Discussion:
I run a website that hosts Mp3 files.
Would I be infringing on any copyright laws by doing that?
I don't personally host them myself, but other people do.
I just make it possible for people to get their mp3/music files onto the internet. Not for sharing, but for backup, etc, and personal sites like blogs, etc.
Could I be held accountable for the copyright violations that my customers might make?
I mean.. It's just a hosting service.
Please help.
Thanks a lot in advance!
Answer:
I run a website that hosts Mp3 files.
Would I be infringing on any copyright laws by doing that?
I don't personally host them myself, but other people do.
I just make it possible for people to get their mp3/music files onto the internet. Not for sharing, but for backup, etc, and personal sites like blogs, etc.
Could I be held accountable for the copyright violations that my customers might make?
I mean.. It's just a hosting service.
Please help.
Thanks a lot in advance! Read this:
EDIT: This one too:
Answer:
Ok, read that. I actually followed the MP3.com case pretty closely.
Is there any way that this could be done legally, then?
Are there any licenses I could get, or anything or the sort?
Keep in mind, that I do not know what my customers put on their accounts. And it'd be impossible to listen to each one of the files.
But $350 million in damages. That'd set me back... about $350 million... -.-
Should I stop my site? What's your advice on that?
My custoemrs pay $5/month for 100MB of space and 5GB of bandwidth, to put any music files on their account that they want. My rules say though, that its mostly for backups, and personal sites.
Thanks again!
Answer:
Is there any way that this could be done legally, then? Not under current law.
Are there any licenses I could get, or anything or the sort? You would need to get licenses for each and every song you hosted to stay legal. You would have to negotiate directly with the record companies themselves for licenses to use the "sound recordings" of each song. You could purchase licenses to the "musical work" for each song from the Harry Fox Agency. You will need both licenses for each song you host.
Should I stop my site? What's your advice on that? I'm not your lawyer, and I do not know all of the relevant facts in your situation. You should talk this over with your own lawyer.
But there doesn't seem to be any way to do this legally under the current copyright laws and caselaw. so...
Answer:
Alright, thank you for your help!