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Thursday, March 7, 2002

PROOF OF OWNERSHIP DUE IN NAPSTER CASE

Labels Need to Bring Pink Slip and Two Forms of Picture ID or a Note From Their Mothers
On Feb. 22, U.S. District Judge Patel, the most-frequently mentioned U.S. District Judge in hitsdailydouble.com history, gave the record labels suing Napster until today to provide documents showing that they own the copyrights to the 213 songs at the heart of their suit against the swappery. As you may have noticed, today has come.

The labels must provide certificates of copyright registration to the court (hitsdailydouble, 2/22). Special master Neil Boorstyn, the most-frequently mentioned special master in hitsdailydouble.com history, was appointed by the judge to examine what the record companies hand over. And you think your job is boring.

He will file a report on whether the labels have proven copyright ownership, though there is no deadline on when he must turn over that report.

In her earlier ruling, Patel allowed discovery on Napster’s attempt to claim that labels have misused their copyrights to try to control online music distribution. At that time she voiced suspicion about the label-backed music subservice as well. Napster’s legitimate service’s launch date has not been announced. The company took its service offline last July, though it is in limited beta testing.

 
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