Jari Ketola
14 Sep 2002 11:11
Los Angeles - Attorneys for StreamCast Networks, developers of the popular Morpheus peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing software, filed briefs in federal court on Monday seeking a ruling that distribution of the software does not violate copyright law.
Morpheus is the world's most popular file-sharing software based on the decentralized Gnutella P2P networking protocol.
In their briefs seeking summary judgment, attorneys from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the law firm of Brobeck, Phleger and Harrison argued that distribution of the software is legal because the product is capable of substantial noninfringing uses and because StreamCast cannot control the various uses of the software.
Supporting StreamCast in the motion is nine time Grammy nominee, Janis Ian, who believes that peer-to-peer software represents important new opportunities for artists.
On October 2, 2001, twenty-eight of the world's largest entertainment companies sued Streamcast for the allegedly infringing actions of users of its product (MGM et al v. Grokster et al, Case No. 01-CV-8541 SVW).
Additional briefs will be filed in the months to come, with oral arguments set for December 2, 2002, before U.S. Federal District Court Judge Stephen Wilson in Los Angeles.
Source:
EFF.org