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[Charlemagne 8]

Eclipsed by last Saturday's events is a news item ... actually two ... of interest, albeit relatively old.
1. Hilary Rosen is resigning from the RIAA.

Wednesday, January 22, 2003 · Last updated 5:45 p.m. PT

Music Industry Lobbyist Rosen to Leave

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK -- Hilary Rosen, the U.S. recording industry's head lobbyist who waged a high-profile battle against Napster and music piracy, is resigning at the end of the year.

Rosen cited personal reasons for leaving the Recording Industry Association of America, where she has served as chief executive since 1998.

"During my tenure here, the recording industry has undergone dramatic challenges and it is well positioned for future success. I have been extremely proud to be a part of this industry transition," Rosen said Wednesday. "But I have young children and I want to devote more of my time to them."

She said the RIAA board will conduct a formal search for a replacement

(JimH's new job?)

2. KaZaa (Sharman) is suing the Movie and Recording Industry

Los Angeles (AP) - The owners of the Kazaa file-sharing network are suing the movie and recording industries, claiming that they don't understand the digital age and are monopolizing entertainment.

Sharman Networks Ltd. filed its counterclaim Monday in response to a copyright-infringement lawsuit brought by several recording labels and movie studios. That lawsuit accuses Sharman of providing free access to copyright music and films to millions of Internet users in the United States.

The latest filing came two weeks after U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson dismissed Sharman's claim that it could not be sued in the United States because it is based in Australia and incorporated in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu.

Wilson had found Sharman subject to U.S. copyright laws because it has substantial usage by Californians and its actions are alleged to contribute to commercial piracy within the United States.

Sharman's counterclaim alleges copyright misuse, monopolization, and deceptive acts and practices.

"In seeking to simultaneously stop illegal copying and to maintain their dominant position in the distribution of musical and movie content, the industry plaintiffs have obscenely overreached," Sharman said.

It seeks a jury trial, damages, attorney fees and a permanent injunction against the entertainment industry so that it can't "enforce any of their United States copyrights against any person or entity."

Sharman said the entertainment companies are behind the times and don't realize that consumers need not buy CDs, DVDs or videotapes to enjoy music or films.

Sharman also claimed that movie studios "dominate and, when they act in concert, have monopoly power" for the aftermarket distribution of first-run major motion pictures. Likewise, the company said, recording labels "when they act in concert, have monopoly power in the distribution of recorded music."

Movie studios involved in the lawsuit include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., Disney Enterprises Inc., Paramount Pictures Corp. The recording labels are BMG, EMI, Sony, Universal and Warner.

Haven't seen these mentioned here so I did it.

CVIII

[nila]

I really hope they win the lawsuit because it is sooo true and they do totally scare monger everyone and bully them.

They closed napster only to then try to introduce their own version of it.

They dont want to stop music being distrobuted online, they just want to stop anyone doing it that isn't them so that they can control it and get all the cash from it.

[Charlemagne 8]

I'm surprised no one has done it before. The record companies are known as "The Big Five" and are all members of the same political lobbyist group known as the RIAA. Sure sounds like a monolopy conspiracy to me. Wait. There's someone at the door ......

[zevele10]

i hope she does not plan to retire here..........