Court to decide on reach of copyright subpoenas

[Nottingham]

Court to decide on reach of copyright subpoenas
Associated Press
RESOURCES
WASHINGTON -- A federal appeals court panel offered few hints Tuesday about whether it will permit the music industry to continue using special copyright subpoenas to track and sue computer users who download songs over the Internet.
The three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia tossed tough questions at all sides.

Judges plainly wrestled with esoteric provisions of the disputed 1998 law that permits music companies and others to force Internet providers to turn over the names of suspected pirates.
The decision, expected later this fall, could have important consequences.

The Recording Industry Association of America, the trade group for the largest labels, has issued at least 1,500 such subpoenas this summer.
It has filed civil lawsuits against 261 people it accused of illegally distributing music online and promised thousands more lawsuits.
Verizon Communications is challenging the constitutionality of the subpoenas under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act

U.S. District Judge John D. Bates earlier had approved use of the subpoenas, forcing Verizon to turn over names and addresses for at least four Internet subscribers; since then Verizon has identified dozens of its other subscribers to music industry lawyers.
SBC Communications has emerged as the only major Internet service provider that has so far refused to identify computer users.


http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/2103952

These Music people want the BIG BUCKS!

[sattahipdeep]

1. The Bizarre Judge Bates

http://www.petitiononline.com/bates69/petition.html