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Mark Cuban to fund Grokster vs. MGM case.

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the mark-if-you-read-this-we-heart-you dept.

Deadric writes "According to Mark Cuban's latest blog entry, he will help fund the Grokster vs. MGM case, which threatens to destroy the Betamax shield."

6 of 246 comments (clear)

  1. Guy who rode the boom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I think he started Broadcast.com or something and sold it to Yahoo for a gajillion dollars. Then he bought a basketball team and other stuff and laughed when all the people that didn't use their boom money lost it.

    1. Re:Guy who rode the boom by XorNand · · Score: 4, Informative

      He's done a lot more than that. His original claim to fame was starting a computer consulting firm which he sold to Compuserve for $30M. He's also gotten into some HDTV stuff. More info here.

      --
      Entrepreneur : (noun), French for "unemployed"
  2. its MGM vs. Grokster by ShinmaWa · · Score: 4, Informative

    Its MGM v. Grokster, not Grokster v. MGM. The way it currently reads in the summary, it gives the strong impression that Grokster is suing MGM and that Mark Cuban is defending MGM.

    Its always Plaintiff v. Defendant, NEVER the other way around.

    --
    The /. Effect: Thousands of users simultaneously accessing a site to not read its content.
  3. Re:The "Betamax shield" may not fit anyway. by cognibrain · · Score: 5, Informative

    One reason SCOTUS gave Betamax their blessings was that people at the time weren't trying to build libraries of videos...

    Not true. From the BetaMax Shield link:

    ....the uncontroverted survey evidence established that 69% to 75% of all Betamax owners maintain large libraries of off-the-air recordings and that the vast majority of programs in those libraries are copyrighted motion pictures....

    Only 9% of users were making legitimate recordings, but the court ruled that these people should not be denied, despite the majority's unlawful behaviour.

  4. Betamax is not in Question by VoxCombo · · Score: 5, Informative

    Betamax was never questioned in the case.

    The original case went to a summary judgement over two laws: contributory infringement [A & M Records, Inc. v. Napster, Inc. (114 F. Supp. 2d)], and vicarious infringement [Fonovisa, Inc. v. Cherry Auction, Inc. (76 F.3d 262)].

    In the original case, the judge notes during sumamry judgement that Grokster found a loophole in copyright law, which allowed them to dance around the conditions needed for contributory and vicarious infringement.
    The language currently being used for this loophole is "willful blindness".

  5. Mark by jrwillis · · Score: 4, Informative

    Living in Texas I've known several people over the years that have known Mr. Cuban. No matter which one you talk to they all say the same thing. He's a realy down to earth guy that hasn't let all the money and power get to him. It seems that if he sees something he likes, he makes it succeed, AND still manages to make money off of it too. So rock on Mark, because you're doing one hell of a job.

    --
    Keep Austin Weird!