JUST IN TIME FOR THE CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN FREEDOM, ENTERTAIMENT INDUSTRY FALLS BACK ON STANDARD PRACTICE OF LITIGATION TO FORCE THEIR CUSTOMERS “BACK INTO LINE” - THIS TIME ATTACKING CONSUMERS DIRECTLY

MEDIA ALERT — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 3, 2002

Download the Word Version

Contact:

StreamCast Executives Question Entertainment Industries
Unwillingness to Communicate with Consumers and
Their Failure to Progress with Technology

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Franklin, TN., July 3, 2002 -- According to a Wall Street Journal article by Anna Wilde Mathews and Bruce Orwall this morning, “major music companies are preparing to mount a broad new attack on unauthorized online song-swapping. The campaign would include suits against individuals who are offering the largest troves of songs on peer-to-peer services.”

“The newest strategy announced by the entertainment industry is a heinous direct attack on consumers. The multi-national media conglomerates are apparently now taking all measures possible in an attempt to control consumer behavior,” said Steve Griffin, CEO of StreamCast Networks. “The consumer has repeatedly communicated to the industry that they want to exchange digital content directly in a peer-to-peer environment. The problem is that media companies continue to pretend that consumers matter to them; yet they still do not offer the products that people are asking for. Rather than provide the consumer with a reasonable solution to consumer demand, the media companies have decided to sue the consumer directly arguably to force them ‘back into line’”. In this unfortunate battle between content owners and technology companies, the consumer is now the one caught in the crossfire. When are the media conglomerates going to come to the table for an active dialogue and quit threatening to sue everybody?” said Griffin.

Last week Congressman Howard L. Berman, (D-CA), proposed legislation that he discussed at the Computer and Communications Industry Association that addresses peer-to-peer (P2P) networks http://www.house.gov/berman/pressreleases.htm. StreamCast Networks CEO, Steve Griffin responded with this statement: "StreamCast does not condone the hacking into consumers' computers. Interdiction, decoys, redirection, file-blocking and spoofing are not self-help tools, they are subversive tactics to attack the very person that media companies are trying to market to, the consumer. There must be a balance between what is beneficial for all parties and we believe that the recommendation for these "technological self-help measures" is asking for a declaration of cyber warfare on the consumer."

StreamCast Networks continues to urge and foster communication with the four stakeholders in this issue -- content holders, content creators, technology companies and most importantly consumers -- to come together and find a solution that brings to bear the interests of all parties.

About StreamCast Networks, Inc.
StreamCast Networks, Inc., creators of the Morpheus software product, is a digital communications solutions provider that is revolutionizing Internet digital media distribution and communications via a unique software-driven solution that enables users to communicate directly with one another more efficiently on an unprecedented scale. StreamCast Networks is backed by Timberline Venture Partners, the independently managed Northwest affiliate of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, as well as angel investors. StreamCast Networks, Inc. operates the MusicCity.com website, which distributes the Morpheus software product. StreamCast Networks is based in Franklin, TN with offices in Phoenix, AZ. For more information about StreamCast and its flagship product Morpheus, please visit streamcastnetworks.com.

 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Copyright © 2003 Streamcast Networks™ All rights reserved. Streamcast Networks, the Morpheus logo, the MusicCity.com logo, and all other trademarks, service marks and trade names of Streamcast Networks appearing on this web site are the property of Streamcast Networks, Inc. Morpheus is a trademark of Streamcast Networks. MusicCity and Streamcast Networks do not condone copyright infringement.
Please see our Policy section for further details.