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Ed Christian's Saga Communications is not rolling over and writing a check in the copyright lawsuit filed by Arbitron back in May. Many lawsuits like these often fade away after both sides agree to a financial settlement and Arbitron sends out a press release, without any detail, about the settlement. And that still may happen here. Arbitron accuses Saga of using its data illegally in Milwaukee. Court documents filed yesterday reveal that Saga attorney's are ready to roll up their sleeves and fight back. They've asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, stating Arbitron uses these lawsuits "to intimidate and harass radio stations that have the temerity to cancel their subscriptions to Arbitron reports." The documents also state that Arbitron has no copyright protection and accuses the ratings company of being a monopoly.
From the Saga court filing: "On information and belief, Plaintiff has long known, or should have known, that it has no copyright protection for facts, information, data or numerical rankings and that it has no right to prohibit a radio station from using that information or from possessing a copy of its reports. Nevertheless, in an improper and illegitimate effort to maintain its near-monopoly on radio ratings, and to maintain the exorbitant prices it charges for its reports, Plaintiff embarked on a campaign to intimidate and harass radio stations that have the temerity to cancel their subscriptions to Arbitron reports.
"This campaign includes threats of legal action against former subscribers who are given excerpts from Arbitron reports by ad agencies, competitors or other entities that have access to such excerpts or to the facts, information, data, or numerical rankings in them. The campaign includes claims that the former subscriber has no right to be in possession of such excerpts, no right to take note of the station?s rankings in the local radio market, and no right to discuss the rankings internally. In furtherance of this campaign, Arbitron threatens to commence expensive litigation in federal court against the former subscriber unless the radio station agrees to renew its very expensive subscription to Arbitron?s reports, a subscription the station does not need and does not want. If the radio station does not accede to Arbitron?s demands, Arbitron files a suit for copyright infringement in federal court. This lawsuit is but one example of such suits."
(8/10/2013 3:13:48 PM)
Hey, I wonder if it would be okay for me to record or rebroadcast their stations without paying them for the rights. I mean, they're putting it out over the free airwaves and everything.
Just askin'.
Meanwhile, as all this righteous indignation is presented, the question becomes one of: Is Arbitron really any different from the other mega-glut broadcasting corporations? I mean - really!?
Short answer: No! Corporate radio is doing everything it can to deliver the least quality broadcasting services to audiences and advertisers and striving to get the most out of an ever-dwindling (read: chopped) workforce for the least it can pay.
The differences....? None. "Fiduciary responsibilities"? Nice try. The term has become synonymous with lying, cheating, stealing and exploitation through intimidation.
Arbitron is in good company.
Sick 'em, Ed!
Giff
(8/9/2013 4:27:33 PM)
Ed is displaying the type of leadership that one would expect from one of the radio industry's best run companies!
The behavior out of Columbia is getting more and more punitive towards the unwashed non subscribers. Gone are the days of pretending to be looking out for "the future of radio". Their recent declaration on how total line reporting will be reported in the future is a bald faced attempt to intimidate non subscribers by blatantly manipulating the data .
It's time to fight back.
(8/9/2013 12:43:10 PM)
Hey RADIO INK. What makes all the4se comments INAPPROPRIATE???
Exercise in Futility.
WHY take COMMENTS?
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