The Supreme Court rules against file sharing piracy

The US Supreme Court ruled unanimously against peer-to-peer software creators who push their networks as a means to distribute copyrighted material.
“We hold that one who distributes a device with the object of promoting its use to infringe copyright, as shown by clear expression or other affirmative steps taken to foster infringement, is liable for the resulting acts of infringement,” wrote Justice David Souter in the majority opinion.
The decision should not affect software, such as BitTorrent, which never promoted the use of their services to spread copyrighted content. The Monday ruling will give the movie studios and all recording companies much needed strength to battle file-swapping companies and even individual file-traders. It might also give advantage to legal music services such as Apple Computer’s iTunes music store which could see an increase of new customers who were otherwise forced to stop downloading for free.
“The most important message from today’s historic decision is that progress and innovation do not have to come at the expense of recording artists, songwriters and the people who make their living in the entertainment industry,” Warner Music Group CEO Edgar Bronfman said in a statement. “This important decision will allow artists and the creative community to prosper side by side with the technology industry.”