February 12, 2024
Your Morning Coffee Podcast
Jay Gilbert and Chris Castle discuss Universal Music Group terminating their license with TikTok.
September 1, 2023
Stateline
Seeing ‘Red’ after Taylor Swift debacle, lawmakers weigh concert ticket rules
Kevin Hardy quotes Chris regarding complex state-level campaign by ticketing resellers.
August 16, 2023
Hypebot
Chris Castle Shares Some Strange AI Rumors on Label Deals with Google
July 6, 2023
Your Morning Coffee Podcast
A Conversation with Chris Castle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNu0s6Xca-8
August 16, 2022
Communications Daily (Washington DC—subscription required)
MLC Defends Music Licensing Efforts in Face of Criticism
Karl Herchenroeder quotes Chris in analysis on performance of the Mechanical Licensing Collective.
July 29, 2022
Billboard
Meet George Johnson, the Angriest Songwriter in Washington, DC
Steve Knopper quotes Chris in post about George Johnson and the Copyright Royalty Board proceedings on frozen mechanicals.
July 28, 2022
Variety
Inside the Multi-Billion Dollar Battle Royale Over Music-Streaming Royalties
Jem Aswad quotes Chris in a deep dive on the Copyright Royalty Board’s proceedings on streaming mechanical royalties.
June 6, 2022
MusicAnswers Podcast
Fight For Your Right: Chris Castle on Evaluating Spotify
April 12, 2022
Music Business Worldwide
Tim Ingham quotes Chris extensively on the frozen mechanicals issue and action at the Copyright Royalty Board.
April 4, 2022
Bloomberg Law
Frozen Royalty Plan for LPs, CDs Dropped in Songwriters Win
Riddhi Setty quotes Chris in coverage on the Copyright Royalty Board’s rejection of proposal to extend the frozen mechanical royalty rate for Subpart B configurations.
January 11, 2022
Red State
Inside Big Tech's Stealthy Effort to Use Judicial Activism to Gut Copyright Protections
Jennifer Van Laar cites to Chris in her investigative reporting on the American Law Institute’s faux “Restatement of Copyright”.
December 7, 2021
Los Angeles Times
Comedians Wanted Spotify to Pay Them More Royalties: Their Albums Were Removed
Ryan Faughnder quotes Chris for reporting on Spotify’s dispute with Spoken Giants over fair compensation to comedians for Spotify’s exploitation of their recordings.
August 11, 2021
Bloomberg Law
Copyright Panel Rethinking Song Royalties Streamers Pay
Samantha Handler quotes Chris in Bloomberg’s coverage of Phonorecords III remand to Copyright Royalty Board.
June 7, 2021
The Guardian
Rolling Stones, Tom Jones and more join campaign for law change on streaming
Leading UK artists quote the WIPO study co-written by Chris in their letter to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson asking for streaming remuneration.
March 22, 2021
The American Prospect
David Dayan quotes Chris extensively in his deep dive into the impact of streaming on artists and musicians.
January 19, 2021
The Baffler
Streamlining the Streaming Regime
Sam Backer quotes Chris in long post about conflicts of interest in the Mechanical Licensing Collective and the Music Modernization Act.
January 11, 2021
Music Business Worldwide
Tim Ingham quotes Chris extensively in post about the rise of Spotify’s share price compared to minimal artist and songwriter royalties paid.
August 28, 2020
Morning Consult
The Supreme Court Should See Through Google’s Industrial Strength Fair Use Charade
Chris’s op-ed in Morning Consult about the Google v. Oracle appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
May 13, 2020
MusicAlly
What are user-centric music streaming royalties? Start here…
Stuart Dredge quotes Chris’s “Ethical Pool” articles in an overview of solutions to the streaming royalties problem.
October 16, 2019
Games Industry
How does the games industry solve its problem with music licensing?
Mat Ombler quotes Chris on how to avoid pitfalls of music rights and artist clearances for videogames.
August 26, 2019
Creative Industries Newsletter
Eminem's publisher sues Spotify for infringement
Music Week’s US correspondent Emmanuel Legrand quotes Chris regarding the Eight Mile Style litigation against Spotify.
August 5, 2019
Variety
PledgeMusic Moves Toward Liquidation: What Artists Who Are Owed Money Can Do
Jem Aswad interviews Chris on PledgeMusic liquidation filing in the UK.
July 31, 2019
MusicAlly
PledgeMusic set for winding-up hearing in London today
Stuart Dredge quotes Chris in coverage of PledgeMusic crowdfunding debacle.
May 3, 2019
Future of What Podcast
Article 13’s Potential Impact on the Music Industry
MusicBiz Association President Portia Sabin interviews Chris about how the European Copyright Directive may affect the U.S. music industry
January 29, 2019
Billboard
Billboard writer Colin Stutz quotes Chris on the crisis at PledgeMusic.
October 9, 2018
MusicAlly
‘Ethical Pool’ idea could let fans choose user-centric royalties
Guardian columnist Stuart Dredge features Chris’s “Ethical Pool” business model on the MusicAlly industry site, linking to Chris’s MusicTech.Solutions blog.
June 28, 2018
New York Times
New Way to Pay Songwriters and Musicians in the Streaming Age Advances
Ben Sisario quotes Chris on the failure of the Music Modernization Act to provide secure funding for the music rights database, a centerpiece of the bill.
May 23, 2018
Hypebot
Court Approves $43.4 M Spotify Artist's Compensation Fund Settling Class Action Lawsuit
Bruce Houghton quotes Chris on the Spotify settlement and the interaction of the Music Modernization Act's litigation safe harbor.
April 23, 2018
Washington Communications Daily (Subscription)
Karl Herchenroeder quotes Chris about the chances of the Music Modernization Act passing the Senate.
January 24, 2018
Variety
With 70 Million Subscribers and a Risky IPO Strategy, Is Spotify Too Big to Fail?
Jem Aswad quotes Chris on Spotify's royalty problems.
September 16, 2017
Future of What Podcast
Transparency in Music Licensing and Ownership Act
Portia Sabin interviews Chris about the MIC Coalition's proposed Transparency in Music Licensing and Ownership Act on the Future of What podcast.
August 1, 2017
Music Week Creative Industries Newsletter (Subscription)
"New Legislative Initiatives Address Key US Copyright Issues"
Music Week US Editor Emmanuel Legrand quotes Chris on the Transparency in Music Licensing and Ownership Act ("an 11th Century solution to a 21st Century problem")
July 24, 2017
Communications Daily (Subscription)
"House Bills Addressing Music Industry Copyright, Royalty Issues Get Mixed Reviews"
Dibya Sarkar quotes Chris on the introduction of the CLASSICS Act and the Transparency in Music Licensing and Ownership Act.
June 13, 2017
The MusicAlly Bulletin (subscription)
"Lawyer Chris Castle on the 'core flaw of blockchain'"
MusicAlly quotes Chris on the problems with blockchain applications in the music industry.
May 31, 2017
Bloomberg Law's BNA Patent Trademark & Copyright Journal (Subscription)
Spotify Agrees to Pay $43M to Settle Class Action Claims by Songwriters
Chris is quoted by Bloomberg's Anandashankar Mazumdar in coverage of Spotify's landmark settlement with songwriters over Spotify's infringing.
March 23, 2017
The Register
As ad boycott picks up pace, Google knows it doesn't have to worry
Andrew Orlowski quotes Chris in coverage of major advertisers boycotting YouTube over ads served on YouTube terror videos.
October 17, 2016
Music Week
US elections: Music industry executives outline their copyright wish list
Emmanuel Legrand quotes Chris and other music executives on what changes to copyright policy they would like to see in the next U.S. presidential administration.
August 8, 2016
MusicAlly
US Publishing Industry in Uproar over Department of Justice Licensing Plans
Stuart Dredge quotes Chris on controversial DOJ statement on 100% licensing and partial withdrawals.
May 16, 2016
MusicAlly
Spotify at 10: The Challenging Road Ahead
Stuart Dredge quotes Chris on potential Spotify IPO.
March 31, 2016
Musonomics: Songwriters, Consent and the Age of Discontent
Chris is interviewed about the ASCAP and BMI consent decrees by Larry Miller for the NYU Steinhardt Music Business Program's "Musonomics" podcast.
February 16, 2016
MusicAlly
Spotify Seeks to Strike David Lowery Class Action Lawsuit
Stuart Dredge quotes Chris on Spotify reply to Lowery class action.
September 9, 2015
Washington Internet Daily (Subscription)
Copyright Office Systems Outage Highlights Need for Reforms, Stakeholders Say
Chris is quoted on the reorganization of the U.S. Copyright Office.
August 28, 2015
Washington Internet Daily (Subscription)
Music Industry Working to Reach Licensing Database Consensus, Stakeholders Say
Jimm Phillips quotes Chris in story on Crunch Digital and database issues before Congress.
July 23, 2015
Music Business Worldwide
Google loves Spotify, which is hurting Apple, which is in a war for global domination against… Google. And people say music’s lost its value.
Tim Ingham quotes Chris on the Google and Spotify strategy against Apple.
June 22, 1015
The Register
Even Apple doesn’t mess with Taylor Swift
Andrew Orlowski quotes Chris on Taylor Swift and Apple Music.
June 12, 2015
National Public Radio
Apple's New Music Streaming Service Under Antitrust Scrutiny
Laura Sydell quotes Chris in her reporting on the antitrust investigations into Apple Music.
April 13, 2015
Washington Internet Daily (subscription)
Nadler Bowing Fair Play Fair Pay Act
Chris is quoted by Jimm Phillips on Fair Play Fair Pay Act introduced by Reps. Jerry Nadler and Marsha Blackburn.
March 10, 2015
Washington Internet Daily (subscription)
Senate Judiciary Antitrust Hearing to Highlight Divide Between Music Publishers and Broadcasters
Chris is quoted in advance coverage of Senate hearing on viability of ASCAP and BMI consent decrees.
March 6, 2015
The Register
Google wins fight to keep Adwords FBI drug sting docs secret
The Register quotes Chris in its coverage of Google's attempts to silent state attorneys general investigating Google's violations of state drugs laws.
February 9, 2015
Los Angeles Times
BMI-Pandora trial centers on licensing fees paid for music streaming
Dean Starkman and Ryan Faughnder quote Chris about the issues in the BMI-Pandora rate court.
February 5, 2015
U.S. Copyright Office Music Licensing Study
Chris's filed comments are quoted by the U.S. Copyright Office on several issues of copyright policy.
February 5, 2015
Washington Internet Daily (subscription)
Copyright Office’s Music Licensing Study Calls for Terrestrial Performance Right
Joe McKnight quotes Chris on the U.S. Copyright Office Music Licensing Study.
January 30, 2015
Washington Internet Daily (subscription)
Internet Association Moves to Influence Copyright and Trade Debates on Capitol Hill
Joe McKnight quotes Chris on YouTube's distribution of jihadi recruiting videos.
December 24, 2014
Washington Internet Daily (subscription)
Copyright's Swift Turnstile Resembles Other Industries
Joe McKnight quotes Chris on Google's outsized lobbying influence.
November 19, 2014
East Bay Express
Chris is quoted by Sam Lefebvre on Pandora's history on webcasting rates.
November 13, 2014
New York Post
YouTube to launch paid music subscription service
Chris is quoted by Claire Atkinson on YouTube's data honeypot.
November 11, 2014
The Register
What kind of generation doesn't stick it to the Man, but to Taylor Swift instead?
Team Register quotes Chris's interview with David Lowery on Taylor Swift's withdrawal from Spotify.
November 7, 2014
Los Angeles Times
Russ Mitchell quotes Chris on Taylor Swift withdrawal from Spotify: "Spotify needs hits and hits don't need Spotify. It's as simple as that."
November 6, 2014
Washington Internet Daily (subscription)
Coble Endorses Marino as Next IP Subcommittee Chair
Chris is quoted by Joe McKnight on impact of midterm elections on copyright reform legislation.
October 14, 2014
Complete Music Update
Spotify meets face-to-face with vocal artist critics Stateside
Chris Cooke quotes Chris regarding blowback on Spotify at artist meetings.
October 13, 2014
Billboard
Spotify's Artist Outreach Leaves Some Wanting More
Harley Brown quotes Chris regarding the effectiveness of Spotify's artist outreach with Featured Artist Coalition.
October 9, 2014
The Lawyerist
Does Using Gmail Put Attorney Client Privilege At Risk?
Sam Glover of the Lawyerist quotes Chris's article in Texas Lawyer regarding ethical issues around Google's data mining of email communications on its Gmail and Google Apps for Business products.
October 8, 2014
American Bar Association Journal
Does Using Gmail Put the Attorney Client Privilege At Risk?
Martha Neil at the ABA Journal quotes Chris's article in Texas Lawyer regarding ethical issues around Google's data mining of email communications on its Gmail and Google Apps for Business products.
October 8, 2014
Hypebot
Artists Confront Spotify At Soho House Meeting
Chris's guest post at Hypebot on the "secret" Spotify artist meeting in New York.
September 26, 2014
The New York Times
Tom Yorke, Radiohead Artist, Releases Album Via Bit Torrent
Ben Sisario quotes Chris about the implications of commercializing Bit Torrent Bundles.
September 18, 2014
U.S. Copyright Office
Notice of Final Rulemaking for Section 115 Statements of Account
Chris's comment is quoted by U.S. Copyright Office in the Supplementary Information for the Copyright Office's new regulations regarding accounting obligations of compulsory licensees under Section 115 of the U.S. Copyright Act.
September 15, 2014
Washington Internet Daily (subscription)
Battle Over Consent Decrees Resumes In Round Two of Music Licensing Comments
Chris is quoted regarding the technical aspects of repealing the compulsory mechanical royalty license under Section 115 of the Copyright Act as discussed in the U.S. Copyright Office Music Licensing Study reply comments.
September 5, 2014
The Register
Judge: Google class action 'usual suspects' cash-fling 'smells'
Andrew Orlowski cites to Chris about Judge Edward Davila's rejection of questionable proposed class action settlement for In Re Google Referrer Header Privacy Litigation (Case Number 5:10-cv-04809-EJD, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division).
August 4, 2014
Washington Internet Daily (subscription)
Consent Decree Review Comments Expected to Highlight Divide Between Music Industry, Broadcasters
Chris is quoted regarding the U.S. Department of Justice review of the ASCAP and BMI consent decrees.
July 24, 2014
The Guardian
Spotify: seven reasons why Google might buy the music streaming service
Stuart Dredge cites to Chris in analyzing a potential sale of Spotify to Google.
July 14, 2014
Radio and Internet News
Garth Brooks Finally Going Digital But No Streaming
RAIN's Brad Hill cites to Chris in discussion of Garth Brooks comeback digital strategy.
July 7, 2014
Record of the Day
Editor David Balfour quotes Chris in editorial on revenue share-based royalties.
The Register
June 24, 2014
REVEALED: Google's proposed indie music-killing contract terms
Andrew Orlowski quotes Chris is discussion of controversial YouTube attempts at negotiating substandard terms with indie labels.
April 2, 2014
The New York Times
Music Industry Pushes Unified Message on Compensation
Ben Sisario quotes Chris on the importance of the music industry standing together against tech industry forces seeking to divide us.
March 18, 2014
The Hollywood Reporter: Hollywood, Esq.
What Viacom Has to Show for Seven Years of Pursuing YouTube (Analysis)
Chris is quoted in the Hollywood Reporter's coverage of Viacom's settlement with YouTube.
February 27, 2014
TheStreet.com's Digital Skeptic
This Pro Music Marketer Just Wants a 10% Cut
TheStreet.com's Digital Skeptic quotes Chris in coverage on Thirty Tigers innovative indie label distribution model.
January 19, 2014
Los Angeles Times
Don Engel dies at 84; entertainment attorney represented major pop stars
Chris is quoted in tribute to legendary litigator Don Engel.
January 15, 2014
Billboard
The Hubris Behind Google's Demotion of Rap Genius (Guest Post)
November 14, 2013
Billboard
Rap Genius Inks Deal With Sony/ATV Just as Takedown Notices Arrive
Chris is quoted in news on NMPA's action against unlicensed lyric websites
September 28, 2013
Huffington Post
September 23, 2013
Billboard
Compilation Producers vs. Spotify, Round One
Chris discusses the broader implications of Ministry of Sound's UK lawsuit against Spotify's free riding on playlists using the MOS brand
July 30, 2013
The Hill Congress Blog
Five Things Congress Could Do For Music Creators That Wouldn’t Cost Taxpayers a Dime
July 26, 2013
The Huffington Post
June 18, 2013
National Association of Attorneys General Summer Meeting, Boston
“Intellectual Property Crimes Online: Dangerous Access to Prescription Drugs and Pirated Content”, The Honorable Jim Hood, Attorney General of Mississippi
Chris is a panelist at the Summer NAAG meeting, watch a video of the panel and read Chris’s lecture materials.
June 4, 2013
Creators' Summit, Washington, DC
Interview with Chris Castle, "Reconnecting with the Digital Narrative"
April 16, 2013
The Street
The Digital Skeptic: Terms of Service Could Shatter Google Glass
Jonathan Blum interviews Chris on his views of the potential legal liability from Google Glass.
January 2, 2013
Los Angeles Times
Report links Google, Yahoo to Internet piracy sites
Chris is quoted in story on USC-Annenberg Innovation Lab’s Transparency Report on brand supported piracy.
December 27, 2012
Billboard
Reversion Rights: Will 2013 be a Game-Changer?
Chris is quoted in Billboard’s coverage of the effects of the 35-year termination on the US music industry.
December 14, 2012
Digital Music News
USC Is Now Researching the Amount of Money Flowing Into Pirate Sites
Chris is quoted in reporting on the USC-Annenberg Innovation Lab study on brand-supported piracy.
November 27, 2012
The Hill’s Congress Blog:
A bipartisan offender: The Internet Radio Fairness Act
By David Lowery, founder of Cracker and Camper Van Beethovan and Austin music attorney Chris Castle
October 31, 2012
CNET
Right on Cue: Can iTunes chief fix Apple’s maps and Siri?
Chris is quoted in CNET profile on Apple’s Eddy Cue
Digital Music News
Tim Westergren Has Dumped More Than $9 Million of Pandora Stock This Year…
Music Tech Policy blog post is quoted in Digital Music News.
Huffington Post
The Tide Has Risen: Five Reasons to Worry About the Internet Radio Fairness Act
Chris’s blog in The Huffington Post Criticizing the Internet Radio Fairness Act and Coalition
September 20th, 2011
Variety
Ganging Up On Google: Hollywood Watches With Some Satisfaction
Chris is quoted in Variety’s “Wilshire and Washington” coverage of Google hearings at U.S. Senate Antitrust Subcommittee
August 12th, 2011
Law 360
Grooveshark Faces Uphill Battle in Copyright Suits
Chris is interviewed with other leading lawyers about possible outcomes in Grooveshark litigation and flaws in Grooveshark business model.
August 1st, 2011
The Tennessean
Suit seeks slice of music-streaming revenue
Discussion of Grooveshark case in Tennessee
April 5th, 2011
The Hill Congress Blog
Can Creators Call 911
Chris posts in The Hill about hearings leading up to the introduction of the Protect IP Act in the US Congress.
December 16th, 2010
Billboard Business Matters
Google Music
Chris is quoted on potential terms of Google Music offering.
November 29th, 2010
WSJ
Website Closures Escalate US War on Piracy
Chris is quoted in Wall Street Journal article on ICE seizures of rogue websites.
November 5th, 2010
WSJ
Don’t Stop Believing in Risk of Song Sharing
Chris is quoted in Wall Street Journal coverage of leading file sharing case.
March 13th, 2010
Billboard
The Nuances of Net Neutrality
This isn’t lost on new FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, who has said that it’s “vital that illegal conduct be curtailed on the Internet. I do not interpret the goals of net neutrality as preventing network operators from taking reasonable steps to block unlawful content.” His sentiments have been echoed by others in the Obama administration as well as the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the Screen Actors Guild, the Directors Guild of America, the Songwriters Guild of America and many other members of the professional creative community.
Yet self-anointed consumer groups trivialize file “sharing” and try to position legitimate net neutrality concerns of our colleagues and artists as “Big Music” against consumers and “moguls” exploiting artists. As usual, the rhetoric of these groups ignores both indie labels and artists.
What’s so hard to understand about a company calling itself “the Pirate Bay” and mocking copyright owners and artists who try to protect themselves? Internet service providers (ISP) get it, and they are the first line of defense in responding to flagrant copyright violations. Copyright owners of all sizes should be free to work with them to find new ways to develop premium services and combat piracy without having to litigate every single issue into the ground. We can’t afford it, either literally or figuratively, and neither can our colleagues in the professional creative community—musicians, filmmakers, illustrators, authors, photographers, journalists or game developers.
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=007be317-8470-4154-95fd-d01e96d81c49%40sessionmgr112&vid=1&hid=117&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=48504418
February 26th, 2010
The Register
Bringing P2P In From the Cold
Interview Attorney Chris Castle has worked for the original Napster (“one of the greatest inventions of the 20th Century”), Snocap and in digital licensing for Sony and A&M. In the first installment of our annual catch-up, he wondered whether Google may have annoyed so many rights holders that it’s rethinking its strategy. Here, he talks about how he tried to bring P2P in from the cold at Napster, then Snocap.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/26/castle_five_minute_copyright_napster_history/
December 13th, 2009
The Register
Antitrust Incoming?
Interview Attorney Chris Castle has worked for the original Napster (“one of the greatest inventions of the 20th Century”), Snocap and in digital licensing for Sony and A&M, and his “View of the Music Wars from 30,000 Feet” was one of the most popular features of last year. In the first installment of our annual catch-up, he wonders whether Google may have annoyed so many rights holders that it’s rethinking its strategy.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/03/chris_castle_google/
January 11th, 2009
Osgoode Hall Law School (IP Osgoode Blog)
The Elephant in the Choruss (Osgoode Hall IP Blog)
http://www.iposgoode.ca/2009/01/the-elephant-in-the-choruss/
December 31st, 2008
The Register
Is Google’s Culture Grab Unstoppable? (The Register)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/31/chris_castle_google_books_and_beyond/
December 30th, 2008
Content Agenda (Rick Carnes and Chris Castle)
November 27th, 2008
The Register
The Music Wars from 30,000 Feet by Andrew Orlowski
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/27/chris_castle/ Chris is interviewed by Andrew Orlowski for a historical perspective on where things are and should be going.
September 19th, 2008
CNET
(Greg Sandoval): Should Apple Take a Chance with Music Subscriptions?
Chris Castle, a longtime music insider and attorney, says he believes there’s a market for subscription-based cell phones.
“There are people out there who have high-end home audio systems that want high fidelity and clean copies of songs,” Castle said. “They don’t want to rip lots of content. They aren’t willing to pay a $1 a pop for it, but they’d be willing to pay something for it. I think preloaded hard drives are a business, provided they offer lots of stuff. The questions are what do the publishers want for it? Can you make a deal?”
Castle sees the potential for artist-driven or genre-driven preloaded devices.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10046236-93.html
March 28th, 2008
CNET
CNET Guest Blog: Warner Music’s Tune of Folly
February 26th, 2008
Forbes: America’s Top Pop Imports
“It’s so hard to break an artist, it almost doesn’t matter where you’re from,” says Chris Castle, a music industry attorney based in Sherman Oaks, Calif. “It’s very hard to break into radio. It’s very hard to move units. Tours–it’s very competitive.”
November 5th, 2007
CNET: Making Music in a World of Freeloaders by Charles Cooper
“But I’d be careful about dismissing this as a pipe dream. Just as one data point hardly makes for a trend, there’s nothing conclusive here–other than a depressing reaffirmation of human selfishness. Music attorney and industry exec Chris Castle made a telling point in a conversation with my colleague Greg Sandoval that the economic lifespan of a music album can extend as long as two years.”
October 8th, 2007
CNET: For RIAA, a black eye comes with the job by Greg Sandoval
“But if the RIAA isn’t going to stand up for its rights, who will?”, asks Chris Castle, a copyright lawyer and former executive with A&M Records and Sony Entertainment.
The music industry can’t rely on the federal government. He points out that the Copyright Office has far less power than other regulatory bodies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Trade Commission.
“The copyright office has virtually no enforcement powers,” Castle said. “That’s left up to the Department of Justice and they haven’t done much about this problem. If the RIAA didn’t do anything about piracy, then nothing would get done.”
October 5th, 2007
FMBQ: Record Labels Rewarded In Major File Sharing Case
“The answer that the court gave was, ‘It’s your account, you’re responsible,’” Castle said, according to CNet. “‘It’s your screen name. You pay the bills. It’s in your house. You are on the hook for it.’”
October 5th, 2007
Information Week
RIAA Victory Sends Message by KC Jones
A Minnesota woman’s $220,000 fine for illegally downloading music files is expected to set a precedent for other recording industry lawsuits, a music lawyer suggests.
By K.C. Jones,InformationWeek
Oct. 5, 2007
Information Week
The jury’s guilty verdict this week in a file-sharing trial could deter others from pushing back against the recording industry’s copyright claims.
However, it is unlikely that it will completely stop music files from being swapped on the Internet, according to a music attorney specializing in online sales and copyright.
The Recording Industry Association of America won its first trial this week when a jury ordered Jammie Thomas of Duluth, Minnesota to pay $220,000 to six separate record companies — Sony BMG, Arista Records, Interscope Records, UMG Recordings, Capitol Records, and Warner Bros. Records. The amount covers 24 copyrighted songs illegally downloaded on her computer. Thomas’ lawyer argued that someone else could have downloaded the songs either in-person or remotely, but the Minnesota jury sided with the recording industry.
Christian Castle, who runs his own practice out of Los Angeles, said that the token ruling could discourage some people from illegally downloading and sharing copyrighted music and gives credence to the industry’s legal tactics. Critics often claim the RIAA goes too far in chasing down those who share files illegally.
“The fact that this case went to trial and there was a verdict — whatever the outcome — was a good thing, because there’s some kind of sense that these cases don’t have merit,” he said during an interview Friday.
That was the case earlier this summer when a Texas court sided with a woman who claimed Sony BMG Music Entertainment and others illegally employed unlicensed investigators to dig up information on her when the RIAA suspected she had been illegally sharing music files.
Since 2003, the record companies have filed some 26,000 file-sharing lawsuits. In addition to individual cases, such as the Thomas case, the RIAA has also been targeting college campuses as hubs of illegal peer-to-peer file sharing under blanket “John Doe” lawsuits.
Although record industry critics are likely to continue their resistance, the Minnesota ruling sends a message that “this really is bad behavior and it needs to stop,” Castle said.
People who aren’t deterred by the ruling may be more inclined to accept settlement offers once they’re caught, he said.
The Thomas case did not go forward to stop file-sharing, he said. It will give artists and executives the “legal and moral high-ground” in their battles against copyright infringement, Castle said. It could also make it easier to lobby Congress for better protections.
“For some reason the music business is charged with paying for effective enforcement of the law,” he said.
If someone called U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents and complained that people were stacking crates of stolen Ford auto parts they would not be told to take care of it themselves, Castle said.
“That’s what’s going on here,” he said.
As for Thomas, she got off easy, according to Castle, who said she could have been fined $150,000 per copy rather than $10,000.
“I think the jury was telling her ‘We don’t buy your story. You’re guilty of doing this intentionally. We’re going to give you a verdict that will sting but is not the gross national product of a small country,” he said.
October 4th, 2007
CNET
Greg Sandoval’s CNET News Blog: RIAA Wins Key Victory; accused file sharer must pay $220,000
“The decision is important in that it sends a message to file sharers that Internet anonymity won’t protect them from lawsuits, said Chris Castle, a copyright attorney and longtime music industry executive.”
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9791383-7.html?tag=nefd.pulse
September 20th, 2007
CNET: Leaked e-mails reveal MediaDefender’s antipiracy woes by Greg Sandoval
As file-sharing protocols continue to improve, circumstances are bound to get even more difficult for companies like MediaDefender, said Chris Castle, a longtime music industry attorney and executive.
“I think that one of the problems in general is that you can’t put a $100 piece of security on something that sells for 99 cents,” Castle said. “There is only so much money you’re going to spend to protect a piece of content and that means there’s only so much that antipiracy companies can afford to do.”
September 19th, 2007
Forbes: The Top-Earning Musicians by Louis Hau
Many of top earning musicians maximize their earning potential by going out of their way to cultivate a fan base outside the U.S. as well, particularly in Europe and Asia. Madonna, Bon Jovi and Celine Dion aren’t just popular musicians. They’re worldwide pop stars.
“That’s not something that happens by accident, that’s not something that happens overnight,” observes Los Angeles entertainment attorney Chris Castle. “That’s something they work at. And they work at it because they want a career.”
September 17th, 2007
Future of Music at the Commonwealth Club
http://fora.tv/fora/showthread.php?t=1641
Chris participated in a panel about the state of the digital music business at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco.
July 16th, 2007
CNET
Could YouTube Drag Apple Into Copyright Fight?
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9745198-7.html
“Apple created a device that now traffics in bootlegged content,” [Bob] Tur told CNET News.com. “Steve Jobs is a brilliant man and I’m Apple’s biggest fan. It sickens me to think that he can turn a blind eye to (copyright infringement).”
Tur said he may sue Apple for secondary copyright infringement, but legal experts are highly skeptical that Apple would ever be found liable.
“I would absolutely bet there is an indemnity provision in the contract with YouTube that protects Apple,” said Chris Castle, an attorney who has represented both technology and entertainment companies in copyright cases.
Castle also points out that YouTube is providing the videos, not Apple, which would make suing the latter company for copyright infringement even harder. Both Apple and YouTube declined to comment.