Entertainment Companies Appeal to State Lawmakers to Stop P2P's

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Representatives for the Recording Industry Association of America and the Motion Picture Association of America are looking to supplement their pursuit of copyright infringers by appealing to state lawmakers to pay more attention to consumer protection issues.

Attorneys representing the two largest entertainment trade groups met with the National Association of Attorneys General Thursday asking state prosecutors to help drain power from peer-to-peer services like Grokster, Kazaa and Morpheus by examining whether those services are breaking state laws.

Typically, copyright infringement laws are enforced at the federal level, and individual states have no control. But the MPAA and RIAA argue that in many cases file-sharers are becoming legal targets whereas it is the networks that are enabling the infringement. Additionally, they argue that the impact of P2P networks could have a resounding effect on statewide commerce.

"P2P networks pose tremendous piracy problems ... but they also pose very substantial threats to consumers," said Fritz Attaway, executive vice president and general counsel for the MPAA.

Attaway added that in many cases file-sharing networks like Kazaa and others do not properly inform users that sharing and downloading copyrighted material off the Internet is a federal offense.

Attaway and representatives for the RIAA pressed the point that states attorneys need to do more to protect consumers.

According to Attaway, in some cases prosecutors might have a case for protecting businesses like movie theaters and video stores from P2P software companies under state unfair competition statues.

"The vast bulk of material distributed on P2P networks are pirated movies, music and pornography," Attaway said. "And consumers who do so, knowingly or unknowingly, expose themselves."

In the meantime, a bill called the Induce Act is being reviewed by the senate which if passed would outlaw file-sharing networks and some consumer electronics devices on the grounds that they could be used for reproducing copyrighted material.

The Induce Act targets products like ReplayTV and all P2P networks that act as enablers for copyright infringement.

The Induce Act was scheduled to be introduced Thursday by Sen. Orrin Hatch, but the Senate Judiciary Committee said that the bill had been delayed for undisclosed reasons. The bill is expected to be introduced sometime next week.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Nebraska Legislature Passes Republican's Age Verification Bill With No Votes Against It

Nebraska’s unicameral legislature has passed the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still have antitrust claims that they may pursue in the future.

Skylar Snow Headlines 'Infidelity 4' From Sweet Sinner

Skylar Snow toplines "Infidelity 4," the latest release from Mile High Media studio brand Sweet Sinner.

Serenity Cox Stars in 'Enjoy It' From MILFY

Serenity Cox stars with Alberto Blanco in "Enjoy It," from Vixen Media Group studio imprint MILFY.

Melissa Stratton Stars in Finale of Wicked's 'So Extra'

Melissa Stratton and Robby Apples star in the final scene from Wicked Pictures' "So Extra."

BiPhoria Drops Jim Powers' 'Saying GoodBi'

BiPhoria has released director Jim Powers' "Saying GoodBi."

FSC, Co-Plaintiffs to Ask US Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Texas Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and its co-plaintiffs in the challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law have filed a petition before the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit asking to stay its recent upholding the law because they intend to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law’s constitutionality.

Jade Venus, Kasey Kei Star in 'Trans Rave' From GenderX

Jade Venus and Kasey Kei star in "Trans Rave" from GenderX, directed by Jim Powers.

FSC Vows to Fight Florida Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) issued a statement vowing to continue fighting Florida’s age verification law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday as part of a comprehensive bill targeting minors’ use of social media.

Kansas Republican Aims to Create New Bureaucracy to 'Investigate' Porn Websites

Republican state legislators succeeded Monday in moving forward Kansas’ version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists, despite serious concerns raised by House Democrats about the cost of establishing a new bureaucracy tasked with investigating websites for pornographic content.

Show More