A Us judge has ruled that CNET, part of CBS group of companies, bittorrent software and other p2p applications may continue to offer through Download.com. According to the court, there is no evidence that CNET encourages users to piracy.
CNET and CBS were sued by a number of muziekartiesten. The artists were financially supported by Alki David, a billionaire who earlier with his company, FilmOn clashed with CBS. According to the plaintiffs provides CNET via Download.com not only is a p2p software, including various torrentclients, but describes it in editorial pieces in detail how this software can be used to download copyrighted materials. Furthermore, it would CNET here financial benefit. The parties demanded via a court order that CNET would stop offering bittorrent software.
The court has the request for an injunction off the table, reports TechDirt. According to judge Dale Fisher, there is no evidence that CNET and parent company CBS, deliberately inciting to the violation of copyright through p2p software to offer and to discuss it, despite the fact that the publishers know that the software in the practice is widely used. In addition, it would CNET in his articles about p2p software, which is already almost ten years ago, are published, not active calls to piracy.
Another point that the court mentions is the freedom of expression. According to the court, many of the cited pages Download.com and Cnet.com if news reports are seen and would ban the public discussion about the pros and cons of p2p software can be silenced.
CBS calls it an interlocutory order made by the court a resounding victory and argues that the court has made clear that the company is public, fails to encourage the use of p2p software to download copyrighted materials. Nevertheless, the matter is not yet finalised, and the judge must still make the final assessment sheets in the case.