News

A quick update in our ongoing copyright infringement case against MP3Skull: we have now filed, on behalf of the major record companies, a motion seeking damages and relief.

How did we get to this point? A refresher: in April, we sued MP3Skull, a website devoted to encouraging and facilitating the massive, brazen and egregious theft of millions of copyrighted recordings. The site’s sole purpose is to generate profit from that theft of music, and it makes no pretense about what it does or why it does it. Virtually any commercial recording is available for free to download through the site and the most popular artists and songs (“Top Downloads”) are invariably chart-topping hits. Here’s just one illustration:

Furthermore, the site provides users with “tips” via social media on how to search for and find music on the site that has been specifically removed because the copyright owner has requested that the music be taken down:

Since 2011, various copyright owners have sent piracy notices on more than 3 million illegal files available through the site. MP3Skull has routinely been among the top recipients of such notices over the past four years.

MP3Skull has been provided ample notice and opportunity to respond to our original filing. After never once hearing from the site to contest our case, the court declared MP3Skull to be in default.

We now must seek injunctive and other relief to give effect to the court’s order. The relief we seek is reasonable, well-established, narrowly-constructed and absolutely essential. It will be carefully considered by the court and any affected party will be afforded proper due process.

RIAA Team