The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has been in contact with both XM and SIRIUS expressing their concern over the new portable music players that are expected to be released in the coming weeks. Both the Sirius S50 and the Samsung neXus have the ability to record satellite radio content for "on the go" listening (neither unit can listen to satellite live unless plugged into a docking station). The RIAA is concerned that this ability of saving content is essentially "unlicensed downloads" only through another medium.Even with XM + Napster, which prompts people to buy songs they have just listened to, the RIAA still considers this a potential risk. Obviously these people just don't know when to quit. The RIAA has such an amazing level of greed, it bewilders me. Biting the hand that feeds you anyone?
1. I doubt anything will come of this. Fair use laws allow the public to record broadcasts as long as they're reserved for personal use only. The RIAA will have to prove that Sirius/XM products are actively encouraging the illegal sharing of copyrighted material (see grokster case), and I don't foresee this happening. My guess is that users of the s50 and neXus will use the devices to their intended effect, timeshifting their favorite programs and listening to radio content on the go.
Posted at 3:37PM on Oct 6th 2005 by Sam