Transferring Responsibility

Jacob Sullum | June 27, 2005

Today the Supreme Court ruled that companies offering file-sharing software can be held liable for copyright infringement if there's evidence they intended to facilitate illegal duplication and transfers. The Court overturned a 9th Circuit ruling that said Grokster and StreamCast, like manufacturers of VCRs, are not responsible for illegal uses of their products.

Last year John Perry Barlow celebrated Grokster's temporary victory in an interview with Reason, while Nick Gillespie welcomed the consumer-empowering influence of file-sharing services.