MP3.COM/TVT A MISTRIAL, GRAND ROYAL TRIES NAPSTER
TVT’s civil trial against MP3.com has resulted in a mistrial after jurors made a gigantic math error. In early April, TVT won a judgment against the netco for its My.MP3.com service, with a verdict ordering MP3.com to pay $300,000 in damages for copyright infringement. It turned out that the jury really wanted MP3.com to pay $3 million.
Instead of assessing damages of $31,250 for 75 instances of infringement, the eight-person panel used the figure of $3,125. Southern District of New York Judge Jed Rakoff has given TVT another crack at getting the $3 million, setting a new trial date of November 5. Or was that November 50? Looks like the lawyers will make out best of all on this one as they get two trials instead of one, or is that 10?
Meanwhile, the other most-sued netco in America, Napster, has inked a deal with Grand Royal, the Virgin-distributed label started by the Beastie Boys. Grand Royal acts will be promoted through Napster’s Featured Music Program. Artists to be feature include Nullset, BS 2000, Bran Van 3000 and the Prunes.
"Grand Royal is such a cool label," said Napster founder Shawn Fanning. "The Beastie Boys have always been on the cutting edge of discovering and promoting amazing new artists. I am excited that Napster will be a part of helping more music fans discover the great new albums Grand Royal will be releasing. Please don’t stop paying attention to us. Please?"
