Grooveshark Issues Statement On UMG Win
Yesterday controversial music service Grooveshark won a round in it's legal battle with Universal and the major music groups. While their legal struggles are far from over, Grooveshark issued this statement that frames the win as good for the music industry as a whole:
"The Court’s decision on the DMCA is significant not only for Grooveshark, but for this industry as a whole, as the Court clarified and confirmed that Internet Service Providers like YouTube, Pinterest and Grooveshark are protected by a broad “safe harbor” from claims of copyright infringement based on user-uploaded content. Grooveshark is also pleased that the Court is permitting it to proceed with its counterclaims, which raise serious issues regarding UMG’s past business practices. This is the latest in a series of important legal victories for Grooveshark, which looks forward to continuing to contribute to the innovations and new technologies that are re-inventing the music business."
What do you think? Is Grooveshark's court victory a win for music?
More: Universal Music Loses Round To Grooveshark
What people seem to forget is that music, like the book publishing industry, was once run by people who loved art. Yes, they were business people, but they had taste and aspired to contributing to the culture. Once the corporate lawyer types took over the music business the art and passion was sucked out it which is why the musical richness of the 60’s came to an abrupt end. Sadly, the same thing is now happening in the book publishing world which is dominated by just a few conglomerates and as a result dumbs down the level of art.
It’s about time that people who love music, like the Groovesharks of the world, take back the music business and empower the artists to achiever their full potential. And our culture will be the richer for it.