AfterDawn: News

Eight music publishers sue LimeWire

Following a huge victory for record companies over LimeWire, eight music publishers have filed their own lawsuit against the software company, seeking relief and damages for the facilitation of rampant copyright infringement. Many of the publishers are owned by the parent companies of the record labels that won the the case against LimeWire.

David Israelite, chief executive of the National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA), said that songwriters and publishers were also hurt as well as performers, by the music sharing facilitated by LimeWire software. Publishers are paid royalties for songwriters, while record companies work with the performers.



"The pervasive online infringement facilitated by LimeWire and others like them has consequences for everyone in the music chain," Israelite said in a statement. A U.S. District Court judge in New York ruled that LimeWire is liable for inducing copyright infringement.

Record companies sought a preliminary injunction last week that would freeze the assets of Mike Gorton, chairman of LimeWire, accusing him of attempting to shield LimeWire assets and proceeds from the court. LimeWire is attempting to relaunch itself as a legal music service.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 17 Jun 2010 0:43

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• 10 comments

• ROMaster2

  Do people even USE Limewire still?

  17.6.2010 00:47 #1

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by ROMaster2: Do people even USE Limewire still? I think the only users are RIAA investigators, and other people who know nothing about the internet.

  17.6.2010 04:24 #2

• lxfactor

  everybody uses limewire... hardly anyone knows how to use torrents. or even know what a open port is.. not to mention 80% of online users don't know about usenet
  

  
  

  17.6.2010 04:38 #3

• short syuff (unverified)

  if they sue lime wire for millions if not billions of dollars and than freeze their money how do they expect them to afford that amount.

  17.6.2010 04:41 #4

• EricCarr

  They could close Limewire today and tomorrow everyone who is downloading on it will be a new place tomorrow. They have shut down many of these P2P networks and another one opens shop.

  17.6.2010 06:13 #5

• 5fdpfan

  Originally posted by lxfactor: everybody uses limewire... hardly anyone knows how to use torrents. or even know what a open port is.. not to mention 80% of online users don't know about usenet Wow, are you sure about that? I find that hard to believe, but I suppose it could be true. Sad if it is.

  17.6.2010 11:22 #6

• Dela

  Originally posted by 5fdpfan: Originally posted by lxfactor: everybody uses limewire... hardly anyone knows how to use torrents. or even know what a open port is.. not to mention 80% of online users don't know about usenet Wow, are you sure about that? I find that hard to believe, but I suppose it could be true. Sad if it is. Sad? I always find that strange when people say things like that. Usenet was used as an avenue for piracy for a very long time but lawsuits and legal challenges only mounted when people posted information on using Usenet (I have done so myself). The same can be said for BitTorrent sites in their early days as well as a whole host of other sharing methods. Popularity is what eventually brings trouble.

  17.6.2010 11:25 #7

• Mez

  Only 8! I thought the music industry was run my total morons. I guess most figure what they were recover from Limewire will not pay their lawyers. This may be the smartest thing I have heard them do in a long time. I guess those 8 are also buying AOL stock while it is at bargain prices.
  
  Originally posted by Dela: Sad? I always find that strange when people say things like that.
  I think 5fdpfan is sad because most of the people are only smart enough to use Limewire not because other methods are under used. I think it is true just try driving on an interstate or see who gets elected. I think lxfactor got it right.

  17.6.2010 16:28 #8

• blueboy09

  Funny thing is that there are MANY P2P file-sharing programs out there that use the Gnuetella network out there. Guess what, if this goes down it's like what EC said in his above post: there will be another one that will take its place. The RIAA has got to stop this nonsense foolishness cause they can't wait even if they can get a few people. Piracy is here to stay, and that's reality whether they like it or not.
  

  Life is about walking on thin ice, if you make too much drama, youll crack under pressure. - BLUEBOY

  17.6.2010 23:45 #9

• jay r (unverified)

  Equitable remedies (like injunctions) can help speed up the legal process. Legal damages (money payments) take forever; this is why LimeWire was all but outdated by the time a legal ruling came out.
  
  See also:
  
  http://legalmatch.typepad.com/intellectu...technology.html

  21.6.2010 17:23 #10