MP3 site settles for $10 million with RIAA

By John Borland
Posted on ZDNet News: Oct 25, 2004 11:45:00 PM

The trade group on Monday said four people associated with Puretunes.com, which operated only briefly in mid-2003, collectively agreed to pay $500,000 in damages, while the holding company responsible for the Web site's operations will be responsible for $10 million.

The company initially said it had acquired the rights to the songs legally through overseas licensing authorities. The RIAA disagreed and sued the company not long afterward.

"Puretunes.com duped consumers by claiming it was a legitimate online music retailer when, in fact, it was no such thing," RIAA President Cary Sherman said in a statement. "It's essential for the integrity and security of the legitimate online music marketplace that imposters like Puretunes.com are held accountable."

The Puretunes case was one of several the recording industry has pursued in recent years against Web sites, trying unusual music distribution models. The online companies often cite loopholes in overseas content licensing rules that U.S. companies say aren't valid.

A similar case is now going to court in Australia, where a man is accused of allowing people to download 2 terabytes of music from his Web site.

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$1 is out of line

If I can buy the CD for $12 why pay $1 a song that I have to pay to download and pay to burn? I don't pay a fee to browse a record store.... (Read the rest)

Posted by: voska Posted on: 10/26/04 You are currently: a Guest | Log in | Terms of Use

The RIAA represents the recording industry artists right?  Squawkbox | 10/25/04

RIAA represents big business  voska | 10/26/04

Ok but the artists still ain't seein a dime of the settlement  Squawkbox | 10/26/04

No, they represent the recodring studios.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/26/04

I'd say artists are thier customers  voska | 10/26/04

What yoiu think really doesn't matter.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/26/04

Poor thinking these days though  voska | 10/26/04

so here is proof that a profit can be made selling  V Sanders | 10/25/04

How dare you...  Letophoro | 10/26/04

Hmmm, proof you can sell stolen product cheap. Your right.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/26/04

Proof that you can make a substantial profit at pennies a song.  The King's Servant | 10/26/04

Sure, as long as you steal the song first.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/26/04

You missed the point.  The King's Servant | 10/26/04

Because you have no point.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/26/04

Flops cost less if you never have to master...  The King's Servant | 10/26/04

If you could make a corvette for pennies  voska | 10/26/04

If you could make "songs" for pennies...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/26/04

It costs millions to publish....  The King's Servant | 10/26/04

No it doesn't  voska | 10/26/04

Before Axy response...  The King's Servant | 10/26/04

pennies a song is possible - that scares the riaa  V Sanders | 10/26/04

Right on the money there  voska | 10/26/04

re : If you could make a corvette for pennies  V Sanders | 10/26/04

no-ax, re : Hmmm, proof you can sell stolen product cheap. Your right.  V Sanders | 10/26/04

$1 is out of line  voska | 10/26/04

What do you think?

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