Warner Music Sues Again!

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

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.

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