Another ruling today... MGM v. Grokster
Hollywood wins Internet piracy battle.
Well, the case really wasn't decided. What was decided was to have the lower court actually try the case. So there's no clear-cut ruling on whether P2P software is legal or illegal.
What the SC focused on is the "intent" of the creators/distributors of the software, and as NPR aired, one of the aims of Grokster was to take the place of the failed Napster, and snag as many customers as possible. Thing is, how does one determine "intent" actually? Without watching over the shoulders/reading the emails/constantly shadowing the producers of the software?
There's bound to be more cases on this. The Betamax ruling will hopefully stand. The software technology is more useful than just piracy. If they rule the actual operation of the software illegal, then the principle behind scanning documents, faxing, taking photographs of artwork, VCRs, TiVos, etc., becomes a very open target for lawsuits. Hopefully they stay away from this Pandora's box.
As if piracy were the real culprit behind the decline in ticket sales to movies and CD purchases.
For different articles on this: Slate's take
MSN Money's take
Rolling Stone's take
Edit: Here's a link that is for students - the biggest audience in the d/l "wars":
http://chronicle.com/free/2005/06/2005062409n.htm.
TTFN
NO MORE BU--SH--
2 comments:
Maybe if Hollywood started putting out a better product, record and movie ticket sales would improve.
The ruling won't matter much in the long run - its like trying to put a cork in an empty wine bottle to keep folks from drinking.
Yeah - movie quality has gone downhill, the affordability and DVD market drives nearly half the revenues, and the skyrocketing ticket prices and concession prices pretty much say 'Hey - Cheaper and better to watch at home in six months!'.
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