Music Industry Braces For Supreme Court Grokster Decision

Digital Music News reports that "a decision in the Supreme Court review of MGM v. Grokster could come as early as this Monday, prompting the industry to rally its top artists. A letter sent earlier this week by a major label to the manager of a superstar artist, and shared with Digital Music News, outlined several ways to approach media outlets after the ruling. "The Supreme Court will be announcing their determination as early as next Monday…" the letter warns. "It is absolutely crucial that the music community, including individual artists, weigh in and react to the decision to set the tone and get the message out…a good decision should be trumpeted to the public and other possibilities given reaction so that the public is aware of the effect on those who create music…"

"…Meanwhile, one legal insider points out that the Supreme Court decision merely reviews a summary judgment from the lower Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and a rejection of the judgment would merely open the door for a lower court to review the case again. Conversely, a judgment in favor of the summary judgment would essentially end the matter. Either way, the industry is clearly preparing a post-decision reaction, despite the minimal effects that the Court is likely to have on overall P2P file-sharing activity."