Gracenote v. Roxio CDDB Suit Settled

An anonymous reader writes with this update: "As reported via the usual sources, Roxio announced today that the lawsuit (read all about it on slashdot) with gracenote has been settled. To fresh up your memory: Gracenote ('cddb') sued Roxio because they switched from cddb to freedb for identification of audio CDs. Discussion on slashdot was active, especially questioning if gracenote really owned the titles. David Hyman, Gracenote CEO, added, 'We look forward to a long and mutually successful relationship between our companies through this new license for intellectual property and current and advanced music recognition services.' End of quote. Do I need say more than 'corporate lawyers'?"

Comments

In other words

[eclectro]

Let's give Gracenote a couple of dimes to shut them up, it's cheaper than litigating this thing for years.

Settlement

[GnulixRulz]

It is likely that Gracenote paid Roxio either cash or gave them access to some of their assets.

I looks like it is more critical to Gracenote to have an agreement with Roxio, rather than vice-versa. The masses don't care where their CD information comes from, they just use Roxio's software, and it works. Roxio has the pick of either CDDB or FreeDB, both are reasonably complete.

Gracenote, on the other hand, has to compete against a free service, and this seems like a bid to stay competitive by allying with a company that gives them access to a large part of the market, while keeping the option of shaking down smaller vendors of software, that users might want to switch to in the future.

Not the end of the matter

[jdfox]

So we have a "sealed agreement", under which Gracenote backs down from their utterly contemptible and indefensible suit. This should not be the end of the matter, folks.
If we users allow corporate parasites like Gracenote to operate this kind of hit-and-run prospecting on OUR data, we will all lose in the end. With deep enough pockets, one of them is bound to succeed eventually.

The financial pressure against this kind of opportunistic horseshit must not end with a quiet "sealed agreement", and the lawyers all shaking hands and walking away. Don't use Gracenote's products, via Roxio products, sub-licensed technology on Windows, or any other vendor. Vote with your wallet. Use and help build free alternatives like freedb. The business case for Gracenote to try it again will be much tougher to build, next time they're tempted.

This whole thing smells of rotten fish...

[Firehawke]

Well, a settlement usually means that one side has a clear advantage at the courts.

Now, using that basis, and the fact that the whole deal is a hidden arrangement, one could guess that one of the two sides obviously didn't want the public to know about this.

Okay, fine.. who has the most to lose by a public disclosure? Gracenote, I think. Follow this logic:

If Roxio was about to lose the case, Gracenote would rather have it public so that nobody else attempts to go without their service.

If Gracenote was about to lose the case, they could approach Roxio behind closed doors to offer them better incentives-- perhaps even PAY Roxio to use the service-- if they'll settle and keep their mouth shut about the conditions. Why would they do this? Because if it were well known that Gracenote couldn't control the 'industry' on CDDB, then nobody would bother to pay for their services in the face of a cheaper alternative.

Unless I'm completely missing something here, that's pretty much the best guess I can come up with.

What more to say

[Anonymous Coward]

Do I need say more than 'corporate lawyers'?"

"must die"

And the irony of it all is...

[Black Parrot]

If this kind of enterprise ever becomes profitable the RIAA is going to step in and say "All your titles are belong to us", and Gracenote will end up paying the RIAA a license fee just to stay in business.

Here is what I smell!

[ImaLamer]

Considering Roxio is moving towards the pay-for-online music market I'm guessing that the reason for the sealed settlement is because there is something we shouldn't know [yet].

Look at the big players:

* Microsoft - Why not, they aren't there yet. WindowsXP has the media player built in, and also CD burning. If you do install their CD writing software you can't use other software because of conflicts. On purpose? They also have their own music format which proves to be great at keeping songs from being copied. Trust me, I've backed up wma files I created and when my system crashed I couldn't play the restored files. [livid]
* Real - They used to charge for the player, now they are offering more and more for-pay content. This 'Real-One' software also has a built in CD burning component. Let's also bring up the fact that both players mentioned thus far use Roxio 'plug-ins'. Real needs to compete with MS so expect a internet for-pay system from them.
* Roxio - To my knowledge, the biggest recording software around. If the RIAA wants to be friends with someone, it's them. If we should be expecting a new CD Audio format soon, Roxio will likely be the only ones to let us record using it. Don't say there won't be a new CD Audio format, because there seems to be a new DVD format coming from MS. [don't forget their own for-pay systems]
* RIAA - The biggest bastards of them all! They want every penny, "all your fair use..." and of course double taxation is their favorite pastime.

So how does Gracenote fit in? Maybe there will be a new CD Audio format. That format one day may also have a user-id [.NET?] that makes you check in before you play, rip etc.

Who knows what they will cook up. They've already produced the copy-protected CD's. Buy Gracenote will likely be the center point where your CD will be cataloged. RIAA provides the artist names, Gracenote provides stats [where, when, what songs]. Gracenote also dishes out the serial number which helps the RIAA catch you when you 'donate' your music to a P2P network.

Maybe every subsequent copy made from a master disc [or master media file] will have a trailing number which keeps track of how many copies you've made.

When you pop in that CD you get a call[AIM, ICQ or MSN message]:
"Mr. Smith? You've copied that disc 47 times. Do you really need that many?"

This is Mr. Johnson... who the fsck is this?

Stay there sir, you are BUSTED!


Fall out for linux users? If we aren't required to use a DRM system by law, freedb will be sued - all non-compliant cdrecording software will go underground and don't expect to be able to play music CD's.

I know the seal is because one of the two companies are pussies but expect this system to come about. The world is absolute disarray - eXpect Problems.