U.S. Supreme Court rules unanimously against Grokster and file sharing

The U.S. Supreme Court
today ruled that Internet file sharing networks can be sued for
copyright infringement. The decision in the case "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Studios Inc. et al. v. Grokster, Ltd. et al." had been much awaited by
those on both sides of the debate about copyright law and its
application to Internet technologies. The court ruled that businesses
created with the purpose of letting users commit copyright violations
should be held liable for the infringement.

Writing for the court, Justice David Souter
wrote: "One who distributes a device with the object of promoting its
use to infringe copyright, as shown by clear expression or other
affirmative steps taken to foster infringement, going beyond mere
distribution with knowledge of third-party action, is liable for the
resulting acts of infringement by third parties using the device,
regardless of the device's lawful uses."

The strength of the decision was unexpected — this is the first
major Internet copyright case to reach the Supreme Court in many years,
and the Justices' unanimity sends a strong message about their lack of
tolerance for companies designed to violate the law.

The decision affects such companies as Grokster and StreamCast, both of which were plaintiffs
in this suit. The court's ruling does not have an immediate effect,
however, as the Justices referred the decisions to a lower court to be
reconsidered.

Source: Wikinews

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