I'm not a lawyer, but I don't see how Genius has any chance if winning this lawsuit.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is this:
1) Genius does not hold a copyright on any of these lyrics
2) Genius licenses these lyrics, and that license is not an exclusive one.
3) Google does not hold a copyright on these lyrics
4) Google licenses these lyrics, and that license is not an exclusive one.
5) "Watermarking" lyrics is not enough to get a derivative work copyright
As both parties have non-exclusive licenses and neither own the copyright, I really don't see how Genius has any chance of winning this case. As best as I can tell, it would be perfectly legal for Google to purposefully and specifically copy the lyrics from Genius.
Edit: Reading through the filing, they seem to basically be suing them for violating their website's TOS and some 'unfair practices' laws local to California and New York. I am unsure of how legally binding TOS are for websites in general, and whether or not being able to view lyrics without ever viewing the TOS effects things, etc.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is this:
1) Genius does not hold a copyright on any of these lyrics
2) Genius licenses these lyrics, and that license is not an exclusive one.
3) Google does not hold a copyright on these lyrics
4) Google licenses these lyrics, and that license is not an exclusive one.
5) "Watermarking" lyrics is not enough to get a derivative work copyright
As both parties have non-exclusive licenses and neither own the copyright, I really don't see how Genius has any chance of winning this case. As best as I can tell, it would be perfectly legal for Google to purposefully and specifically copy the lyrics from Genius.
Edit: Reading through the filing, they seem to basically be suing them for violating their website's TOS and some 'unfair practices' laws local to California and New York. I am unsure of how legally binding TOS are for websites in general, and whether or not being able to view lyrics without ever viewing the TOS effects things, etc.