TheStreet.com Comments on XM vs RIAA, Notes Sirius Has Agreement In Place
Technology, Sour Note for XMBy
Scott Moritz, Senior Writer, TheStreet.com, 1/22/2007 12:06 PM
Suddenly XM's (XMSR) iPod killer isn't looking quite as menacing.
U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts denied XM's request to throw out a copyright lawsuit brought by a group of music companies. At issue is a hybrid satellite radio and MP3 device called the Inno that allows users to record music.
XM's Inno allows users to select artists and songs for recording. Those audio files can be indexed with other MP3s to create music libraries.
In May, the Recording Industry Association of America -- a trade group representing music companies such as Warner Music (WMG) , EMI, Vivendi's Universal Music and Sony (SNE) -- filed a lawsuit in New York, charging that XM's Inno portable radio violates copyrights by recording selected songs.
The judge cleared the way Friday for the case to go to trial. The music companies "sufficiently allege that the device gives XM added commercial benefit as a satellite radio broadcaster," Batts said in her 23-page order.
"By broadcasting and storing this copyrighted music ... for later recording by the consumer, XM is both a broadcaster and a distributor, but is only paying to be a broadcaster," Batts wrote in the order.
XM argues that use of the device is protected by the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992 and that it is no different than a tape recorder that legally allows users to record material of their choice.
Rival Sirius (SIRI) settled a similar case with the music companies early last year after it introduced its S50 radio with MP3 recording and playback features...read more:
here1/22/2007 10:31:00 PM
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