The ruling in EMI’s lawsuit against music locker service MP3tunes has promised to be a pivotal moment for the music industry, yet now there’s a dramatic twist in the tale. “MP3tunes has filed for bankruptcy protection after years of withering legal attacks and a concerted effort by some in the industry to thwart MP3tunes and personal lockers,” explains MP3tunes boss Michael Robertson.
His blog post goes into some detail on his belief that EMI has deliberately strung out the legal process to harm its poorer foe, while also encouraging other digital services and retailers to shun the company. “If MP3tunes would have been allowed to cultivate partners over the last few years it would be an entirely different scenario going forward, but without those relationships survival as an independent company is unlikely.”
So what now for that lawsuit? EMI has issued its own statement on the matter. “After four and a half years of Robertson’s bluster and rhetoric, it is apparent to EMI that Robertson has finally realized that his case has no merit,” says the label. However, it notes that Robertson remains a named defendant in the case, so as things stand, EMI is not abandoning the lawsuit.
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