Universal Says It Can’t Be Sued For Bogus Megaupload Video Takedown

Universal Music acknowledged late Thursday that it was responsible for taking down from YouTube the infamous Megaupload video in which pop stars — from Mary J. Blige to Kanye West and others — sing the praises of the notorious file-sharing service.

But the record label said there’s nothing Megaupload can do about Universal Music taking down the video, even if Universal doesn’t own the rights to it.

Megaupload sued Universal Music on Monday, saying that the record label had no right to take the video down, since the file-sharing service had signed contracts from the performers, including Black Eyed Peas front man will.i.am. The suit sought an injunction and unspecified damages, saying the label had violated a provision in copyright law that forbids bogus copyright claims.

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