Jon Iverson

Napster has been taking its share of hits this past week from the music industry and the RIAA as a result of the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling last Monday that will likely pave the way for shutting down the file-sharing service. In its findings, the Court states that "Napster users who upload file names to the search index for others to copy violate plaintiffs' distribution rights. Napster users who download files containing copyrighted music violate plaintiffs' reproduction rights."

Satellite radio may become one of the most successful communications formats ever launched, according to predictions from market research and analysis company <A HREF="http://www.yankeegroup.com/">The Yankee Group</A>. A new report suggests that satellite radio will take off the way cable TV did back in the 1970s; the result may create permanent changes in the radio industry.

John Atkinson asked "What's that noise?" He wasn't referring to the piano that Robert Silverman was playing for <I>Stereophile</I>'s recording, <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//features/315/">Concert</A&gt;, but rather to the sound of candy wrappers in the concert hall. The recording survived the crackling ordeal, but the lady with the wrapper did not. JA relates the entire story, and also serves up additional details about the making of the double CD set.

The European Parliament has enacted a strong new law to protect copyrights, approving the use of encryption to prevent piracy of publications, movies, and recorded music. The new measure, known as the Copyright Directive, will give copyright holders better protection in Europe than they enjoy in the US, according to Italian representative Enrico Boselli, sponsor of the law. The widespread availability of advanced digital technology requires establishing "clear rules for consumers, consumer-electronics manufacturers, Internet service providers, and others," Boselli stated.

The affair started quietly enough, with the following exchange that appeared in <I>Stereophile</I>'s January 2001 "Letters" section, following my decision to put the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/280/">Digital Audio Labs CardDeluxe</A> high-end PC soundcard on the cover of our September 2000 issue:

Major music companies may have conspired to keep CD prices artificially high in the United Kingdom by limiting cheaper imports. That's the presumption behind an inquiry launched February 9 by the British government's Office of Fair Trade.

Controversy may sell magazines, but it can also cause all sorts of editorial and letter-writing ruckus. In <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//asweseeit/313/">"Where's the Real Magazine,"</A> John Atkinson follows the heated trail that began when he decided to put a PC soundcard on the cover of <I>Stereophile</I> back in September, followed by a Denon surround receiver (horrors!) that graced the December issue. Included as a bonus is the hot-off-the-presses March 2001 "As We See It" in response.