"Although some people may not like it, copyright laws and regulations exist. Those who engage in mass copying and distribution of copyrighted works typically must pay licensing fees, or at least enter into an agreement with the owner of the content. That makes the free, unauthorized trading of massive numbers of music or video files over peer-to-peer networks illegal.
"So far, the situation is clear.
"What is not clear is the circumstances under which a technology company should be held liable if its product can be used to violate copyright restrictions."
Anush Yegyazarian. Supreme Court Standards for Peer-to-Peer and Beyond. PC World. April 12, 2005.
See also:
Grant Gross. Supreme Court Justices Question Peer-to-Peer Lawsuits. PC World. March 29, 2005.
U.S. Supreme Court. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc., et al. v. Grokster, Ltd, et al.. (.pdf) March 29, 2005.
Grant Gross. P-to-P Case May Have Far-Reaching Impact. PC World. March 25, 2005.
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Posted by Carol Schwartz at April 13, 2005 08:49 AM | Send to a friend! | Topic(s): Business & Commerce, Community & Groups, Copyright, Entertainment, File Sharing, Law & Regulation, Peer-to-Peer