LimeWire Counter Sues RIAA

[The RIAA’s] goal was simple: to destroy any online music distribution service they did not own or control, or force such services to do business with them on exclusive and/or other anticompetitive terms so as to limit and ultimately control the distribution and pricing of digital music, all to the detriment of consumers.

In August, the RIAA sued LimeWire for not complying with the September 13, 2005 notification of cease and desist. I’m pretty sure most of us are familiar with LimeWire, but if you aren’t, it’s basically an application that allows P2P file sharing. This means you can download entire albums with a click of a button. The RIAA has set a goal to take down all of the P2P software that promotes piracy, even indirectly.

Most of LimeWire’s counterclaim denied or did not claim knowledge of a vast majority of the music industry’s allegations. LimeWire’s complaint stated it was extremely difficult to negotiate with the music industry, which LimeWire felt took an uncooperative position. If LimeWire wanted to comply, it would have to conform to a standard similar to iMesh – which in LimeWire’s opinion is and was uncompetitive. Indeed, LimeWire’s counterclaim becomes hostile against iMesh, claiming it has an unusually close working relationship with the RIAA.

Who knows how this suit will play out, but lets hope that LimeWire does not find a way to avoid this suit. If they do, their success makes it that much harder for a lot of record engineers and producers to find a place in the musical world. There are a lot of knee-jerk reactions to the RIAA, etc. but the bottom line is piracy keeps good people from getting paid while the big guys still get their checks.

LimeWire Counter Sues RIAA [Slyck]