Week 2
- U2 manager Paul McGuinness joined those who believe that Internet service providers should implement controversial anti-piracy measures. AT&T's Vice President said publicly that his company is creating a filtering system to "police" what their users are doing. Many opponents fear that filters will block way to much useful and lawful content. They also argue that determined pirates will be able to bypass filter encryption. McGuinness would like that internet service providers cancel their service to anyone who had uploaded copyright files three times. Under the DMCA ISPs are neutral, they are not the "police" of the internet.
- Warner Music Group sued the search engine firm SeeqPod for copyright infringement. Warner says that SeeqPod allows users to stream, but not download, songs. They also state that SeeqPod guides their users to where they can obtain bootlegs, if found guilty they could be facing as much as $150,000 per song. SeeqPod denied the accusations and will attempt to use the DMCA's "safe harbor" clause as its defense.
- Even though iTunes is due to make its 4 billionth sale sometime this year the music industry is not doing any better than it was doing before Napster brought P2P technology. Sales in the music industry are growing worse and they are now turning the tables against piracy, against the ISP. The ISPs are protected by the DMCA under the "safe harbor" clause, however, they are pushing that ISP become responsible for their clients and what they are downloading. P2P technology is strong and increasing in popularity thus, making it much more difficult to monitor or control. Shutting these file sharing systems has proved little, when one gets shut down a new one quickly appears taking its place.