Japanese download site sued for violating copyrights

Japanese record companies started a lawsuit against the service of TubeFire, which enables the free download of music videos from YouTube. The users can select the video on YouTube and TubeFire offers the download. This is remarkable, as Google, the owner en administrator of YouTube, designed the YouTube site to prevent users from actually downloading music videos.

Now, the record companies demand TubeFire to shut down its website and 230 million Yen for damages.  They accuse TubeFire of violating copyrights, because it publishes and distributes copyright protected works without consent of the copyright holders.

According to the Japanese music industry, TubeFire offered around ten thousand music videos as downloads between May and June. The lost revenue of these ten thousand music videos is why the record companies claim the 230 million Yen for damages.

Read more about the music industry and YouTube on FutureofCopyright.com:

• YouTube closes deal with National Music Publishers Association
• Band Blink-182 rewards fans that illegally upload content
• Copyright conflict between Mediaset and YouTube intensifies

Reference: The Mainichi Daily News

By: Karen Groen