Entertainment groups predict more movies, songs over Internet
WASHINGTON (AP) – The music and film industries will continue to offer digital copies of songs and movies online for a price even if they lose a landmark Supreme Court case focusing on consumers who steal copyrighted material over the Internet, those industries’ chief lobbyists said Monday.
“Consumers want a legal, hassle-free, reasonable-cost way to get their products online,” said Dan Glickman, head of the Motion Picture Association of America. “There’s no question you’ll see a lot more opportunity for people in their homes to enjoy music and movies and other creative material.”
Glickman and Mitch Bainwol, chief executive of the Recording Industry Association of America, met with editors from The Associated Press on the eve of arguments in the upcoming Supreme Court case, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios vs. Grokster.
Regardless of the case’s outcome, Bainwol predicted a rise among Internet music-subscription services, which permit consumers to listen to more than one million songs for a flat monthly fee.
“Subscriptions will really take off,” Bainwol said.
In the Supreme Court case, entertainment companies want the court to permit them to sue manufacturers of file-sharing software popular among computer users for trading music and movies over the Internet.
Lower U.S. courts have twice ruled that such file-sharing software can be used for “substantial” legal purposes, such as giving away free songs, free software or government documents.
The lower court rulings – effectively shielding the manufacturers of file-sharing software – have compelled entertainment companies to sue thousands of people caught illegally distributing songs and movies over the Internet.
“There’s no question it’s far more efficient and far more sensible to go after the people whose business is built on infringement,” said Cary Sherman, the president of the recording industry association.
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