Ford, GM Sued Over Vehicles' Ability To Rip CD Music To Hard Drive 317
Lucas123 writes: The Alliance of Artists and Recording Companies is suing Ford and General Motors for millions of dollars over alleged copyrights infringement violations because their vehicles' CD players can rip music to infotainment center hard drives. The AARC claims in its filing (PDF) that the CD player's ability to copy music violates the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992. The Act protects against distributing digital audio recording devices whose primary purpose is to rip copyrighted material. For example, Ford's owner's manual explains, "Your mobile media navigation system has a Jukebox which allows you to save desired tracks or CDs to the hard drive for later access. The hard drive can store up to 10GB (164 hours; approximately 2,472 tracks) of music." The AARC wants $2,500 for each digital audio recording device installed in a vehicle, the amount it says should have been paid in royalties.
A car's PRIMARY purpose is TRANSPORTATION ! (Score:4, Interesting)
Lawyers grasping hard again: They are complaining about a small (by weight or cost) part of car that rarely is removed or operated outside of it. The primary purpose of the car is transportation, not to extract digital music. Even if the Jukebox is a paid optional extra, that doesn't change the primary purpose of the car!
Prediction: Undisclosed Settlement (Score:5, Interesting)
Neither side wants this to go to court, and both sides know it. The AARC wants a settlement they can point to for high pressure settlement letters to other defendants, and the car companies want a non-revokable license for these devices. I'd give it a 90%+ confidence that this will result in an undisclosed settlement within a year, and while we won't know the number they settle for, I'm guessing it won't be enough to make a blip on the car companies' quarterly reports.
Re:Time Shifting? (Score:5, Interesting)
LOL, check this out:
4/16/14 version of the site [archive.org]
AARC provides a music royalty, generated by the sales of blank CDs and personal audio devices, media centers, satellite radio devices, and car audio systems that have recording capabilities, to its 142,000+ members worldwide.
5/17/14 version: [archive.org]
AARC provides a music royalty, generated by the sales of blank CDs and personal audio devices, media centers, satellite radio devices, and car audio systems that have recording capabilities, to its 142,000+ members worldwide.
And today's version:
AARC provides a music royalty, generated by the sales of automobile infotainment systems, blank CDs, personal audio devices, media centers, and satellite radio devices that have music recording capabilities, to its 300,000+ members worldwide.
I wonder, do they think if they add something to the intro of their terrible, terrible website*, it means they can start collecting royalties on it?
* as the creator and admin of several terrible websites, I know bad when I see it.
Re:Time Shifting? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Time Shifting? (Score:5, Interesting)
Lastly, Ford and GM could be dismissed from the suit as they didn't manufacture the systems but bought them and used them.
Ford's system uses Sony hardware and software (including patent-encumbered software) in addition to software by Microsoft.
Ford and GM are pretty big, but if Sony and Microsoft get involved, the AARC would be in for being tied up in court for centuries.