DeCSS Song Taken Down From MP3.com

from the silly-decisions dept

A few weeks back we posted a story about the DeCSS song and I joked that this might now make Techdirt illegal. Apparently, MP3.com (which I'm not sure has the right to claim moral superiority when it comes to protecting copyrights) has removed that song from their servers. I think that's just stupid. They didn't make it clear if anyone had asked them to remove it, and I doubt anyone did (though that would be an interesting story as well). So, that would mean they just decided the song was potentially illegal and thus removed. I see a can of worms opening...
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  • identicon
    Ryan, 14 Sep 2000 @ 6:12am

    Knockin' on heavens door.

    Does it really matter that MP3.com remove it? They sort of seem like the walking dead to me, why bother taking out one nail in the coffin whilst there are already a million knocked in!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike (profile), 14 Sep 2000 @ 11:14am

      Re: Knockin' on heavens door.

      It's not the point of whether or not MP3.com will survive (I actually think they probably will survive), but rather that they feel compelled to remove this song. It has nothing to do with the company. I'd be concerned if any company did this: removing a song because they think the words in the song might possibly be illegal. This, on the same day that the RIAA (MP3.com's enemies) are telling congress that songs such as Eminem's should be protected as free speech... Why can't the DeCSS song be protected as free speech?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Brian, 14 Sep 2000 @ 1:47pm

        Re: Knockin' on heavens door.

        Well I think MP3.com is worried about getting sued again. Their probably in quite a precarious financial position right now and couldn't afford another lawsuit. I doubt anyone will sue them over offensive lyrics cause that makes the record companies money.

        link to this | view in chronology ]


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