A short history of Music, Movies, Videos and P2P

Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

People and Music

12,833 BC	First cave person song. “Ooohhh ohhhh arr arr arr”
9,453 BC	First instrument made. Hitting two sticks together.
450 BC	First band “The Asp’s” formed.

Invention and Innovation

1452	Invention of printing press and movable type (Gutenberg)
1877	Invention of the phonograph (Thomas Edison)
1891	Invention of motion picture camera, (Thomas Edison, William K.L. Dickson)
1948	Invention of long-playing record (LP) (Peter Carl Goldmark)
1969	Sony Corporation introduces video cassette system which enables users to both record on and play back video tape through a videocassette recorder. (Sony Corp., currently one of the companies trying to stop P2P technology
1976	Movie companies try to stop videocassette recorders because they say it will kill the movie industry Sony Vs. Universal Studios (‘The Betamax case’)
1981	“Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles is the first film clip broadcast on new cable network: MTV.
1984	The Supreme Court rules in favour of Sony
1986	VCRs installed in fifty percent of US homes. Annual videocassette sales surpassing the cinema box office takings.

Internet and peer-to-peer

1987	MP3 format developed.
1993	Mosaic Web browser launched, Internet takes off.
1998	Music, movies, etc STILL not available online TO BUY other than buying the physical product.
1999	Napster launched as a resource for finding music files online.
2000	Napster closed down following ruling in favour of US record industry.
2001	Kazaa launched for all files – not just music but videos, software, images

Sharman Networks

2002

January	Sharman Networks buys Kazaa assets and starts building in ability for files to be bought as well as shared.
July	Kazaa now includes technology to secure, promote and sell files. Invitations for the record and movie companies to work with Kazaa initially accepted by certain individual record companies and and thereafter rejected in total by the entire record and movie industries.
August	Sharman Networks included in Grokster and Morpheus case suit by 27 record labels and studios plaintiffs.
September	Kazaa users start downloading, trying and buying some protected files – computer games, software, etc.

2003

February	Sharman Networks files counter claim in the Grokster and Morpheus case against record and movie company plaintiffs following their collective decision to refuse to deal with P2P companies and instead continue to wage war.
May	Grokster and Morpheus’ P2P software held legal by Federal Court in Los Angeles, California. Appeal made by the record company and studio plaintiffs.
June	RIAA starts issuing subpoenas on behalf of record labels that make up the RIAA to ISP’s seeking alleged infringers.
August	First cases filed by record labels against individuals. 12-year-old girl and grandfather sued. Settlements reached.

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Copyright: Sharman Networks Ltd does not condone activities and actions that breach the rights of copyright owners. As a Kazaa Media Desktop user you have agreed to abide by the End User License Agreement and it is your responsibility to obey all laws governing copyright in each country.