Judge: Record firms must show proof in suit

SAN FRANCISCO - The record industry must provide documented proof it owns copyrights to scores of popular music works it seeks to protect in its lawsuit against Napster, a federal judge ruled in an order released Friday. <br> <br> U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel also appointed an expert to review the documents, which officials for the recording industry&#39;s trade group say they are ready to provide. <br> <br> The record labels are seeking damages from the once-popular online file-sharing network for allowing the copyright songs to be trafficked. <br> <br> The judge also opened the door to legal discovery on Napster&#39;s claims that the labels misused their copyrights to dominate the growing online music distribution industry. <br> <br> Napster said both rulings were significant victories for the embattled company, which has been offline since July. <br> <br> ``We are pleased that the court granted Napster&#39;s request to examine two critical issues: the record companies&#39; ownership of artists&#39; copyrights and anticompetitive behavior that amounts to misuse of their copyrights,&#39;&#39; Napster general counsel Jonathan Schwartz said in a statement. <br> <br> Cary Sherman, general counsel for the Recording Industry Association of America said Napsters allegations of misuse are without merit, which will be confirmed through the ordered discovery. <br> <br> ``We look forward to providing the court with evidence to refute Napster&#39;s claims,&#39;&#39; Sherman said in a statement.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/2/198408