The major record companies in the US have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Usenet.com over allegations the online service indirectly sells access to millions of unauthorised music files and "touts its service as a haven for those seeking pirated content".
Usenet.com offers anonymous access to over 100,000 newsgroups that exist on the usenet network. The record companies argue that many of those newsgroups are dedicated to promoting illegal sources of music content. Because Usenet.com offers anonymity to those who post on and access the news groups the service, which users have to pay a monthly subscription to access, provides a network through which people can illegally access content without the risk of being detected by content owners.
The record labels' lawsuit also claims that Usenet.com blatantly boast about the copyright infringement it supports by telling users its service is "the best way to get 'free' music now that file sharing websites are getting shut down".
According to Billboard, the labels say they have contacted Usenet.com on multiple occasions requesting the newsgroups dedicated to copyright infringement be removed, but that they have refused to do so. With that in mind the labels are now seeking an injunction to force Usenet.com to act, as well as unspecified damages for infringement to date.
Usenet.com is yet to comment.