07.31.07 - 11:43am
Not the best day for Apple, after seeing its stock plummet on talk of iPhone production cuts Apple also is facing a new lawsuit and perhaps the first of many if won by Enimen who filed the suit.
The suit brings up an issue not yet dealt with in the new wave of online music downloads. What Enimen and record label
Eight Mile Style LLC are instigating is that while Apple may have permission from Universal to distribute the music they do not have permission from Eight Mile. The suit represents growing sentiment in the industry over over who really own the copyrights to the music, the music publishers or the labels. If Enimen wins you will most likely see many other similar suits
forthcoming.
“Eight Mile and Martin have demanded that Apple cease and desist its reproduction and distribution and Apple has refused,” said Owen Sloane, an entertainment lawyer for Enimen in an interview with Detroit News. He also said, “There are a number of unresolved issues, you’re going to see more of these suits.“
Category: apple, itunes | Tags: apple, cease_and_desist, detroit_news, eight_mile, enimen, music_downloads, sued | Be the First to Comment »
07.02.07 - 03:32pm
Universal and Steve Jobs have never been the best of friends as arguing over the price of digital music downloads has become one long drawn out fight. Now, tensions appear to be heating as Universal has refused to renew their two-year contract with Apple’s iTunes instead opting for a month to month contract saying they will only market the music to Apple “at will.”
This gives Universal some extra power in any negotiations because should they choose to pull their music it would be the equivalent of 1 of every 3 hit songs no longer being available on iTunes.
With so much new competition in the digital music store market, Universal may be looking for a company that is willing to go with the higher prices Universal wants and they may also want to keep DRM attached.
Apple has had a great monopoly over the digital music market accounting for 76 percent of digital download sales. To lose a company like Universal thus suddenly limiting iTunes songs could be quite a blow to the company.
Category: itunes | Tags: apple, digital_music, itunes, monopoly, music_downloads, steve_jobs, universal | Be the First to Comment »
