Warner Music Sues Again!

from the just-can't-stop-it dept

Fri, Feb 6th 2009 11:57am — Mike Masnick

We've discussed in the past Warner Music's penchant for suing pretty much any new web startup that does anything even remotely innovative around music. So, whaddaya know, Warner Music is suing yet again. This time it's German startup Songbeat, who vows to fight the lawsuit, insisting that what it's doing is perfectly legal.

It's fairly amazing that Warner Music -- remember, this was the company that swore it was done fighting its fans -- still thinks that this is a good strategy. Now, before the entertainment industry lawyers who read the site protest "how can you complain about a company defending its rights?" let's think this through a bit. Sure, Warner can defend its rights, but so far, all that's done is pissed off a ton of fans, shut down a bunch of innovative services that fans want to use to support artists, and Warner's sales numbers and stock price reflects this (though, the stock did get a bump yesterday after earnings were less dreadfully awful than expected):

Isn't it, maybe, time to try something different? Perhaps treating fans with respect? Actually joining the conversation? Letting musicians actually post their own videos to YouTube? Basically, isn't it time that Warner Music stopped viewing everything and everyone as a threat, and started actually embracing an opportunity or two? That would be a really amazing day.

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Filed Under: lawsuits, recording industry, strategy
Companies: songbeat, warner music group

11 Comments

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Matt Polmanteer, 6 Feb 2009 @ 12:04pm

Righhhhhhht
Haha You got Jokes.
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Ryan, 6 Feb 2009 @ 12:52pm

Circular logic
I think it could be pointed out that the "rights" they are claiming to be defending are only rights insofar that the law can be utilized to control certain works in certain ways. There is certainly no moral, logical, or common sense entitlement that Warner Music should be able to control music in this way. Thus, if the reasons for which the law is founded upon are wrong or outdated, then they cease to have those "rights"(except in the eyes of a court, until that law is changed).

The premise of giving Warner Music and others that control is that the common good created by incentives to create music and control use and distribution by the creators outweighs the common good created by allowing for freedom of use among the public. This has now been proven beyond any doubt whatsoever to be completely false. The only reason the law stays intact is because of lobbying efforts by these companies to strengthen their control (that's mainly why they were created and applied to music in the first place as well).

So, Warner bribes politicians to make laws giving WM overbroad rights, convinces judges to interpret laws in a manner inconsistent with the current technological state, and then legitimizes their legal actions by stating that they are merely defending their rights. I think you are giving Warner way to much credit here by granting them that they actually have rights that we are obligated to give them, regardless of whether exercising those "rights" is a dumb idea.
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Buck Dardems, 6 Feb 2009 @ 1:51pm

what is anyone laughing about...?
In my opinion (which means very little, but seeing as there is a reply box here, it's tells me it might mean a little more than YOU think) - sure, Warner is this huge company that is continually playing the same card, and it is wearing a little thin. Hopefully, they'll lighten up at some point. Perhaps when another organization comes along and stands up for what we believe.
Remember the old days when making a music mix onto cassette?
Then the prices on audio tapes went up.
People have been sharing music since the inception of music recording.
What's the problem?
Oh, the artist is losing. Or is it the mother company rather that is trying to make larger profits and have convinced the courts that it is unlawful.
If I want to follow an artist's career - I'll go out of my way to buy their latest cd.
C'mon now - the capitalistic hands will always want more never being satisfied. Nor will we the consumer.
The situation we find ourselves in is simply a sign of the times: more, faster, options, more, faster, more...
We have the system we deserve.
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Simon, 6 Feb 2009 @ 2:26pm

Re: Circular logic
Nice and concise round-up. Depressingly accurate.

The problem is that the RIAA members truly feel they are entitled to the level of revenue they enjoyed during the 90's CD price fixing era. Anything less than that and they feel they are being stolen from.
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Nate, 6 Feb 2009 @ 2:50pm

I'd like to thank Time Warner Music for suing this company. I would have never heard of them otherwise.
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crazy person 101, 6 Feb 2009 @ 3:10pm

"isn't it time that Warner Music stopped viewing everything and everyone as a threat, and started actually embracing an opportunity or two? That would be a really amazing day."

HELL NO, let em die, let all the copywrongs they hold just go up in smoke, and let all their lawers try and find new jobs in an economic downturn.

they had their chance to evolve to meet the new conditions that they face but they chose to bury their heads in the sand.
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luckybleu, 7 Feb 2009 @ 7:48am

its about legality
why should warner endorse sites that havent gone through the painful and complex licensing that legal sites have to go through ,Qtrax has been trying to obtain licensing from the majors for years ,paying upfront licensing fees and negotiating contracts with the major labels which has been difficult to say the least, but they have 3 of the 4 majors signed (universal, Emi, and Sony) and a host of indies ,All these contracts are for legal p2p and multinational with warner said to be ready to endorse them very soon. Qtrax deals will allow portability and p2p access , so if a music site wants to stay in bussiness they should have to go through what qtrax has gone through and on the verge of unveiling to the world a completely free, LEGAL p2p music service ,check it out now if your in the U.S. it works great ,more countries and portability coming soon
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nasch, 7 Feb 2009 @ 8:45am

Re: its about legality
Do you work for qtrax?
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luckybleu, 7 Feb 2009 @ 9:27am

qtrax
Whats the difference is not my point valid?
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me, 9 Feb 2009 @ 9:43am

maybe the bad economy is good for something
Maybe it will kill Warner MUsic and the Music Industry as a whole and do the world. It needs to die so something worthy can take it's place.
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x, 23 Feb 2009 @ 11:49pm

x
WMG sucks. They think they're the kings of the world. But they're not, and they're only killing themselves with their copyright rampage.
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