RIAA sues more Webcasters
The Recording Industry Association of America has filed suit against three online radio stations, seeking to add the complaints to an earlier suit against Launch Media. Several Webcasters filed suit against record labels, asking a judge to declare their "consumer influenced" music services legal. These services let listeners skip songs or rate artists so they are added heavily to playlists, for example. The record industry contends this influence violates copyright law and sued Launch Media late last month. It is asking that the Webcasters' countersuit, which involves the companies sued Friday--MusicMatch, MTVi and Xact Radio--be joined to its original lawsuit against Launch Media. Separately, the RIAA and Listen.com said they have resolved differences over the issue. Listen.com said it agreed to withdraw parts of its radio service and took its name off the suit against the RIAA. As a result, it was not among the companies sued Friday.
The record industry contends this influence violates copyright law and sued Launch Media late last month. It is asking that the Webcasters' countersuit, which involves the companies sued Friday--MusicMatch, MTVi and Xact Radio--be joined to its original lawsuit against Launch Media. Separately, the RIAA and Listen.com said they have resolved differences over the issue. Listen.com said it agreed to withdraw parts of its radio service and took its name off the suit against the RIAA. As a result, it was not among the companies sued Friday.