CNET sued over LimeWire, blamed for "Internet Piracy Phenomenon"

Alki David, the wealthy film producer and entrepreneur behind sites like FilmOn, announced last year in aYouTube video that he intended to sue CNET and its

owner, CBS, for providing hundreds of millions of downloads of LimeWire P2P software over the last decade. Today, he made good on his threat, rounding up some rap and R&B musicians to join his case.


The plaintiffs argue that CNET had "direct participation in massive copyright infringement on peer-to-peer systems, such as LimeWire, that are used to copy and distribute songs, films and other artistic works," and that CNET's Download.com was the "main distributor" of the software. P2P software isn't illegal, though companies that use it to induce or encourage copyright infringement can be held liable. The principle, most famously articulated by the US Supreme Court in the Grokster shutdown, was extended to LimeWire last year when a federal judge shut down most of the company's activity.


I think this law suite is just another example of how the music industry is trying to hold on to the scraps of their former business. Suing CNET a desperate move to try to make money. CNET distributed fully legal software and never broke any laws. If you can make the connection to CNET and internet piracy then why not just Blame Apple or Mircosoft? Why does Apple allow illegal down loads on there OS?


There biggest argument is comparing them to selling guns. But guess what, no gun company has every been sued for making guns so it is a stupid analogy.