Sal Collaziano
4-14-00, 09:12 AM
Compliments of iwon.com:
Metallica Sues Internet's Napster
April 14, 2000 3:26 am EST
By Don Waller
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Hard rockers Metallica have become the first recording artists to file a copyright infringement suit against the popular Internet file-sharing program Napster. Three major universities were named in the suit as well.
The suit was brought Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles by Metallica, their music publishing company Creeping Death Music and E/M Ventures (their joint venture with Elektra Records, the band's label).
The complaint accuses Napster, the University of Southern California, Yale University and Indiana University of copyright infringement, unlawful use of a digital audio interface device and violations of the Racketeering Influenced & Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
One reason Metallica is the first recording act to file suit against Napster is that the group is one of relatively few that owns its own master tapes as well as its own music publishing.
Metallica's attorney, Howard King, told Daily Variety that the RICO act was invoked because Napster's file-sharing program involves ongoing multiple violations with multiple conspirators.
King said the three universities cited in the suit were those that -- unlike nearly 200 other schools -- had not banned use of the Napster software. (Indiana previously banned Napster's use because it was taking up so much of the campus computer network's bandwidth, but once that problem was resolved, reinstated access to the program.)
"It takes more than Napster," King said. "How these universities allow their bandwidth to be used is firmly within their control."
When contacted by Daily Variety, Napster's attorneys said they hadn't seen a copy of the suit and therefore could not comment.
Metallica Sues Internet's Napster
April 14, 2000 3:26 am EST
By Don Waller
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Hard rockers Metallica have become the first recording artists to file a copyright infringement suit against the popular Internet file-sharing program Napster. Three major universities were named in the suit as well.
The suit was brought Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles by Metallica, their music publishing company Creeping Death Music and E/M Ventures (their joint venture with Elektra Records, the band's label).
The complaint accuses Napster, the University of Southern California, Yale University and Indiana University of copyright infringement, unlawful use of a digital audio interface device and violations of the Racketeering Influenced & Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
One reason Metallica is the first recording act to file suit against Napster is that the group is one of relatively few that owns its own master tapes as well as its own music publishing.
Metallica's attorney, Howard King, told Daily Variety that the RICO act was invoked because Napster's file-sharing program involves ongoing multiple violations with multiple conspirators.
King said the three universities cited in the suit were those that -- unlike nearly 200 other schools -- had not banned use of the Napster software. (Indiana previously banned Napster's use because it was taking up so much of the campus computer network's bandwidth, but once that problem was resolved, reinstated access to the program.)
"It takes more than Napster," King said. "How these universities allow their bandwidth to be used is firmly within their control."
When contacted by Daily Variety, Napster's attorneys said they hadn't seen a copy of the suit and therefore could not comment.