The recording industry has received the go-ahead to initiate a lawsuit against XM Satellite Radio over XM customers’ ability to record the service’s digital audio broadcasts. XM Satellite Radio claims claims that any recordings made by their customers are protected under the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992.
The Audio Home Recording Act of 1992 is a piece of US copyright law that allows the production and sale of equipment that is able to make digital audio recordings. XM Satellite Radio cites this act because the music industry’s lawsuit claims that the infringement stems from the availability of consumer “XM + MP3″ electronics that allow XM subscribers to make mp3 recordings of audio transmitted over the XM service.
The music industry contests that the Audio Home Recording Act does not apply to XM’s defense because these XM+MP3 devices enable XM customers to record audio in mass quantities. The recording industry has long maintained that giving consumers the ability to make perfect digital copies of audio would destroy their market [Wikipedia].
Source: “Judge allows music industry to sue XM Satellite” from CNET News.com
