Speakers call P2P legal situation muddy

Filed in archive Legal on June 28, 2006

Speakers gave conflicting views at the P2P Summit last week in Washington, DC. Warren's Washington Internet Daily covered the Policy panel in "Confusion from 'Grokster,' Other Suits Slows Legitimate P2P Deals, Players Say".

Three viewpoints from the article:

"Phil Corwin, who represents Sharman Networks, the Kazaa client's maker, said Grokster left 'greater incoherence' especially via its highly subjective determination of intent-based inducement."

"Entertainment lawyer Joshua Wattles called the climate "schizophrenic," with latent deals complicated by continuing suits against XM and others. "

"MPAA Exec. VP Fritz Attaway agreed on the lag in P2P's evolution from infringing to licensed, but said "it's always too slow" and disputed the idea that Grokster paralyzed the market."