Artists Threaten RIAA Lawsuits
By Christopher Nickson
March 03, 2008
Artists say that the RIAA hasn't been disbursing money from settlements in peer-to-peer cases.
The Recording Industry Association of America, which represents record companies, has been quick to go after various peer-to-peer networks and even individuals they say have illegally downloaded copyrighted recordings. But, according to a story in the New York Post, artists are complaining that they’ve yet to see any of that money, even though some of the settlements are now a few years old.
Artist lawyer John Branca told the paper,
“Artist managers and lawyers have been wondering for months when their artists will see money from the copyright settlements and how it will be accounted for. Some of them are even talking about filing lawsuits if they don't get paid soon."
For their part, the record companies insist that some money has been paid and that they’re trying to establish the best way to pay artists.