EMI and MP3.com Settle Copyright Infringement Suit

EMI and MP3.com have entered into a settlement of claims under the copyright infringement suit originally brought by affiliates of EMI and other record labels, in conjunction with MP3.com's My.MP3.com system.

"We want to do everything we can to satisfy the overwhelming consumer demand for access to their music in cyberspace -- responsibly, quickly, and through collaboration between record labels and digital music service providers," said Robin Richards, president of MP3.com and the company's chief negotiator during settlement talks.

At the same time, EMI announced that it has entered into a non-exclusive, North American license with MP3.com for the use of EMI-controlled recordings on My.MP3.com's Beam-It and Instant Listening services. These services are designed to allow, among other things, users to insert into their My.MP3.com Music Manager digital copies of CDs they already own.

"EMI's Internet strategy is to create innovative, convenient andattractive ways for fans to access their favorite artists' music," said Jay Samit, senior vice president of new media at EMI. "This settlement ensures that copyright owners and creators are compensated fairly."