Webtrends Tracking Code
 
UK Home >  OUT-LAW News >  News Archive >  2000 >  November 2000 >  EBay wins US copyright case over bootleg sales

EBay wins US copyright case over bootleg sales

OUT-LAW News, 08/11/2000

The internet auction company eBay has won a ruling from a San Fransisco supreme court judge to the effect that the company cannot be sued for auctioning bootleg sound recordings on its site that may infringe copyright.

Legal action was taken against the company on the grounds that its hosting of the sale of the recordings constituted a breach of a code on unfair business practices and that the company should have alerted users of its service that the recordings may have been illegal.

However, Judge Stuart Pollak ruled that eBay is immune from liability for such an action under the US Communications Decency Act which says that an interactive computer service cannot be treated as the publisher of information provided by another content provider.

According to a report in Law.com, an appeal is being considered on the grounds that the legislation is not applicable to an on-line auction house.

 

 

OUT-LAW Recommends

Data Protection training
We offer training courses on Data Protection and Freedom of Information laws

Winner at 2008 Webby Awards

OUT-LAW star: link to the home page
Disclaimer: This was printed from OUT-LAW.COM, a service of international law firm Pinsent Masons. We hope you find this content useful. However, please note that nothing in this document constitutes specific legal advice. You should consult a suitably qualified lawyer on any specific legal problem or matter. Any questions, please email info@out-law.com.