Aimster sued by music industry

The music industry has launched a lawsuit on file-swapping service Aimster, software which allows users to share files through instant messages.


Aimster allows unlimited file-sharing

Record labels including EMI, Sony Music, BMG and Universal Music are suing the service, which has also launched it's own suit against the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) after it received a "cease and desist" notice.

Matt Oppenheim,Senior vice president of business legal affairs for RIAA, said: "Aimster is just like Napster. The big difference between the two is that Aimster also allows you to get movies, software and pictures.

We wanted to sit down with Aimster and try to come up with a resolution of this matter without litigation.

"The courts have already made clear that this kind of service will not be tolerated.

"The fact that Aimster cancelled meetings with us and then filed a lawsuit was very disappointing."

The Motion Picture Association of America may also join in with the lawsuit. A spokesman said: "We are aware of Aimster and we're looking at all available options."

Johnny Deep, Aimster CEO, said of the service: "It's like the post office. They frown on people spamming strangers with junk mail, but they cannot do anything to prevent it."