Regardless of your thoughts on the band, only Radiohead could release an album in 2007 and still have it making headlines today. As is the case for the group’s groundbreaking “pay what you like” (that meant nothing in some cases) album In Rainbows, which, according to NME, is in the center of a surge by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) to get the album removed from various blogs.
The RIAA and IFPI have issued warnings to Google to warn, disable sites, or suspend the accounts of those blogs offering the album up for free, which adds up to quite a few sites. According to the official complaint (via ChillingEffects.org), many of the sites in this particular action are hosting other non-Radiohead albums and material, including releases from AFI, 50 Cent, and Paul McCartney. While the other artists have a valid case, the Radiohead situation is less cut and dry. The RIAA’s reasoning for suspension is based solely on the claim that these sites haven’t been authorized free downloads by their “member companies”. Without all the legal-ese, that means that various labels, management companies, and copyright holders never gave their OK for the album’s continued release via online outlets, despite the album being free for several weeks after its initial release.
As always, stay tuned for more news on the case as it’s released, including any comments from the band.
