Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1998/11/06/music_industry_body_to_probe/

Music industry body to probe Samsung

Will Yepp say nay to pirates?

By Tony Smith

Posted in On-Prem, 6th November 1998 15:45 GMT

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), would-be scourge of copiers of digital music everywhere, is following up its attack on Diamond Multimedia with a less aggressive approach to Samsung. Like Diamond, the Korean electronics giant wants to launch a portable Walkman-style device that plays MPEG-based MP3 digital audio files downloaded from the Internet. But whereas the RIAA decided to challenge Diamond in the US courts, with Samsung it's hoping that a friendly chat will persuade the manufacturer to ensure its Yepp player can't be used for the piracy of music. This more concilliatory approach follows the US federal court's rejection of the RIAA's legal attempt to get Diamond to modify its Rio player, although the RIAA is appealing against the ruling (see Diamond wins right to ship Rio) and Diamond has to pay a two per cent royalty on each $199 Rio it sells. The RIAA's senior executive VP and general counsel, Cary Sherman, said he would exploring whether Samsung would also be liable to this so-called MP3 Tax. However, his main concern was that the manufacturer would add anti-duplication technology to Yepp. ® See also Leading US indie label backs MP3 Diamond to add Liquid Audio to Rio Diamond forms MP3 lobby body Click for more stories
Story Index