MP3.com Sued for 'viral' Copyright Infringement?

Are We Afraid writes "Apparently the RIAA isn't the only one looking to make money off of MP3.com. They have just been sued by a group of independent artists for, get this, "viral copyright infringement". What does that even mean???" They claim that people who downloaded MP3s from mp3.com contributed them to napster, so MP3.com owes them. It's really bizarre.

MP3.COM

[methangel]

This is what I like to call "kicking your fellow man" ... why are they not going after Napster which is where the MP3s are being shown? It is not MP3.COM's fault that the end-user shared (sometimes inadvertantly) the MP3 with Napster. I am sick of the RIAA, sick of MP3.com and most of all, I am sick of Napster. Why can't we all just get along?

what did they expect.

[room101]

Anyone with half a brain should comprehend that if you release you music on one site, you can expect it to be posted to some other site.

I guess they should have used SDMI or something, oh wait, that wouldn't work either.

Why stop there, more money to be had

[Anonymous Coward]

Why not sue the music stores, the CD printers and creators, the record companies themselves, the artists, the makers of ANY MP3 writing or reading software (hardware too), the makers of ANY devices that use these tools, the distributers of any of the formentioned tools, the ISP's, the data wire manufacturers (phone wires), the makers of any of the MPEG standards or anyone who uses or distributes them or tools, etc...

Hey, while the Tobacco litigations involved sheep that had no will power and wanted others to pay for their mistakes (often even when they were told or could have read that it was bad for them), I think that end users that had any accounts banned or otherwise suffered any physical or emotional trauma from using MP3's should jump on this bandwagon too! Yeeeeeehaaaaa! Make money the new way... steal it legally!

Viral copyright infringement

[TrollMan 5000]

I'm a copyright infringment virus. Run me and I'll send copies of all your MP3's to everyone in your address book.

Add Honda to the "viral infringment" list

[JoeShmoe]

Why? Because I was playing some MP3's that I downloaded from Napster in my car with the windows rolled down as I was driving down the street = unauthorized public performance. Honda should be ashamed. of themselves for robbing hard working artists this way.

RIAA will soon insist that car manufactures locked windows in the upright positions when music is being played unless it comes from a royalty-paying souce.

On a side note...this is why you NEVER EVER settle a case out of court. MP3.Com settled and has been taking up the ass ever since (insert obligatory goatse reference). The newest game in the music industry is to flaggelate the expired equinine. Napster is still fighting. And really, if they do lose, could they possibly any worse off than MP3.Com?

- JoeShmoe

Re:I Want a List...

[Anonymous Coward]

mp3.com are NOT YOUR FRIEND.

Neither is RANDOM CAPITALIZATION.