Los Angeles, June 05: EMI Group Plc on Wednesday became the second big record label to join a $17 billion legal fight brought by music publishers against Bertelsmann AG for allegedly perpetuating online piracy by funding the Napster music-swapping service. The EMI lawsuit follows a similar suit filed last month by Vivendi Universal's Universal Music Group.
Both companies are joining the legal salvo initiated in February by music publishers, which included rhythm & blues pioneers Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller.
All three suits accuse Bertelsmann of perpetuating Napster's success by investing more than $100 million in the service.
A spokeswoman for Bertelsmann had no immediate comment.
Bureau Report