January 23, 2004
Kazaa Owner Cleared to Sue Record Labels, Movie Studios
By Jon Healey, Times Staff Writer
The company behind the Kazaa file-sharing network has the green light to pursue its own copyright infringement case against the record labels and Hollywood studios that accuse it of promoting piracy.
Sharman Networks Ltd. alleges that in their effort to catch people sharing files illegally, the labels and studios used unauthorized and unlicensed versions of Kazaa to monitor users of the network.
The company also claims that the labels breached the license agreement on Kazaa software by sending instant-message warnings and bogus files through the network.
U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson in Los Angeles ruled last week that Sharman can pursue those claims...