Online music storage firm MP3tunes Inc. filed for chapter 11 protection following its prolonged run-in with music publishing giant EMI Group over copyright issues, Reuters reported today. EMI's lawsuit against MP3tunes and its chief executive, Michael Robertson, is part of the music industry's efforts to stop websites from letting people download and share music online without paying for it. Fourteen other record companies and music publishers were also part of the copyright case that was filed in 2007. However, last year, a federal judge said that MP3tunes and Robertson did not violate the federal Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) in permitting downloads, except as to songs specifically identified as having been pirated. The judge said that it was users rather than MP3tunes that were responsible for any infringements. However, the court did find the defendants liable for "contributory" copyright infringement for songs where notices of alleged infringement were provided.
