Intellectual Property Law

Copyright Litigation in Maryland: 2007 Trends

By Brian Wm. Higgin

     In 2007, the major music recording companies, led by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), filed more copyright lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland than any other group or individual. RIAA accounted for 16 of the 30 copyright lawsuits filed last year (53%). In 2006, RIAA accounted for an estimated 22 of 54 copyright lawsuits (41%). All of the RIAA lawsuits involved individual defendants accused of illegally downloading or sharing copyrighted music. The 30 copyright lawsuits involved a total of 168 plaintiffs (64 unique entities/individuals). Of those 168 plaintiffs, 85 were RIAA members, including the following:

• Sony BMG Music Entertainment (plaintiff in all 16 of the RIAA lawsuits);
• UMG Recordings (plaintiff in 14 of the RIAA lawsuits)
• Arista Records (plaintiff in 12 lawsuits)
• BMG Music (12 lawsuits)
• Virgin Records America (9)
• Capitol Records (9)
• Warner Brothers Records (8)
• Interscope Records (8)

     Twelve U.S. District Court Judges presided over the 30 copyright lawsuits in 2007: Bennett (3), Blake (2), Chasanow (1), Cullinane (1), Davis (4), Dorr (1), Garbis (2), Legg (2), Messitte (6), Quarles (2), Titus (3), and Williams (3). All 6 of Judge Messitte's cases involved RIAA lawsuits (in 2006, Judge Messitte presided over an estimated 21 of the 22 RIAA lawsuits).

     On January 10, 2008, RIAA announced on its website that it had sent a new wave of 407 pre-litigation settlement letters to 18 universities nationwide as part of its "ongoing campaign against online music theft" (none of the targeted universities involve Maryland institutions, so perhaps 2008 will see fewer RIAA lawsuits in Maryland).

Notes:

• Source: Justia.com and PACER

Full post as published by Maryland Intellectual Property Law Blog on January 12, 2008 (boomark / email).