LegalReader.com  ·  Legal News, Analysis, & Commentary

News & Politics

High Court Agrees To Hear Internet File-Sharing Dispute


— December 10, 2004

(AP) – The Supreme Court agreed Friday to consider whether two Internet file-sharing services may be held responsible for their customers’ online swapping of copyrighted songs and movies.

Justices will review a lower ruling in favor of Grokster Ltd. and StreamCast Networks Inc., which came as a blow to recording companies and movie studios seeking to stop the illegal distribution of their works.

The file-sharing is “inflicting catastrophic, multibillion dollar harm on petitioners that cannot be redressed through lawsuits against the millions of direct infringers using those services,” the appeal by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and other entertainment companies says.

Grokster and StreamCast, in their filings, disagree: “Once the software has been downloaded by users, (we) have no involvement in, nor ability to control, what it is used for.”

Details here from the AP via WAVY.com (VA).


(AP) – The Supreme Court agreed Friday to consider whether two Internet file-sharing services may be held responsible for their customers’ online swapping of copyrighted songs and movies.

Justices will review a lower ruling in favor of Grokster Ltd. and StreamCast Networks Inc., which came as a blow to recording companies and movie studios seeking to stop the illegal distribution of their works.

The file-sharing is “inflicting catastrophic, multibillion dollar harm on petitioners that cannot be redressed through lawsuits against the millions of direct infringers using those services,” the appeal by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and other entertainment companies says.

Grokster and StreamCast, in their filings, disagree: “Once the software has been downloaded by users, (we) have no involvement in, nor ability to control, what it is used for.”

Details here from the AP via WAVY.com (VA).

Join the conversation!