Copyright Law

Interscope v. Does 1-7 ruling reversed

By Ty Rogers and Ray Beckerman

In Interscope v. Does 1-7, the Newport News, Virginia, case, targeting 7 students at the College of William and Mary, Judge F. Bradford Stillman has reversed the earlier ruling of Judge Walter D. Kelley, Jr., denying the RIAA's ex parte motion, and has now granted the motion.

No defendants appeared in the action; neither the defendants nor the College were given notice of the application. It is still possible that once the subpoena is issued and served, either the college, or the students, or both, could make a motion to quash.

The court's docket entry reads as follows:

Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge F. Bradford Stillman: Motion Hearing held on 6/20/2008 re 7 MOTION for Reconsideration filed by Atlantic Recording Corporation, Warner Bros. Records Inc., Laface Records LLC, Elektra Entertainment Group, Inc., Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Virgin Records America, Inc., Capitol Records, Inc., Interscope Records, BMG Music, UMG Recordings, Inc., Arista Records LLC. Present were Katheryn Coggon and Michael Zito, counsel for the plaintiffs. Court notes that there are parallel motions in both this case and 2:08cv90. Counsel agrees. Court consolidates these matters under 2:08cv90. Judge Morgan will be the presiding Judge. Court addresses the motion for leave to file Amicus Curia Brief (#8) in 4:07cv52 and denies that motion for counsels failure to move the motion within thirty days according to the local rules. Court finds there is no prejudice in doing so as all of counsels briefs are contained in the record. Court allows a sixty day extension of time for service on the defendants in this matter. Court hears argument on the motion for reconsideration and makes rulings from the bench and grants the motion. The Court finds that the scope of the subpoena is narrow enough that he will allow it to be issued. Court to enter written opinion and order in this matter. Court adjourned. (Court Reporter Paul McManus, OCR.)THIS IS A TEXT ONLY ENTRY. NO PDF DOCUMENT IS ATTACHED. (cdod) (Entered: 06/20/2008)

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Full post as published by Recording Industry vs The People on June 22, 2008 (boomark / email).