The Supreme Court Stalls Grokster Case

It's time I addressed a topic that I have been neglecting in my blog: the MGM v. Grokster case. If you aren't paying attention to it in the news, then you may not know what's going on. MGM filed suit against Grokster and StreamCast for allowing their customers to illegally download and share entertainment media including movies and music. In the Ninth Circuit courts, the ruling came down in favor of the file sharing services, saying that the providers of these services aren't in control of what their customers do with the service and therefore are not liable if any illegal activity occurs using the service. MGM obviously appealed and lost there as well. It has appealed to the Supreme Court, where it has been for months now. A ruling was supposed to be handed down yesterday, but it never came. There's speculation that it might come Thursday or next Monday, but if it doesn't, it is likely that the ruling will not be handed down before the end of the current court session in two weeks. If that happens, it will have to wait until the next session starts.

There's a lot to think about when you consider the case as a whole. A lot of people have expressed their opinions on the internet, and The New York Times compiled a list of some of these opinions. Most of them suspect that the Supreme Court will reverse the ruling. Still, there is at least some hope for the matter, and it comes in the form of a ruling that is now 21 years old.

In 1984, a very similar case came to the Supreme Court in Sony v. Betamax. Sony filed the lawsuit against Betamax, the maker of VCRs and VHS tapes, alleging that it could potentially be used to copy movies. The ruling was in favour of Betamax, with the Supreme Court concluding that Betamax could not be held liable for the actions of its customers.

That's a pretty substantial precedent. We'll just have to wait and see whether that is enough to sway the Court to rule the same way.

In other news...

Let's just get Noel Gallagher out of the way right now. He is fine with skipping Live 8 and finds it worthless, has at least some respect for Coldplay, and discusses everything from childrens books to his obsession with Doves' The Last Broadcast.

Now onto more important things, like the reunion of the Smashing Pumpkins. Yeah, you heard me right; they're coming back. Frontman Billy Corgan is certainly not afraid of word getting out. He put a full page ad in the Chicago Tribune.

The new Supergrass album is apparently going to be a departure from their previous ones. Road to Rouen, set to be released on August 15th, is reported by Billboard to be recorded in a new studio built in France. NME explains that the studio is a converted barn. The album is said to have a more "relaxed feel" to it, which I hope means even more harmony, because they're good at that. Instruments to be used on the album include ukelele, strings, and brass. Sound anything like Sufjan Stevens?

And speaking of Sufjan Stevens, Dusted has a fantastic interview with the man, the myth, and the legend. Among many other things, he says that he wanted Illinois to be like a movie soundtrack without the movie. He's so spot on. Ugh, I love it. I need to buy my copy of it on CD and then buy it on vinyl too. Then I need to see him in Kentucky. Then I will be very happy.

Is the new Strokes album reminiscent of... seedlesss watermelons? That's apparently what Julian Casablancas thinks. If that's the case, it will be sweet and juicy, minus the inconvenient black seeds.

Melody Nelson confirms that Stellastarr*'s hiatus is due to the recording of their new album, Harmonies for the Haunted.

Mel B, the artist formerly known as Scary Spice, may not be so hot on the idea of reuniting the Spice Girls for Live 8. That's okay, I'm sure no one will miss her.

Today is tuesday, and if you have more money than I do, you may want to buy any or all of the following albums:
Bo Bice - Inside Your Heaven/Vehicle (single)
Billy Corgan - The Future Embrace
Telepopmusik - Angel Milk

Upcoming Columbus Shows

6.23 - Aqualung - Little Brothers
7.07 - Reel Big Fish - Newport Music Hall
7.14 - Blowfly - Little Brothers
7.16 - Pete Yorn - Newport Music Hall
7.19 - Dressy Bessy - Little Brothers
7.20 - Howie Day - Promowest Pavilion
7.20 - Luna Halo w/ Modena Vox - Skully's Music Diner
7.22 - Tegan and Sara - Newport Music Hall
8.11 - Ben Folds w/ Ben Lee and Rufus Wainwright - Promowest Pavilion
8.20 - Pretty Girls Make Graves - Little Brothers
8.23 - Thunderbirds Are Now! - Little Brothers
8.30 - Xiu Xiu w/ Das Yellow Swans and Nedelle - Little Brothers
8.31 - Coldplay w/ Rilo Kiley - Germain Ampitheater
9.06 - Of Montreal w/ The Management - TBA
9.10 - The White Stripes w/ The Greenhornes - Ohio State Theater
9.14 - Sufjan Stevens - Southgate House (Newport, KY)
9.24 - The Rolling Stones w/ Beck - Germain Ampitheater

Daily Downloads
Yay, we're back in business. Thanks to Benny at Regnyouth for returning to his rightful position as Duke of Downloads.
Coldplay - Blue Room EP
Beck - Guero
The Shins - Austin City Limits Festival
Sigur Ros - Live somewhere in 2002
The Tears - Here Come the Tears
Tegan and Sara - The Business of Art
Caribou - The Milk of Human Kindness
Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole
Coldplay - X&Y
Bjork - Medulla