Sony BMG sued. Again
p2p news / p2pnet: Sony BMG is being sued. Again.
It’s a founding member of the Big Four record label and Big Seven movie studio cartels which are currently trying to gain control of online p2p distribution by herding users into handy consumer corrals, closing down sites they don’t own, and by suing their own customers.
Now, “TSR Records, an independent music label, filed suit yesterday against Sony BMG Music Entertainment, accusing it of unfairly dominating radio play lists through the use of bribes to programmers and other illicit tactics,” says the New York Times.
“The lawsuit, filed in Federal District Court in Los Angeles, comes three months after Sony BMG agreed to pay $10 million to settle allegations by the New York attorney general, Eliot Spitzer, that it had used improper radio promotion practices, including payola, or undisclosed payments to broadcasters.”
Indie labels were, “systematically excluded” from radio play lists as a result of record company tactics,” the NYT has TSR saying. “It contended that Sony BMG violated federal and California antitrust laws and improperly interfered with its business prospects,” says the story, adding, “The case seeks unspecified monetary damages and attorneys’ fees.”
Sony BMG has also been found guilty of using a phony movie critic it dreamed up to promote its releases.
And interestingly, like its fellow cartel owners, it whines constantly and bitterly about kids in cinemas who use tiny, easily concealed camcorders to film movies which, it says, later show up on the p2pnets and/or are burned onto CDs for illegal distribution.
Meanwhile, it develops, makes and sells tiny, easily concealed camcorders and burners, as well as ancillary equipment.
Something you think we should know? tips[at]p2pnet.net
See:-
bribes to programmers – Spitzer on Sony BMG scandal, July 28, 2005
New York Times – Sony BMG Sued in Bribery Case, October 19, 2005
phony movie critic – It’s the movies, stupid, October 2, 2005
October 19th, 2005 at 5:05 pm
Good luck to them, but I files a lawsuit against Sony in Puerto Rico Federal District Court in February 21, 2001 (case # CV 01-1216).
The case is just festering there with no visible action by the judge, after five years. The case has not even reached a discovery phase.
Sony is acused u us of making and selling many records (at least 16) with songs we own, without a license and without paying us any royalties. There is no controversy about the facts.
And Sony says it is against piracy!
You figure it out.
Rafael Venegas
http://www.gvenegas.com
October 19th, 2005 at 5:15 pm
Thats why they don’t like the internet and p2p, they can’t control/bribe anyone
October 19th, 2005 at 8:50 pm
mmmm who could it be?????
Why ONLY sony (mainly japanese) and bmg (mainly german)…. and not time warner (mainly …….).
I’ve been following world news and events…. and there’s an OBVIOUS TREND as to what is happening. I’ll let you, the readers, figure this out for yourself. Because if you don’t witness it with you eyes, you won’t truly understand the ramifications…. someone is tightening the vise-grip and balls are turning purple….