For those of you not following this it started when EMI sued MP3Tunes.com for the contents of the online storage that the site offered it users to store their MP3 music files. Well according to a post on TechWag MP3Tunes.com has prevailed in the case which means that some 300 TB of files, users names and other related information is free from the prying eyes of EMI and the RIAA.

The argument that was used was that these online storage sites which are password protected and encrypted are no different than when you walk into a bank and sign up for a safety deposit box

MP3tunes strongly objected to EMI’s request, because it was both an invasion of user’s personal storage, and because it would create a huge technical and financial burden, with more than 300 terabytes of files in personal Lockers. Files are not MP3tunes’ possessions any more than the contents of a safety deposit box are owned by the bank that houses them. The storage provided by MP3tunes is the user’s own space. A Locker is empty when someone opens an account and that customer decides what files are placed into their Locker. All files are stored at the request of the user. People who choose to utilize remote storage should be guaranteed the same level of privacy they have for the files stored on their local hard disk.

This argument apparently worked because the New York judge hearing the case has turned down the request by EMI for MP3Tunes.com to turn over all the information. While this was a nice win to see and even though Michael Robertson’s (owner of MP3Tunes.com) statement that .. "At stake is personal ownership and privacy in the digital era – both issues worth fighting for." strikes me more of good PR I think the sentiment behind it is valid.

Conversation Tags: online storage, mp3, copyright, EMI, RIAA, court decision