Music pirates are not ' mere conduits' : Judge

Arecording industry trade group claimed an intial victory on Monday in its copyright battle against computer song-swap company Napster Inc, which it alleges is a haven for music piracy on the Intrnet.

US District Cour Judge Marilyn Patel in San Francisco late on Friday rejected Napster's clam that it is a 'mere conduit'

Napster, in its motion for a summary judgment in the case, had claimed that it was merely a service provider and was not liable for the actions of its users. Napster's software works like a co-op, allowing users to trade their library of MP3 files, a compression format used to convert music on CDs into computer files. MP3. com Inc. lost a previous copyright case.

"Clearly the case will now move forward. Napster just lost its last delaying tactic," said recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) chief executive officer Hilary Rosen.

The RIAA, in its suit against Napster, is hoping for suit against Napster, is hopin for an encore to its recent legal victory against on line company MP3. com Inc. On April 28, in a serious blow to Mp3. com and other internet music companies including Napster, a federal judge in New York ruled MP3. com violated copyright law with its database that lets users store music and then access it via any computer connected to the Internet.

Napster's attorney Laurence Pulram said in a statement is sued late Friday that he had not yet received the entire ruling. However, he, too said, "The up-shot of the cour's decision is to move the case ahead."

The record industry trad group sued Napster in December, seeking an injunction aginst the service and statutory damages ranging from $ 500 to $ 100,000 per sound recording it claims had been pirated through Napster's programme. Analysts watching the case estimate the damages could approach billions of dollars.

The record industry has balked at embracing the MP3 format since it enables music distribution without copyright protection. San Mateo, California-based Napster also has been sued by individual artists such as heavy metal band Metallica and rapper Dr. Dre.

"Napster is about facilitating piracy, and trying to build a business on the backs of artists and copyright owners," Rosen of the RIAA said.

Sony plans Play Station2 India Launch

Sony computer Entertainment (SCE), part of the Japan-based Sony group, proposes to inrro duce its highly successful Play Station 2 game console in India.

"We are making plans (to in-troduce the Play Station 2) in India," Chris Deering, president of Sony computer Entertainment Europe, told Bustiness standard.

Play Staion2 With its capacity to play digital video discs (DVDs) and prtentially tap the Internet, was recently launched in Japan and is aimed at cementing Sony's number-one position in the industry.

Pointing out that there is definitely a potential (Market) for play Staion2 in India, Deering, however, refused to give a time frame for the proposed introduction here.

"We have not yeat firmed up the plans.. (but) There is potential in India," Deering added. He was in Delhi to participate in MTV and Brand Equity-oragnised Youth Marketing Forum. Playstation concept in places like the US, UK and Japan Deering said its because of Sony's strategy to aim at the young generation. According to him, they want to come in showly and tap the Indian market before arriving with ull force.

Deering, an MBA in marketing from Harvard business School, started his career with Gillette and moved on to Mckinsey and Co. Before joining Sony, he worked with Columbia Tristar International Video as executive vice president and COO (Video distribution) in 35 countries.

Though, at present, Sony pictures Entertainment and Sony India have presenc in India, SCE does not have any formal presence in India. Sony Picture's presence in India is thrugh Sony Entertainment TV (a TV broad-casting venture) and Columbia-Tristar. Then there is Sony Music too here.

As of late last year, Sony had a dominant 67 per cent share in the world home video game market, Nintendo 29 per cent and Sega three per cent. The worldmarket itself was estimated to be worth 1.05 trillion yen ($9.5 billion) in 1998.

Play station2's biggest advantage over its rivals is its wide selection of software. Users can usemore than 3,000 existing playstation titles as well as new, high-resolution DVD games made especially for the new 128-bit machine.

Jo chaho ho jaye, FM enjoy

FM channels to be auctioned in 100 more cities soon

The information and Broadcasting Ministry will auction more FM channels in over 100 more cities having a population of one lakh or more.

Presiding over the meeting of the Consultative Cmmittee of Members of Parliament attached to the I&B Ministry here on Friday, minister of information and broadcasting Arun Jaitley said that as far as AIR was concerned, the major development had been the exxpansion of FM radio by auctioning 108 FM channels and more channels would be auctioned in the future.

On the prposed Broadcasting Bill, Mr Jaitley said that a final shape was being given to the Bill in consultation with other concerned departments, and the new Bill would take care of the rapid technological developments that had taken place in the broadcasting sector.

Regarding the vacancies in the Prasar Bharati Board, Mr Jaitley said that the report of the committee on restructuring of prasar Bharati was likely to be received by May 15 and the vacancies would be filled up after considering the suggestions of the committee. He further said that efforts were being made to ensure that the functional structure of Prasar Bharati was professionalised and it was not run as a government department.

Mr jaitley said that the revenue earnings of DD and AIR had shown improvement, narrowing the budgetary gap. According to TV rating major, TAM Survey, viewership of DD has increased by 26 per cent. A large number of regional channels have been converted to prime hannels thereby increasing the reach. DD now has 21 channels, including DD National, DD (Metro), DD Sports and DD news. In addition, there are 15 regional channels, with a few more likely tobe added soon.

The minister added that the Kashmir channel was launched in January this year and the telecast time had been increased from two hours to 15 hours daily. The sSringar transmitter is being upgraded to the HPT one later this month and this will extend the DD coverage to more than 50per cent of the Valley.

The meeting was iformed that an exercise was informed that an exercise was on in the Davp to weed out non-existent news-papers getting govenment advertisements.