Nettwerk Music Group Takes On RIAA Over File-Sharing Suits

calidan · Jan 27, 2006, 07:25 AM

Canadian label/artist management group Nettwerk Music Group has announced it is taking on the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the controversial battle over suing individuals for illegally downloading songs online via file-sharing networks. "Suing music fans is not the solution, it's the problem," Nettwerk CEO Terry McBride simply said in a statement.

Teenager Elisa Greubel recently contacted Nettwerk client MC Lars, whose new track "Download This Song" tackles the file-sharing issue, on his Web site, writing, "My family is one of many seemingly randomly chosen families to be sued by the RIAA. No fun. You can't fight them, trying could possibly cost us millions. The line 'they sue little kids downloading hit songs,' basically sums a lot of the whole thing up. I'm not saying it is right to download but the whole lawsuit business is a tad bit outrageous."

In response, Nettwerk has agreed to pay all legal fees for the Greubel's family, which is challenging the RIAA's suit. Chicago lawyer Charles Lee Mudd Jr. will represent the Greubels. Mudd has represented multiple individuals who have been sued by the RIAA since 2003.

"Litigation is not 'artist development.' Litigation is a deterrent to creativity and passion and it is hurting the business I love," added McBride. "The current actions of the RIAA are not in my artists' best interests."
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Read More / Source: FMQB

Jan 27, 2006, 07:25 AM	#1
calidan Frozen in Carbonite Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 1,409 Rep Power: 57 System Specs	Nettwerk Music Group Takes On RIAA Over File-Sharing Suits Canadian label/artist management group Nettwerk Music Group has announced it is taking on the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the controversial battle over suing individuals for illegally downloading songs online via file-sharing networks. "Suing music fans is not the solution, it's the problem," Nettwerk CEO Terry McBride simply said in a statement. Teenager Elisa Greubel recently contacted Nettwerk client MC Lars, whose new track "Download This Song" tackles the file-sharing issue, on his Web site, writing, "My family is one of many seemingly randomly chosen families to be sued by the RIAA. No fun. You can't fight them, trying could possibly cost us millions. The line 'they sue little kids downloading hit songs,' basically sums a lot of the whole thing up. I'm not saying it is right to download but the whole lawsuit business is a tad bit outrageous." In response, Nettwerk has agreed to pay all legal fees for the Greubel's family, which is challenging the RIAA's suit. Chicago lawyer Charles Lee Mudd Jr. will represent the Greubels. Mudd has represented multiple individuals who have been sued by the RIAA since 2003. "Litigation is not 'artist development.' Litigation is a deterrent to creativity and passion and it is hurting the business I love," added McBride. "The current actions of the RIAA are not in my artists' best interests." ___________ Read More / Source: FMQB __________________ Steam Community :: ID :: calidan "Don't try to be like Jackie. There is only one Jackie.... Study computers instead." - Jackie Chan