Grooveshark Copyright Infringement Lawsuit – EMI Jumps On The Pile
All four major labels are now suing Grooveshark, the online music service that allows its users to upload music to share with others for free.
EMI Music Publishing filed suit this week for breach of contract against Grooveshark’s parent company, Escape Media Group, claiming they have not made “a single royalty payment to EMI, nor provided a single accounting statement.” EMI seeks unspecified damages from Escape, including at least $150,000 in royalties.
EMI’s lawsuit is only the latest legal trouble for Grooveshark and Escape. Universal Music Group, the largest music company and imminent owner of EMI’s recorded music division, filed a federal copyright infringement case against Grooveshark, which was later joined by Sony Music and Warner Music Group. Grooveshark has maintained that its services are protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which allows companies to host third-party material on web servers if they comply with take-down notices from copyright holders.
