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Bertelsmann Unit To Fork Over $3M In Patent Settlement

By Samantha Chang
Publication: Billboard Law Newsletter
Date: Monday, March 1 2004
NEW YORK--CDnow has agreed to pay $3.3 million to settle a patent infringement suit brought by SightSound Technologies.

CDnow conceded the validity of SightSound's patents covering the commercial downloading of music on the Internet.

CDnow, a subsidiary of German media giant Bertelsmann, did not concede any wrongdoing from their prior activities in the music download business, but agreed not to further contest the Lebanon, Pa.-based SightSound's patents.

The settlement was entered Feb. 20 by Judge Donetta W. Ambrose of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

SightSound originally sued the now-defunct N2K in 1998, when N2K, which has since been absorbed by CDNow, began selling paid downloads through an agreement with Liquid Audio.

In addition, make sure to read these articles:

  • Legal costs of patent lawsuits take their toll...
    • Napster Inc. may be on the straight and narrow now, but legal costs are taking a bite out of the online music service's bottom line....
  • Bertelsmann Units Pay $3M To Settle Patent Suit
    • CDnow and N2K have agreed to pay $3.3 million to settle a patent infringement suit brought by SightSound Technologies. The decision sets a legal precedent ......
  • Judge Says SightSound's Patents Cover Internet
    • A federal magistrate judge has upheld key claims of a pending patent infringement lawsuit filed by SightSound Technologies against CDNow, a subsidiary of Bertelsmann A.G....
  • Trial Date Scheduled for SightSound Technologies.
    • Entertainment Editors/Legal Writers/High-Tech Writers MOUNT LEBANON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 2003 The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania issued an Order of ......
  • Court Rules in Favor of SightSound Technologies.
    • Entertainment Editors/Business Editors MOUNT LEBANON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 2003 SightSound Technologies announced today that it has received a favorable ruling from the Federal Court in ......
  • Napster Downloads Threatened
    • Napster would be forced to cease its downloading business if SightSound Technologies has its way.
  • Hair Tops Tech At Dis Studios
    • Arthur Hair has been named chief technology officer and senior vp at the Walt Disney Studios. He will be responsible for the studio's technology strategies, ......
  • SightSound wins first step in patent case.
    • EUROPEMEDIA-(C)2002 Van Dusseldorp & Partners - http://www.vandusseldorp.com/ SightSound Technologies, a US digital media company, has won significant ruling on patenting rights that could give it ......
  • In The News
    • • U.K. Telecommunications firm BT Group has launched a subscription-based music-download service with content from four of the majors and "hundreds" of indie labels. "Dotmusic ......
  • To Be: Sightsound Debuts Downloadable Evd Format
    • A new format for downloading movies over the Internet was set to debut today, with SightSound Technologies unveiling its Electronic Versatile Download, or EVD, of ......
  • SightSound Technologies Downloads and Sells Movie...
    • Business & Entertainment Editors & High Tech Writers MOUNT LEBANON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2001 SightSound Technologies announced today that they are offering the first movie ......
  • SightSound Technologies Hosts State...
    • Entertainment & High-Tech Editors MT. LEBANON, Pa.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 30, 2001 SightSound Technologies will play host to a visit from Pennsylvania House of Representatives Appropriations Chairman ......
  • SIGHTSOUND TECHNOLOGIES.
    • Park City -- Miramax Films and SIGHTSOUND TECHNOLOGIES announced the Internet release of "Guinevere," the first Miramax title to be distributed ever the Internet through ......
  • Sightsound Lays Off Staff
    • SightSound Technologies, an Internet movie distributor that sells and rents downloads of movies, television shows and a limited amount of music, has laid off almost ......
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