Satellite Standard Group posted an interesting article on the increased awareness of the Pioneer Inno due to XM's battle with the RIAA. Hidden in that article is a curious statement by the RIAA about other companies who have agreed to increased "distribution" licenses... and Sirius is among them:
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) wants a broader and more expensive license to cover the additional devices. Its lawsuit, filed in New York, claims "massive wholesale infringement" and seeks $150,000 in damages for every song copied by XM customers using the next-generation devices. Apple's iTunes, Yahoo (NASDAQ: YAHOO), Rhapsody, Napster (NASDAQ: NAPS) and XM's chief rival Sirius Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) have already agreed to more expensive distribution licenses to download songs, according to the RIAA.
Yikes. Hopefully this remains only to the download of songs (trackable through the Zing/Sirius player?) and doesn't compromise their position for the compulsory broadcast license.
[SSG]
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