Re-digi lose US copyright case

The future of Re-digi, the online retailer of ‘used’ music  downloads is under threat after a federal judge ruled that the re-sale of previously owned MP3 files was not covered by the ‘first sale’ doctrine. In a case brought by  Capitol Records, U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan said the doctrine did not apply to digital goods 

Speculation that controversial MP3 resale service ReDigi wouldn't be able to afford to fight its legal battle with EMI has been dismissed by the company behind the digital resale service. Rumours started to circulate when lawyers working for the digital start-up filed a motion to withdraw from the case last week. ReDigi have said they now have a new firm of lawyers representing them in their battle with EMI who failed to obtain summary judgement in February after the judge hearing the case ruled that the debate on the legality of the resale of MP3 digital files was too complicated for a judgement to be made without a full trial. He added that the dispute at the heart of this case was a "fascinating issue" that "raises a lot of technological and statutory" points.

EMI launch ReDigi claim

EMI has filed a lawsuit against digital track reseller ReDigi, alleging that the company’s plans to enable the selling of “used’’ digital music constitutes copyright infringement. On its website, ReDigi claims that the marketplace that it created to resell digital music is as legal as someone reselling an album to a used-record store. “Once you sell a song, you no longer have access to it,’’ the company says on the site. “This is how ReDigi stays legit, and how you now have access to an incredible marketplace where rights long accepted in the physical world may now be applied to digital goods.’’ http://bostonglobe.com/business/2012/01/07/emi-sues-cambridge-digital-music-reseller/bwemnUEMuWS6k9GKkJINdI/story.html and see http://www.musiclawupdates.com/?p=427