Two plead guilty for violating copyright

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, August 25, 2006
http://www.alligator.org/pt2/060825ap6.php

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Two men have pleaded guilty to violating copyright laws by posting an album by rock musician Ryan Adams on a Web site before its public release, federal officials said Thursday.

Robert Thomas of Milwaukee and Jared Bowser of Jacksonville obtained and made available for copying portions of "Jacksonville City Nights" by Adams and his band, The Cardinals.

It was made available for copying by the public in August 2005 - about a month before the record's commercial release, according to a federal indictment.

At the plea hearing, Bowser admitted obtaining a copy that was provided to a music reviewer in advance of public release.

Thomas acknowledged receiving the music from Bowser and posting links to digital copies of songs on a public Web site he administered.

"Recording artists and the labels they record for have an enforceable right to control what happens to the works they have expended time, effort and money in creating," said U.S. Attorney Jim Vines. "Misappropriation and unauthorized distribution of those works, even if no money changes hands, is no different than the theft of a tangible object, like a car."

Thomas and Bowser face a maximum penalty of one year in prison and up to a $100,000 fine.