This article provides an analysis of how Napster impacted copyright law. The Napster lawsuit shows that the technological revolution provokes controversy just as it generates innovative forms. The social composition of the internet may cause legal issues related to the production, consumption, and exploitation of intellectual work. Napster’s copyright infringement was not any different. The lawsuit stood at the crossroads of the opportunities that new technology creates and the limits that constrain users from acquiring the technology. The intellectual property rights violation by Napster resulted in its shutdown. Napster violated the purpose and character of the use and the nature of the copyrighted work. Other violations included were the amount of the work used and the effect on the market of the application.
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COMPARISON ANALYSIS OF HOW NAPSTER AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RELATE
In April 2000, Metallica went to court for intellectual property rights violations by Napster. Since most users were university students, several universities were also in this suit. They allowed students to access Napster and illegally share files that bore Metallica’s copyright. Napster’s copyright infringement led to its closure. Metallica argued that Napster facilitated the illegal use of digital audio devices. This was a violation of the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, 18 U.S.C. 1961. The Napster lawsuit saw the beginning of the digital music revolution. However, it also resulted in challenges associated with rising forces of capitalism. This article demonstrates the struggle of corporate capitalism for their entitlement to control and regulate the production, circulation, and distribution of information.
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UNDERSTANDING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND COPYRIGHT LAW
With the Napster lawsuit and enhancement in technology, there are questions regarding how to enforce copyright law. For example, there were concerns from artists and companies regarding piracy of cassettes when they appeared. Napster’s copyright infringement made music production companies more careful and tight with their copyright policies. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) passed as law in the US. It is a means to protect the interests of songwriters, artists, and movie directors in the electronic age. With the intellectual property rights violation by Napster, DMCA introduced the safe harbor provisions. They protected service providers from being liable for copyright infringement if files passed between users of the service.
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