Meta

llica

vs.

Nap

ster

By: B

riann

a

Napster

• Napster was a downloading program just like Frostwire or Limewire.

• You could download almost anything- and all for free

Metallica

• Metallica is a famous metal band who have over 100 songs.

• The band includes James Hetfield – Vocals and rhythm guitar, Lars Ulrich – Drums and percussion, Kirk Hammett – Lead Guitar, and Rob Trujillo – Bass.

What Happened?

• Metallica filed a lawsuit against Napster for music piracy on the net.

• The lawsuit states that Napster has violated three different areas of the law: copyright infringements, unlawful use of digital audio interface device, and the Racketeering Influenced & Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

How Metallica feels

• "We take our craft -- whether it be the music, the lyrics, or the photos and artwork -- very seriously, as do most artists. It is therefore sickening to know that our art is being traded like a commodity rather than the art that it is. From a business standpoint, this is about piracy -- a/k/a taking something that doesn't belong to you; and that is morally and legally wrong. The trading of such information -- whether it's music, videos, photos, or whatever - is, in effect, trafficking in stolen goods."

How Napster feels

• Napster's counsel, Laurence Pulgram, at Fenwick & West, LLP in San Francisco, stated:

• "This action raises the same copyright issues as the lawsuit filed against Napster by the recording industry in federal court in San Francisco. The complaint reads like it was written to inflame the press and intimidate universities rather than to present legal issues to the court. It is also hard to understand why plaintiffs -- a group located in the San Francisco Bay Area -- saw it necessary to file a separate action in Los Angeles."

• In the end, Metallica wins the lawsuit and Napster went bankrupt.

• I wonder who will be the next to sue for music piracy against other downloading programs like Frostwire and Limewire.

http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2000/04/35670