Google and Microsoft Sued By Mini Music Label

carre4 writes "Blue Destiny Records has sued both Google and Microsoft for allegedly 'facilitating and enabling' distribution of copyrighted songs illegally. The suit alleges that RapidShare runs 'a distribution center for unlawful copies of copyrighted works.' RapidShare is helped by Google and Microsoft, which benefit from the ad relationships, according to the suit. Blue Destiny has attempted to link to pages with RapidShare links to their music via DMCA takedown notices, and Google has, apparently, not complied, while Microsoft's Bing site has removed the links. RapidShare, for its part, is based outside of the US and does not accept DMCA notices."

Comments

Re:Remove the Internet.

[maxume]

Blue Destiny's lawyer doesn't have any ethics?

Patently false.

[clone53421]

From TFA:

“Google’s consistent and prominent ranking of links to illegal ‘free’ downloads of [Blue Destiny’s] copyrighted recordings has devastated [Blue Destiny’s] business,” the suit reads, before pointing to specific RapidShare links that have appeared when users search Google for the Roy Powers song “Firing Line.”

It would appear, however, that Google is not linking directly to such downloads. It links to RapidShare landing pages where the download urls are listed. In other words, Google’s top “Roy Powers Firing Line” result points to a RapidShare page that serves up several links where you can download the song.

And even that is false! The Google results for “Roy Powers Firing Line” are:

Roy Powers Firing Line rapidshare file downloads
Roy Powers Firing Line megaupload file downloads
Roy Powers - Firing Line (2009) rapidshare
Roy Powers Music Firing Line Out Now!
Roy Powers on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures ...
Blues Destiny Records
Google and Microsoft sued for links to filesharing sites ...
Ronny Sessum Funk'n Blues Man Album Out
Vans Triple Crown of Surfing

None of those URLs point to a RapidShare server!

Even the ones that look like they’d have RapidShare links are merely search engines or forums where the RapidShare links are found.

This is so false that it’s laughable. Also, can anyone say Streisand effect?

Re:Patently false.

[Anonymous Coward]

Also, can anyone say Streisand effect?

This might be their ultimate goal. Claim to sue giant companies, wait for tech sites to advertise their obscure company.

Re:How does the DMCA apply?

[pem]

There are multiple parts to the DMCA, which is an update to copyright law. Google and wikipedia are your friends here, but basically, without the "safe harbor" provisions of the DMCA, any ISP or search engine would be at major risk.

Re:Seriously?

[RattFink]

[quote]have appeared when users search Google for the Roy Powers song "Firing Line."[/quote]

Apperently this artist is carried by Blues Destiny Records here. TFA would be wrong.

Search shared

[Exception Duck]

Take a look here, this will land you most albums
http://www.searchshared.com/

and it's using google.

Re:Seriously?

[Anonymous Coward]

Aside from the fact that I never heard of them before... $25 per album?! I think we already know why their sales might be down, eh??

Curious as to what cost 25 dollars I clicked the grandparent's link to see. The price tag is for their VINYL releases. While 25 dollars seems pricey for a vinyl they put an emphasis on it being 180 grams vinyl. Looking further into this it seems to be some audiophile format that uses a thicker vinyl so the price isn't out of line. Their CDs are 13 bucks, a double album for 25, and a digital download is 10. None of which seems to imply they have a reality distortion field on their prices.

You sir are just whoring.