Thanks for the link Sean. I read both letters.

My conclusion: They're BOTH weasels.

I would liken Michael Robertson to a Bill Gates wannabee, in terms of sheer cunning. In the same way that Billy sought to mask his desire to politely obliterate Netscape, by inextricably making Internet Explorer part of the operating system, he could brazenly claim he was, innovating. The same level of deviousness is at work here with Michael Roberston. By having users upload THEIR music, he is claiming that he is merely hosting a virtual CD player of music, sent by people who want to hear their favourite tunes. BUT........the music IS being sent to a world-wide access data base for retrieval, listening (and perhaps downloading) by OTHERS, who are NOT listening to THEIR music. This would most definitely constitute a performance royalty payment of some sort. Robertson is profiting at the expense of the gullible general public.

On the other hand, Hillary Rosen has all the subtlety of a carnival barker......and is just another person in the long food chain with her hand out. She negotiates more like an agent, then a CEO of a big organization.

If you were the judge, who would you side with?

(Should make a very good trial.)