• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Events
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • ROWFAX
  • THE SPORTS CREDENTIAL
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album/EP Releases
    • Single/Track Releases
    • Industry Events
  • OBITS
  • CHARTS
    • Radio Chart (Current)
    • Radio Chart (Archives)
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Songwriter Chart (Current)
    • Songwriter Chart (Archives)
  • REVIEWS
  • MY STORY
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Newsletter (Current)
    • SIGN UP (FREE!)
    • Newsletter (Archives)
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • STORE
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Grooveshark Faces Legal Action

December 16, 2011/by Freeman

Online listening service Grooveshark could find itself without safe harbor, thanks to pending legal action. According to the Los Angeles Times, both Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment have now joined Universal Music Group in a lawsuit claiming that Grooveshark is violating the Digital Millenium Copyright Act by allowing users to illegally upload and listen to unlicensed songs.

Universal originally took aim at Grooveshark last month, alleging that the company — owned by Escape Media Group of Gainesville, FL — has permitted widespread copyright infringement that was sanctioned by company executives. Sony and Warner added their lawsuit yesterday (Dec. 15).

Grooveshark asserts that it is protected under DMCA because the law allows “safe harbor” for companies to provide online storage or sharing, as long as the infringing material is removed upon request. Since its launch, it has accumulated over 30 million users to pay $5/month to listen to millions of tracks from all the major labels and beyond.

The lawsuit also accuses Grooveshark’s senior executives of personally uploading illegal sound recordings to the website in order to make sure it is always stocked with the most popular songs. A series of emails quoted in the court documents indicate that Grooveshark employees were fully aware of the violation and continued regardless. Back in September, Digital Music News reported on a tense exchange between King Crimson’s Robert Fripp and Grooveshark about the band’s repeated attempts to have their material removed, only to have it return to the site in a matter of days.

Grooveshark does currently have a license through EMI and numerous indies, though with EMI’s recent sale the future of that arrangement is uncertain.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Freeman
Freeman
Freeman
Latest posts by Freeman (see all)
  • Justin Moore Plans Hurricane Relief Concert - November 16, 2012
  • MusicRow No. 1 Song - November 16, 2012
  • Top Digital Companies Form Strategic Partnership - November 16, 2012
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png 0 0 Freeman https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Freeman2011-12-16 15:22:552011-12-16 15:22:55Grooveshark Faces Legal Action
You might also like
Cookin’ With Zac Brown
DISClaimer: The Perfect Country Record?
2014 CCMA Awards Nominees Revealed
JUST IN: MusicRow Announces New Date For Annual Rising Women On The Row
Weekly Radio Report (8/7/20)
Weekly Register: Luke Bryan Stays On Top

RECENT NEWS

  • Thomas Rhett Commemorates Seven No. 1 Songs, Adding To 20 Total June 8, 2023
  • Tony-Nominated ‘Shucked’ To Open On London’s West End In 2024 June 8, 2023
  • Leadership Music Announces Class Of 2024 June 8, 2023
  • Bailey Zimmerman & Crew Celebrate First Two No. 1 Hits June 8, 2023
  • Randy Travis Helps Midwest Communications Launch Y’all 106.7 Country June 8, 2023
  • Trisha Yearwood, Mickey Guyton & CMT’s Leslie Fram Honored At ‘Hometown to Hometown’ Event June 8, 2023
  • Brock Berryhill Signs With Warner Chappell Music & Madfun Entertainment June 8, 2023
  • Musicians On Call Appoints New National Board Members June 8, 2023
  • 58th ACM Awards Sees Significant Year-Over-Year Audience Growth June 8, 2023
  • CTM Outlander Acquires Shane McAnally Catalog Alongside Other SMACKSongs Works June 8, 2023
  • ‘Darius & Friends’ Surpasses $3.6 Million Raised For St. Jude June 7, 2023
  • Josh Abbott Band Signs With Make Wake Artists & Deep Roots Management June 7, 2023
  • In Photos: Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers Sell Out Railbird Music Festival In Kentucky June 7, 2023
  • SOLID’S Music Row Madness Fundraiser Raises $18K For Solid Shares Partners June 7, 2023
  • My Music Row Story: Endurance Music Group’s Michael Martin June 7, 2023

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2023 Music Row Enterprises, LLC – All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Scroll to top