Slashdot Mirror


Copyright Troubles For Sony

ljaszcza writes "Daily Tech brings us a story about Sony's run-in with the Mexican police. (Billboard picked up the story as well.) It seems that they raided Sony's offices and seized 6,397 music CDs after a protest from the artist, Alejandro Fernandez. Fernandez had signed a seven-album deal with Sony Music; he completed that commitment and then left for Universal. During the time with Sony, he recorded other songs that did not make it into the agreed-upon seven albums. Sony Music took it upon themselves to collect that material and release it as an eighth album. Fernandez claims that he fulfilled his contract with Sony, and residual material belongs to him. Hmm. Precedent from the Jammie Thomas infringement and distribution case gives us $80K per song. Sony vs. Joel Tenenbaum gives $22.5K per song. So 6,397 CDs at an average of 8 songs/CD is 51,176 infringing songs, with (IMHO) intent to distribute. The damages to Fernandez should be $1,151,460,000 using the Tenenbaum precedent or $4,094,080,000 using the Thomas precedent. Seems very straightforward to me."

5 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. So how many cd's do we need to sell by zlel · · Score: 4, Funny

    to feed our musicians again?

  2. "You woldn't steal a CD" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Would you, Sony?

  3. Screw the lottery by cfriedt · · Score: 4, Funny

    The chances of being able to sue somebody over copyright infringement in the recording industry are a heck of a lot better than playing the lottery.

    It's like winning 1000 lotteries at the same time! Screw the lottery!

    Time for a career change? I can't sing or dance particularly well, but people can take lessons for that kind of thing.

  4. Re:Some counterpoints by rdnetto · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hush you! Quit raining on our parade!

    --
    Most human behaviour can be explained in terms of identity.
  5. Re:If only... by Skrynesaver · · Score: 4, Funny

    There is, we even have our own flag, it's just like yours, but on fire (Apologies to Rob Newman)

    --
    "Linux is for noobs"-The new MS fud strategy