Kazaa settles; France backflips

French Constitutional Committee throw out small file sharing fines; introduce compensation for interoperability - consumers, artists and open source community all to suffer:
The New York Times, Parts of French ‘iPod Law’ Struck Down (28 July 2006) <http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/28/business/28cnd-music.html?ex=1311739200&en=a4510cef9bd399fb&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss> at 30 July 2006

InfoWorld, French copyright law gets tougher (28 July 2006) <http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/07/28/HNfrenchcopy_1.html?source=rss&url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/07/28/HNfrenchcopy_1.html? at 30 July 2006

Digital Music News, French Interoperability Bill Moves Ever-Closer to Law (3 July 2006) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/index_html#070506france> at 4 July 2006
(note this was earlier in the month)

Individual file sharers contesting on basis of IP address have some success:
Recording Indstry v The People Blog, RIAA Discontinued Case in California, Virgin v. Marson (28 July 2006) <http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2006/07/riaa-discontinued-case-in-california.html> at 29 July 2006

p2pnet.net, RIAA IP bullshit (28 July 2006) <http://p2pnet.net/story/9471> at 29 July 2006

Recording Industry v The People Blog, RIAA Case Against Mother Dismissed With Prejudice; Court May Award Attorneys Fees Against RIAA (13 July 2006) <http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2006/07/riaa-case-against-mother-dismissed.html#comments> at 14 July 2006

Arstechnia, RIAA loses in file sharing case (13 July 2006) <http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060713-7257.html> at 14 July 2006

p2pnet.net, Oklahoma Mum takes on RIAA (13 July 2006) <http://p2pnet.net/story/9340> at 14 July 2006

Digital Music News, More Debate Surrounds Capitol Records v. Foster (18 July 2006) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/index_html#071806riaa> at 19 July 2006

TechDirt, How Long Does The RIAA Get To Abuse The Legal System? (13 July 2006) <http://techdirt.com/articles/20060713/1443212.shtml#comments> at 14 July 2006

Shawn Hogan plans to take it all the way - refuses even $500 settlement:
Wired, Shawn Hogan, Hero, Issue 14.8 (August 2006)<http://wired.com/wired/archive/14.08/start.html?pg=3> at 26 July 2006

Record label mergers take a step back:
Digital Music News, Warner Music Signals Disinterest in EMI Acquisition (28 July 2006) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/index_html#072806warner> at 29 July 2006

Digital Music News, Impala Rattles Cage on BMG Music Publishing Sale (21 July 2006) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/index_html#072106impala> at 22 July 2006

The Register, Sony BMG ruling rocks European Commission (17 July 2006) <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/17/sony_ruling_rocks_commission/> at 18 July 2006

p2pnet.net, Sony BMG merger trashed (13 July 2006) <http://p2pnet.net/story/9335> at 14 July 2006

More browsers build in file sharing with friends:
JavaScriptSearch, exaroom Offers File-Sharing as a Basis for New Online Community (26 July 2006) <http://www.javascriptsearch.com/news/news/060726exaroom.html> at 28 July 2006

NewsForge, Easy file sharing with AllPeers (29 June 2006) <http://software.newsforge.com/software/06/06/20/1940233.shtml?tid=130&tid=13> at 2 July 2006

New P2P network - may only be custom clients - commercial p2p the way forward (unless you ask consumers):
Market Wire, P2P Innovative (25 July 2006)<http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=147170> at 26 July 2006

vnunet.com, Peer-to-peer turns corporate (13 July 2006) <http://www.vnunet.com/computing/analysis/2160276/peer-peer-turns-corporate> at 15 July 2006

CNet News, BitTorrent inks licensing deal with studios (10 July 2006)<http://news.com.com/2100-1025_3-6092296.html> at 13 July 2006

Music downloading trends away from singles to whole albums:
Slyck.com, Downloading whole albums becoming more popular (20 July 2006) <http://www.insidebayarea.com/food/ci_4073348> at 28 July 2006

InsideBayArea, Downloading whole albums becoming more popular (20 July 2007) <http://www.insidebayarea.com/food/ci_4073348> at 28 July 2006

Mashboxx/EMI - are they ever going to launch? - Snocap sick of waiting
Slyck.com, EMI Releases Catalog to…Mashboxx (28 July 2006) <http://www.slyck.com/news.php?story=1253> at 29 July 2006

P2P Blog, Snocap starts selling MP3s through web widgets (24 July 2006) <http://www.p2p-blog.com/item-109.html> at 26 July 2006

IFPI - lies, lies and more lies:
IFPI, Piracy Report (28 July 2006) <http://www.ifpi.org/site-content/library/piracy-report2006.pdf> at 28 July 2006

MichaelGeist, Setting the IFPI Record Straight (28 July 2006) <http://michaelgeist.ca/component/option,com_content/task,view/id,1337/Itemid,85/nsub,/> at 28 July 2006

Kazaa gets what it always wanted - RIAA/ARIA/MPAA call it a victory - now around $300 million from all file sharing lawsuits - how much for the artists - none:
MIPI Media Release, Australian Recording Industry Announces Historic Global Pay-Out From Kazaa (27 July 2006) <http://www.mipi.com.au/documents/kazaa27072006.pdf> at 28 July 2006

IFPI, KAZAA settles with record industry and goes legitimate (27 July 2006) <http://www.ifpi.org/site-content/press/20060727.html> at 28 July 2006

Digital Music News, Kazaa, Recording Industry Settle, $115 Million Agreement (28 July 2006) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/index_html#072806kazaa> at 28 July 2006

CNet News, With settlement, Kazaa casts off its pirate garb (27 July 2006) <http://news.com.com/With+settlement%2C+Kazaa+casts+off+its+pirate+garb/2100-1027_3-6099064.html> at 28 July 2006

BBC News, Kazaa site becomes legal service (27 July 2006) <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5220406.stm> at 28 July 2006

Seattle Post Intelligencer, 'Kazaa' makers settle piracy lawsuits (27 July 2006) <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/1700AP_Downloading_Music.html?source=mypi> at 28 July 2006

Wired News (Blogs), RIAA Gets $115 Million from Kazaa (28 July 2006) <http://blog.wired.com/music/index.blog?entry_id=1528691> at 28 July 2006

ABC News, Kazaa settles Internet piracy lawsuits (28 July 2006) <http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1699109.htm> at 28 July 2006

Sydney Morning Herald, Kazaa capitulates, settles piracy case (28 July 2006) <http://www.smh.com.au/news/digital-music/kazaa-capitulates-settles-piracy-case/2006/07/27/1153816326515.html> at 28 July 2006

Slyck, Kazaa Settles With Entertainment Industry (27 July 2006) http://www.slyck.com/news.php?story=1250> at 28 July 2006

p2pnet.net, Kazaa, MPAA alliance (27 July 2006) <http://www.p2pnet.net/story/9460> at 28 July 2006

Had RIAA already been using Kazaa to get songs to radio stations?
p2pnet.net, New RIAA promo tool: Kazaa (26 July 2006) <http://p2pnet.net/story/9459#comments> at 27 July 2006

Altnet blinded by the light:
IFPI, Altnet Anti Piracy – Vision Statement (27 July 2006) <http://www.ifpi.org/site-content/library/altnet-anti-piracy-vision-statement.pdf> at 28 July 2006

Things not looking great for Morpheus:
Digital Music News, StreamCast Falters in District Court Challenge (19 july 2006) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/index_html#071906streamcast> at 19 July 2006

Canada.com, Evidence favours entertainment firms in file-sharing case: judge (18 July 2006) <http://www.canada.com/topics/technology/news/gizmos/story.html?id=3dba0b05-9471-47ba-9d32-c9a536ed32ae&k=77333> at 19 July 2006

Japan's filerouge (sorry its an old story - this is just for my reference):
Recording Industry Association of Japan, File-sharing service company was ordered to pay 37 million Japanese yen; Tokyo District Court decided the damages (17 December 2003) <http://www.riaj.or.jp/e/whatsnew/20031217.html> at 27 July 2006

Pirating Pirates makes Pirates Treasure:
Slyck, Pirates Top Charts (24 July 2006) <http://www.slyck.com/news.php?story=1248> at 27 July 2006

MS Zune to squash other playsforsure stores (DRM of course does not create market impediments):
Digital Music News, Zune Fallout Begins: PlaysForSure Getting Played? (24 July 2006) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/index_html#072406plays> at 26 July 2006

The Techonology Liberation Front, Against Platform Monopoly: Demand Inefficiencies (20 July 2006) <http://www.techliberation.com/archives/040243.php> at 26 July 2006

Napster on owning nothing being a good thing:
The Register, Stoic Napster troubled by Grecian formula (19 July 2006) <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/19/stoic_napster_fall_emusic_rise/> at 22 July 2006

US Universities experience poor uptake of paid services:
Freedom To Tinker, University-Purchased Music Services a Bust (7 July 2006) <http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/?p=1038> at 14 July 2006

The Long Tail in Canada:
p2pnet.net, The Long Tail tale (24 July 2006) <http://www.p2pnet.net/story/9437> at 25 July 2006

Yahoo delivers first DRM free track - for commerical reasons - not cos of consumers:
Digital Music News, Yahoo Music Delivers Jessica Simpson MP3 Download (20 July 2006) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/index_html#072006mp3> at 22 July 2006

CNet News, Yahoo sells Jessica Simpson single sans DRM (20 July 2006)
<http://news.com.com/Yahoo+sells+Jessica+Simpson+single+sans+DRM/2100-1025_3-6096350.html> at 29 July 2006

p2pnet.net, BMG 'No DRM' download (21 July 2006) <http://p2pnet.net/story/9415#comments> at 22 July 2006

The Not So Daily Me, Yahoo! Music to offer unrestricted MP3s? (8 July 2006) <http://hansmast.com/index.php?title=yahoo_music_to_offer_unrestricted_mp3s&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1> at 19 July 2006

More opensource DRM - still barking up the wrong tree:
p2pnet.net, More 'open source' DRM (12 July 2006) <http://p2pnet.net/story/9416> at 22 July 2006

UK court okays allofMP3 case:
BBC, BPI gets go-ahead to sue MP3 site (3 July 2006) <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5140788.stm> at 4 July 2006

World War 3 in the Middle East still not enough to stop cartels seeking international support:
Digital Music News, G8 Leaders Address Piracy Protection, BPI Chases AllofMP3 (18 July 2006) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/index_html#071806g8> at 19 July 2006

BBC News, G8 group piracy pledge welcomed (17 July 2006) <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5189092.stm> at 19 July 2006

MPAA corrupting boyscouts to dob on file sharers - acknowledging police have better things to do?
p2pnet.net, MPAA Boy Scout Spies (18 July 2006) <http://p2pnet.net/story/9385> at 19 July 2006

International Coordination of Pirate Parties:
p2pnet.net, Pirate Parties International <http://p2pnet.net/story/9386> at 19 July 2006

p2pnet.net, Pirates of the world, Unite! (12 July 2006) <http://p2pnet.net/story/9330> at 13 July 2006

p2pnet.net, French Pirate Party launch (5 July 2006) <http://p2pnet.net/story/9268> 6 July 2006

UK mp3 players have mostly illegal content:
PC Pro, File-sharing fills the nation's MP3 players (13 July 2006) <http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/90240/filesharing-fills-the-nations-mp3-players.html> at 28 July 2006

UK indies on the right track with levies proposal but ISPs should not collect the funds:
CNet.co.uk, ISPs reject calls for music tariffs (17 July 2006 <http://news.cnet.co.uk/software/0,39029694,49282048,00.htm> at 18 July 2006

Out-Law News, Music industry proposes 'ISP tax' (14 July 2006) <http://www.out-law.com/page-7104> at 15 July 2006

The Register, Indies, songwriters want jaw jaw with ISPs, Not war war (14 July 2006) <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/14/vrr_isps/> at 15 July 2006

UK ISPs fight discloure requests:
Pro PC, ISPs slam attempts to reveal alleged file sharers (17 July 2006) <http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/90293/isps-slam-attempts-to-reveal-alleged-file-sharers.html> at 18 July 2006

p2pnet.net, Big Music angers UK ISPs (17 July 2006) <http://www.p2pnet.net/story/9373> at 18 July 2006

p2pnet.net, Tiscali tells Hollywood to poke it (12 July 2006) <http://p2pnet.net/story/9323> at 13 July 2006

Yahoo News UK, Tiscali snubs music industry demand for names (11 July 2006)<http://uk.news.yahoo.com/11072006/80-91/tiscali-snubs-music-industry-demand-names.html> at 13 July 2006

Yahoo News UK, Internet providers urged to lock out file-sharers (10 July 2006)<http://uk.news.yahoo.com/10072006/80-91/internet-providers-urged-lock-file-sharers.html> at 13 July 2006

Netherlands reitterates MediaSentry evidence not good enough:
p2pnet.net, New MediaSentry failure (14 July 2006)<http://p2pnet.net/story/9356> at 15 July 2006

The Register, File-swappers' identities protected by Dutch court Privacy laws (14 July 2006)<http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/14/fileswappers_protected/> at 15 July 2006

Dutch parliament opposes criminal file sharing sanctions for EU:
Heise Online, Dutch parliament opposes criminalization of violations of intellectual property across the EU (2 July 2006) <http://www.heise.de/english/newsticker/news/74989> at 13 July 2006

Industry asks EU to cut copyright fees:
The Register, Industries lobby EU Commission to cut copyright fees (4 July 2006) <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/04/industries_propose_copyright_fee_slash/> at 6 July 2006

Columbia Criminalsies DRM circumvention:
Pro PC, Colombia criminalises DRM cracking (17 July 2006) <http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/90290/columbia-criminalises-drm-cracking.html> at 18 July 2006

Customers/Criminals - whats the difference?
p2pnet.net/Los Angeles Times, Not all consumers are bootleggers (12 July 2006) <http://p2pnet.net/story/9317> at 13 July 2006

Jailing software developers - the natural step - along with gun manufacturers, car producers, heck why not string makers:
p2pnet.net, Winny author should be jailed (4 July 2006) <http://p2pnet.net/story/9254> at 5 July 2006

Digital sales are up? But, are they anywhere near 20 billion (free) downloads a year - no!
CNet News/Reuters, Digital-music sales on a crescendo (6 July 2006)<http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-6091069.html> at 13 July 2006

China's epeezer re-emerges in legal format:
J. Ho, 'Ezpeer is making sweet music -- and now it's legal' Taipei Times, 30 June 2006, pg 12<http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2006/06/30/2003316512> at 2 July 2006

Yahoo China to face the music:
Bloomberg.com, Yahoo China to Be Sued by Music Labels Including EMI, Universal (3 July 2006)http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aw48FZhkY_Sk&refer=asia> at 5 July 2006