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Lyrics Site May Go Commercial

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the 180-degree-turn dept.

Secret Asian Man writes "In this New York Times article, entitled Lyrics Site in Copyright Dispute May Go Commercial" it appears that the International Lyrics Server might go commercial in order to reopen, and share the profits with the music industry. Rather strange story. Even mentions Linux, as an aside. " The NYT Article requires a free login. Hope this all works out, else I'll never get the words right to any of the songs I sing loudly and offkey. Now what about OLGA?

2 of 17 comments (clear)

  1. Not the whole issue by Kirth · · Score: 2
    With Lyrics negotiating with the NMPA and the Harry Fox Agency, thw whole thing hasn't been solved. There's still a lawsuit hanging, however probably with not much effort on the side of HFA. But this is not a civil law, this is criminal law, so the state attorney will have to investigate it now.

    Not only this, but Lyrics Internet Service Provider, cyberlink whose Sysadmin I happen to be has been accused as well. If ISP's can be held responsible for potential illegal actions done by their customers we'll be facing a very dark future for the whole internet.

    Further remarks by me on this topic (in german language) may be found at www.sonicnet.ch, dated 27.1.99.

    Have a nice day
    Peter Keel

    --
    "The more prohibitions there are, The poorer the people will be" -- Lao Tse
  2. deal won't help him by bug · · Score: 2

    This deal will only protect the site from the Harry Fox Agency. All lyrics to songs not owned by the Harry Fox Agency and those they represent are still wide open to lawsuit. And this could very well be hundreds of other agencies that we're talking about, all capable of attacking the site one by one.

    I suspect that this deal being offered by HFA represents a backing down more than anything. Even if the site were to go commercial, and HFA would receive a certain percentage of the profits, the profits received by the site from advertising would be so low as to be ridiculous. HFA would not gain a great deal of money from this deal, it is simply a way for them to back down while saving face. Attacking a fan site like this is quite simply a mistake. I doubt that this site has done anything except *encourage* the purchasing of music. Perhaps HFA has finally realized this and wants a way out while keeping some shreds of dignity.