EMI to sue Ireland

[efq]

EMIhas launched a lawsuit against the Irish government over its handling of anti-piracy laws.

The record label, which includes the likes ofColdplay (http://www.nme.com/artists/coldplay),30 Seconds To Mars (http://www.nme.com/artists/30-seconds-to-mars)andTinie Tempah (http://www.nme.com/artists/tinie-tempah)on its roster, has launched legal action against the Irish state, accusing it of dragging its feet in introducing new laws to combat illegal file sharing.

http://static.nme.com/images/article/filesharing_L190609.jpgThe Irish government did recently pledge to look into introducing laws that would allow record labels to compel internet service providers to block access to websites that they believe are engaged in piracy, but EMI appears to have decided that this is not happening fast enough.

According to theIrish Times (http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0112/1224310141468.html), EMI Ireland's chief executive Willie Kavanagh has said that record labels should have the right to demand internet service providers investigate websites they believe are involved in piracy. He also said that the label doubted that the Irish government had the will to take on illegal file sharers and said that any planned new laws would be "unlikely to satisfy the music industry’s requirement for injunctive relief".

EMI Ireland saw its profits for 2011 halve from their figures in 2010, a drop the label has said has been largely caused by the rise of illegal file sharing.http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/61394

So really, a music company could tip the whole of Europe's economy over.

[Technologic]

Through which courts are they pursuing this?

[efq]

High Court?

[Eoin247]

Lol, give the baby what it wants Enda. Like it's really going to make much if any difference to all the file sharing online these days

[efq]

Lol, give the baby what it wants Enda. Like it's really going to make much if any difference to all the file sharing online these daysThe worry is how much the UK and everyone has invested in Ireland. For a music company to completely ruin Ireland is going to surely push the UK and Europe's economy to nothing.

[dbgtz]

Do they really have a chance with this case, I don't think so.

[efq]

Do they really have a chance with this case, I don't think so.It's surprising how companies can twist countries when it comes to Piracy.

[Eoin247]

The worry is how much the UK and everyone has invested in Ireland. For a music company to completely ruin Ireland is going to surely push the UK and Europe's economy to nothing.

You misunderstood my post somehow. I said that they should just give them the powers they want.

Also I find it unlikely that if the case went to court that it would go through.

[-:Undertaker:-]

The worry is how much the UK and everyone has invested in Ireland. For a music company to completely ruin Ireland is going to surely push the UK and Europe's economy to nothing.

There's no need to do that, Ireland is bankrupt and the Euro is finished - not because of a music company, but because of gross public spending and a failed currency brought in purely for political rather than economic reasons.

[Oleh]

What I am more concerned about is, how docompany'shave this much power?

[efq]

What I am more concerned about is, how docompany'shave this much power?
That is my biggest concern as well. If we are going to be (We, meaning EUROPE) (Undertaker is right btw) forced into more debt by a ******* music record company?

I don’t want to live in a world where the music industry, or any other creative body for that matter, can dictate a country’s policy through the threat of legal action and bankruptcy.

[cocaine]

ireland's ****** as it is but bearing in mind the economic crisis ireland has, along with spain, italy and portgual i doubt the courts will want to be held responsible for increasing ireland's debt and subsequent knock-on effect it'll have on an already fragile, if not almost ruined, euro. i don't think this is the right time nor place for EMI to start legal proceedings. i predict the court will see this and not give EMI a case. for now anyway.

[GommeInc]

What I am more concerned about is, how docompany'shave this much power?
Because the countries they originate and work in gave them such power. It's like arming an insurgent with a double barrelled gun, with one end facing the enemy and one facing the individual holding the weapon. It's self-destructive :P

Also, if the EMI do win this case they are only damaging themselves in the long run.

What's also interesting is that the EMI is promoting anti-privacy. What goes on in someone's house is literally for the concerns of the occupants and those in close proximity. There's no conclusive evidence that individuals who download illegally are harming the music industry, when many go on to buy more music as a result of listening before buying anyway (either immediately or in the future). It's quite interesting as it reflects on growing interests in consumers getting the best value for money, yet the music industry is living in the stone ages when it comes to this - but this is just a rant going no where :P

[Eoin247]

There's no conclusive evidence that individuals who download illegally are harming the music industry, when many go on to buy more music as a result of listening before buying anyway (either immediately or in the future).

Actually there is. I've downloaded music for free myself, so I'm certainly not saying this for my benefit. I had this debate on this forum a few times.

I know that for everybody I know who that downloads illegally that at minimum half the music they download they would have bought. I used to buy off iTunes before I found out about lime wire from a friend in school. Soon enough in my school if somebody bought off iTunes they were laughed at for being an idiot. It spreads too you see, I often hear people coaxing others who buy their music to download it for free.

You say people go on to buy music after downloading it, tbh I don't know anybody in real life who does this.

[Oleh]

You say people go on to buy music after downloading it, tbh I don't know anybody in real life who does this.

This just an example: There is bullying going on which results in suicide or which is very bad such as setting them on fire or beating them. I have never met or know of a person in real life that this has happened to. Yet it does happen.

Think about that statement for a second, in context to what you said.

[Inseriousity.]

If everyone started suing the governments for unkept promises, they'd never be out of court.

"Next case!"
"Err it's the State again, your Honour"

[Jordy]

Even if they were to lose in the courts (and I'm talking something like a Billion Euros damages for instance) it would have no affect in the longterm. Whilst the Euro is definitely fragile, it's going to take more than a 1 Billion Euro payout to EMI for the Euro to suddenly collapses. The Euro crisis is in the hundreds of billions and whilst Ireland has one of the worst situations in the Eurozone, it's nothing compared to the likes of Greece and Italy.

Maybe EMI should consider that Ireland has been under considerable economic hardship over the past 12 months and that's why people aren't buying music, and most likely won't for forthcoming years. It doesn't mean they're file sharing just because they choosing not to waste the little money they have on overly priced music.

[Eoin247]

This just an example: There is bullying going on which results in suicide or which is very bad such as setting them on fire or beating them. I have never met or know of a person in real life that this has happened to. Yet it does happen.

Think about that statement for a second, in context to what you said.

Sorry but you're taking my words out of context. When i said i knew nobody who downloaded and bought later i was just showing how it's very rare, not that nobody at all does it. What you've just said actually backed up my point. Suicide due to bullying happens but is very rare, just like this. So therefore being so rare it has very little if any effect in boosting sales.

[GommeInc]

Actually there is. I've downloaded music for free myself, so I'm certainly not saying this for my benefit. I had this debate on this forum a few times.

I know that for everybody I know who that downloads illegally that at minimum half the music they download they would have bought. I used to buy off iTunes before I found out about lime wire from a friend in school. Soon enough in my school if somebody bought off iTunes they were laughed at for being an idiot. It spreads too you see, I often hear people coaxing others who buy their music to download it for free.

You say people go on to buy music after downloading it, tbh I don't know anybody in real life who does this.
There has been no conclusive evidence :P Many never buy music, many do after downloading illegally. It will never be fully tackled without literally monitoring what an individual does online (through ISPs/Digital Economy Act 2010) or watching them like hawks in reality outside their homes.

If the music industry wants to tackle pirated music, perhaps they should consider why people do it in the first place, rather than run around shooting guns without ever understanding the cause. Many find the music industry has become too money orientated, or the songs are too expensive for what they are - they've what I've read at least :P