Contributory Copyright Infringement in Music Industry:Technological Implications

Disruptive technological changes in the ways of music consumption have led to evolution of new methods of piracy, exposing the global music industry to new challenges. One such mechanism is termed “Stream-ripping”. It is the illegitimate process of turning a streaming file on the internet into a downloadable one. Since the issue of stream ripping by software has not been determined by courts, the question of copyright infringement liability remains unanswered. The primary objective of this research paper is to critically analyze the law related to contributory copyright infringement facilitated by stream ripping software, and the implications it has on the global music industry. The paper attempts to achieve the aforementioned objective by comparing the legislative framework in the United States under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, 1998 (DMCA) and the Indian legal framework under the Indian Copyright Act, 1957 and the Information and Technology Act of 2000. The inference drawn is that the liability for contributory copyright infringement depends on the precise mechanism o f how the stream ripping technology involved works. If software rips and downloads copyrighted content itself, it shall be directly liable for copyright infringement. Mere facilitation of stream ripping will entail secondary liability for contributory infringement. The law related to contributory copyright infringement has significant implications for the music industry, as music is primarily consumed digitally and stringent regulatory measures would ensure that artists are fairly paid. It also has implications for the tech industry, as restrictive laws will hamper technological developments. Courts have not addressed the issue of contributory copyright infringement when it comes to online tools that facilitate the same, and this paper tries to elucidate this overlooked area.