

[WVUFAN]

Is it possible for the RIAA to be more greedy? Next thing Sony will be sued because they sold cassette recorders that could record songs from the radio.

[SackAttack]

Is it possible for the RIAA to be more greedy? Next thing Sony will be sued because they sold cassette recorders that could record songs from the radio.

That already happened, I believe, and the RIAA lost. Courts said something about it's not the technology which infringes, it's the end use.

[WVUFAN]

That already happened, I believe, and the RIAA lost. Courts said something about it's not the technology which infringes, it's the end use.

That figures. :-(

[PackerFanatic]

Fuck the RIAA.

[IwasHere]

And didn't they try something like this with the Dual Deck machines?

[Galaril]

I guess they already called this crap on Sirius and they caved and payed out I am glad to see XM telling them to screw.

[Samdari]

seeking $150,000 for each song recorded by XM subscribers.

Where do they get these figures?

[Ksyrup]

I guess they already called this crap on Sirius and they caved and payed out I am glad to see XM telling them to screw.

And consistent with the way these two are structuring their plans versus one another, Sirius can now claim to be the "exclusive satellite radio network endorsed by the RIAA."

[terpkristin]

I was strongly considering the INNO, too.

Actually, I'll still probably get it. :D But if you get it before I take that plunge, post a review here. ;)

/tk

[SirFozzie]

Copyright law allows them to seek $150,000 for each song on which copyright is infringed. It's fucking ridiculous, but hey, I don't make the laws :)

[JonInMiddleGA]

It's fucking ridiculous, but hey, I don't make the laws :)

Don't complain too much, it could be worse ...
I could be making those laws ;)

[panerd]

For some reason I thought XM stock was a "steal" at $24 a share a few months ago and moved a lot more money from my IRA into one stock than I normally would. Basically this crap loses 2-3% a day for about the past 10 weeks. One of the problems is there are about 10 class action lawsuits against them. How naive are the people that agreed to be part of the class action lawsuit? Has anyone besides a lawyer ever even made a dime in the history of class actions? Let's say I own XM stock and decide to be part of the class action and win $100! Well my stock has gone down 45% (due in part to all of the class actions) so what a great call! I figure the company can't go under, but if it hits $15 I am really going to start getting nervous.

[SirFozzie]

Don't complain too much, it could be worse ...
I could be making those laws ;)

*laughs* Jon, no offense but if you WERE making the laws, the rest of the nation would impeach ya toot suite ;)

[JonInMiddleGA]

... if you WERE making the laws, the rest of the nation would impeach ya toot suite ;)

Yeah, like you think I'd leave that option in play. :D

[SirFozzie]

Yeah, like you think I'd leave that option in play. :D


True dat...

[Toddzilla]

For some reason I thought XM stock was a "steal" at $24 a share a few months ago and moved a lot more money from my IRA into one stock than I normally would. Basically this crap loses 2-3% a day for about the past 10 weeks. One of the problems is there are about 10 class action lawsuits against them. How naive are the people that agreed to be part of the class action lawsuit? Has anyone besides a lawyer ever even made a dime in the history of class actions? Let's say I own XM stock and decide to be part of the class action and win $100! Well my stock has gone down 45% (due in part to all of the class actions) so what a great call! I figure the company can't go under, but if it hits $15 I am really going to start getting nervous.I hear ya. I believe in The Motley Fool, who strongly believe that both XM and Sirius are going to be very profitable once they get subscriber numbers up and cost-to-add down, which will happen sooner for XM than Sirius. Keep the faith - look at this as a buying opportunity!

[sabotai]

For some reason I thought XM stock was a "steal" at $24 a share a few months ago and moved a lot more money from my IRA into one stock than I normally would. Basically this crap loses 2-3% a day for about the past 10 weeks.

You should have phoned in during the Lightning Round to ask if the stock was worth buying first.

[clintl]

Copyright law allows them to seek $150,000 for each song on which copyright is infringed. It's fucking ridiculous, but hey, I don't make the laws :)

It's the statutory limit for infringement of any kind of copyrighted material. It doesn't mean they'll get it if they win - it's just what the law allows them to seek.

[SirFozzie]

the amount mentioned in the suit is $26 Billion

Yup With a B

[SackAttack]

Yeah, like you think I'd leave that option in play. :D

coup d'êtat, my friend.

coup d'êtat.

[SackAttack]

levity aside, after finally RTFA, I'm not sure I see the problem.

"We've licensed the music for purpose X, which is what XM has paid for. They now want to allow the consumer to use it for purpose Y, while still paying the royalty agreed upon for purpose X. We think they should pay the higher royalties associated with purpose Y."

What's the problem? Is the RIAA demanding the pay the higher royalty for all uses of the music, whether it's just regular airplay or downloaded to the Inno?

[Abe Sargent]

Has anyone besides a lawyer ever even made a dime in the history of class actions?


I got a full refund from the Paypal suit when Paypal's pisspoor security allowed someone to break into my account and took $2000 from my bank. I stopped it on the bank, but it was $35 in charges. Paypal sent me a check for $35 as part of the suit.


-Anxiety

[tanglewood]

Why don't they just try and shut down the radio? I heard you can use that thing to listen to music FOR FREE!!!!

[clintl]

That already happened, I believe, and the RIAA lost. Courts said something about it's not the technology which infringes, it's the end use.

I think that's not exactly what happened (although I think it is what happened when the courts dealt with the same issues involving VCRs). If I'm not mistaken, with respect to cassettes, there's a royalty fee on each blank tape that goes into some kind of fund for distribution within the industry. In exchange for that royalty fee, the RIAA agreed to give up all future claims of copyright infringement for copying music on to cassette tapes. I'm not sure how much that case would help XM, because there is no other use for this device than to record copyrighted material broadcast by XM.

[clintl]

Why don't they just try and shut down the radio? I heard you can use that thing to listen to music FOR FREE!!!!

Because the music industry has mutually beneficial agreements with the radio industry in place with respect to compensation for the right to broadcast.

[SirFozzie]

Because the music industry has mutually beneficial agreements with the radio industry in place with respect to compensation for the right to broadcast.

In other words, the RIAA pays for the ability to tell the radio stations of America what to play