Wow, what a week...

The RIAA appear to be suggesting that merely having a shared folder with copyrighted files in it is enough to establish infringing activity, despite rulings in Canada and the Netherlands which clearly state otherwise:
Editor, RIAA's latest file share claim, p2pnet.net, 26 January 2006

iMesh announces a parternship with MusicNet that includes 2 million DRM enabled tracks for purchase. Operates much like Altnet files did (do - sorry for the past tense) in Kazaa:
Editor, iMesh, MusicNet Officially Announce Partnership, Digital Music News, 24 January 2006

EMI chairman says that paid downloads will revivie the music industry, and states that the French move toward collective licensing is an 'aberation':
Editor, EMI chairman sees Net reviving music industry, Reuters/CNet News, 23 January 2006
Editor, EMI attacks French p2p plan, p2p.net, 22 January 2006

The IFPI say that file sharing is being "contained" given the growth of broadband, however statistics show litigation is having no effect in reducing it:
Editor, File-sharing 'not cut by courts' BBC News, 20 January 2006

Individual prosecutions begin in Switzerland:
Editor, IFPI Switzerland files suit against users of peer-to-peer networks, Heise Online, 19 January 2006

Music sales flat despite legal download growth

Editor, Music sales flat despite legal download growth, Reuters/CNet News, 23 January 2006

You gotta laugh at this: "Litigation is the last resort"

This weeks news...

Report from the IFPI that paid downloads now amount to 6% of the music market, totalling $1.1 billion for 2005.
A. Pasick, Digital music sales triple in 2005, Yahoo News, 19 January 2006

Students sued for using i2hub want the operator to pay their damages of $157,500 demanded by the record industry - the operator says the EULA clearly disclaimed liability
Editor, Students want file-sharing operator to pay copyright claims, Silicon Valley, 17 January 2006

Singapore commences legal action against three uploaders:
Editor, Singaporean Authorities Issue First Round of Downloading Suits, Digital Music News, 15 January 2006

Korea effectively decriminalises individual file sharing:
C. Ah-young, Commercial Online Music File Swappers Face Criminal Charges, The Korea Times, 16 January 2006

France takes a step back from collective licensing proposal from December 2005, may introduce scaled warnings and minor fines for individual file sharers. A softer stance may also be taken in relation to DRM:
Editor, France rethinks digital copyright bill, Yahoo News, 15 January 2006
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060115/tc_afp/franceinternetlaws

A UK consumer rights organisation has started lobbying for consumer protection against DRM
Editor, Fears raised over digital rights, BBC News, 16 January 2006

Anti DRM Pledge

Sign the freeculture.org pledge to NEVER purchse a copy protected CD - :

http://www.pledgebank.com/boycottdrm

its nice to know there are thousands that think the same way we do !

Paid downloads peak well below file sharing

Editor, Legitimate music downloading enjoys dream week, CNet News/Reuters, 8 January 2006

The week before Christmas paid downloads totalled 9 million, the week between Christmas and New Year, 20 million. Average weekly downloads from file sharing networks are around 250 million.

It seems fair to say that paid downloads remain merely a drop in the ocean.

Happy New Year

Happy New year to you all... things have been a little quiet the past couple of weeks on the digital music front but there have been some interesting developments:


New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has commenced a probe into the price of legal downloads which some are suggesting will delay the introduction of variable pricing structures:

J. Borland, Probe may delay change in digital-music prices, CNet News, 4 January 2006

Editor, New York Attorney General Puts Microscope on Paid Downloads, Digital Music News, 3 January 2006


And Sony has reportedly reached a settlement to the class action over its disgusting DRM:

Sony Settlement Proposal Filing

Editor, Sony BMG Offers Resolution to Class Action Lawsuits, Digital Music News, 3 January 2006

EFF and Sony BMG Reach Settlement over Flawed DRM, EFF, 29 December 2005