Sony BMG v. Tenenbaum
Updated: 11/10/2025, 6:53:17 PM Wikipedia source
In the 2003 case of Sony BMG Music Entertainment et al. v. Tenenbaum, record label Sony BMG, along with Warner Bros. Records, Atlantic Records, Arista Records, and UMG Recordings, accused Joel Tenenbaum of illegally downloading and sharing files in violation of U.S. copyright law. It was only the second file-sharing case (after Capitol v. Thomas) to go to verdict in the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) anti-downloading litigation campaign. (The vast majority of cases having been settled out of court.) After the judge entered a finding of liability, a jury assessed damages of $675,000, which the judge reduced to $67,500 on constitutional grounds, rather than through remittitur. After both parties appealed, the First Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the original damage award of $675,000 and remanded the case to the District Court, ruling that the judge should have avoided the constitutional issue by first considering remittitur. The Supreme Court refused to hear Tenenbaum's appeal arguing against the remand. A new District Court judge then found no cause for remittitur, and held that the statutory damage award was constitutional. Tenenbaum again appealed to the First Circuit, which in June 2013 upheld the award.
Infobox
Court
First Circuit Court of Appeals
Full case name
Sony BMG Music Entertainment et al. v. Tenenbaum
Tables
· Songs at issue and implications
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Copyright Owner
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Artist
Incubus
Recording Title
New Skin
Album title
Science
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Copyright Owner
Warner Bros. Records
Artist
Green Day
Recording Title
Minority
Album title
Warning
Arista Records
Arista Records
Copyright Owner
Arista Records
Artist
Outkast
Recording Title
Wheelz of Steel
Album title
Atliens
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Copyright Owner
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Artist
Incubus
Recording Title
Pardon Me
Album title
Make Yourself
UMG Recordings
UMG Recordings
Copyright Owner
UMG Recordings
Artist
Nirvana
Recording Title
Come As You Are
Album title
Nevermind
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Copyright Owner
Warner Bros. Records
Artist
Green Day
Recording Title
When I Come Around
Album title
Dookie
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Copyright Owner
Warner Bros. Records
Artist
Green Day
Recording Title
Nice Guys Finish Last
Album title
Nimrod
UMG Recordings
UMG Recordings
Copyright Owner
UMG Recordings
Artist
Nirvana
Recording Title
Heart Shaped Box
Album title
In Utero
UMG Recordings
UMG Recordings
Copyright Owner
UMG Recordings
Artist
Nine Inch Nails
Recording Title
The Perfect Drug
Album title
The Perfect Drug (EP)
UMG Recordings
UMG Recordings
Copyright Owner
UMG Recordings
Artist
Blink-182
Recording Title
Adam's Song
Album title
Enema of the State
UMG Recordings
UMG Recordings
Copyright Owner
UMG Recordings
Artist
Limp Bizkit
Recording Title
Rearranged
Album title
Significant Other
UMG Recordings
UMG Recordings
Copyright Owner
UMG Recordings
Artist
Limp Bizkit
Recording Title
Leech
Album title
Three Dollar Bill, Y'all$
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Copyright Owner
Warner Bros. Records
Artist
Linkin Park
Recording Title
Crawling
Album title
Hybrid Theory
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Copyright Owner
Warner Bros. Records
Artist
Deftones
Recording Title
Be Quiet and Drive
Album title
Around the Fur
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Copyright Owner
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Artist
The Fugees
Recording Title
Killing Me Softly
Album title
The Score
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Copyright Owner
Warner Bros. Records
Artist
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Recording Title
Californication
Album title
Californication
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Copyright Owner
Warner Bros. Records
Artist
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Recording Title
By the Way
Album title
By the Way
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Copyright Owner
Warner Bros. Records
Artist
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Recording Title
My Friends
Album title
One Hot Minute
UMG Recordings
UMG Recordings
Copyright Owner
UMG Recordings
Artist
Beck
Recording Title
Loser
Album title
Mellow Gold
Virgin Records America
Virgin Records America
Copyright Owner
Virgin Records America
Artist
Smashing Pumpkins
Recording Title
Bullet with Butterfly Wings
Album title
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Copyright Owner
Interscope Records
Artist
Eminem
Recording Title
My Name Is
Album title
The Slim Shady
Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Copyright Owner
Interscope Records
Artist
Eminem
Recording Title
Drug Ballad
Album title
The Marshall Mathers (EP)
Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Copyright Owner
Interscope Records
Artist
Eminem
Recording Title
Cleaning Out My Closet
Album title
Eminem Show
UMG Recordings
UMG Recordings
Copyright Owner
UMG Recordings
Artist
Beastie Boys
Recording Title
(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)
Album title
Licensed to Ill
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Copyright Owner
Warner Bros. Records
Artist
The Ramones
Recording Title
The KKK Took My Baby Away
Album title
Pleasant Dreams
UMG Recordings
UMG Recordings
Copyright Owner
UMG Recordings
Artist
Monster Magnet
Recording Title
Look To Your Orb for the Warning
Album title
Dopes to Infinity
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Copyright Owner
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Artist
Aerosmith
Recording Title
Pink
Album title
Nine Lives
Arista Records
Arista Records
Copyright Owner
Arista Records
Artist
Outkast
Recording Title
Rosa Parks
Album title
Aquemini
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Copyright Owner
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Artist
Rage Against the Machine
Recording Title
Guerrilla Radio
Album title
The Battle of Los Angeles
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Copyright Owner
Warner Bros. Records
Artist
Goo Goo Dolls
Recording Title
Iris
Album title
Dizzy Up the Girl
UMG Recordings
UMG Recordings
Copyright Owner
UMG Recordings
Artist
Aerosmith
Recording Title
Water Song/Janie's Got a Gun
Album title
Pump
| Copyright Owner | Artist | Recording Title | Album title |
| Sony BMG Music Entertainment | Incubus | New Skin | Science |
| Warner Bros. Records | Green Day | Minority | Warning |
| Arista Records | Outkast | Wheelz of Steel | Atliens |
| Sony BMG Music Entertainment | Incubus | Pardon Me | Make Yourself |
| UMG Recordings | Nirvana | Come As You Are | Nevermind |
| Warner Bros. Records | Green Day | When I Come Around | Dookie |
| Warner Bros. Records | Green Day | Nice Guys Finish Last | Nimrod |
| UMG Recordings | Nirvana | Heart Shaped Box | In Utero |
| UMG Recordings | Nine Inch Nails | The Perfect Drug | The Perfect Drug (EP) |
| UMG Recordings | Blink-182 | Adam's Song | Enema of the State |
| UMG Recordings | Limp Bizkit | Rearranged | Significant Other |
| UMG Recordings | Limp Bizkit | Leech | Three Dollar Bill, Y'all$ |
| Warner Bros. Records | Linkin Park | Crawling | Hybrid Theory |
| Warner Bros. Records | Deftones | Be Quiet and Drive | Around the Fur |
| Sony BMG Music Entertainment | The Fugees | Killing Me Softly | The Score |
| Warner Bros. Records | Red Hot Chili Peppers | Californication | Californication |
| Warner Bros. Records | Red Hot Chili Peppers | By the Way | By the Way |
| Warner Bros. Records | Red Hot Chili Peppers | My Friends | One Hot Minute |
| UMG Recordings | Beck | Loser | Mellow Gold |
| Virgin Records America | Smashing Pumpkins | Bullet with Butterfly Wings | Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness |
| Interscope Records | Eminem | My Name Is | The Slim Shady |
| Interscope Records | Eminem | Drug Ballad | The Marshall Mathers (EP) |
| Interscope Records | Eminem | Cleaning Out My Closet | Eminem Show |
| UMG Recordings | Beastie Boys | (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party) | Licensed to Ill |
| Warner Bros. Records | The Ramones | The KKK Took My Baby Away | Pleasant Dreams |
| UMG Recordings | Monster Magnet | Look To Your Orb for the Warning | Dopes to Infinity |
| Sony BMG Music Entertainment | Aerosmith | Pink | Nine Lives |
| Arista Records | Outkast | Rosa Parks | Aquemini |
| Sony BMG Music Entertainment | Rage Against the Machine | Guerrilla Radio | The Battle of Los Angeles |
| Warner Bros. Records | Goo Goo Dolls | Iris | Dizzy Up the Girl |
| UMG Recordings | Aerosmith | Water Song/Janie's Got a Gun | Pump |
References
- Harvard Journal of Law and Technology: Stephanie Weiner, "Sony BMG Music Entertainment v. Tenenbaum," August 12, 2009 Arhttp://jolt.law.harvard.edu/digest/copyright/sony-bmg-music-entertainment-v-tenenbaum
- "Music downloading damages against BU student Joel Tenenbaum left intact by US Supreme Court - Boston.com"https://web.archive.org/web/20121010200134/http://www.boston.com/businessupdates/2012/05/21/music-downloading-damages-against-student-joel-tenenbaum-left-intact-supreme-court/QinlYIwd2UdAKOIhaNGPvL/story.html
- "Archived copy"https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204302/http://www.btlj.org/data/articles/25_1/0311-0346%20Moseley_Web.pdf
- joelfightsback.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20090803050538/http://joelfightsback.com/
- Computerworldhttp://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136350/Q_A_Tenenbaum_says_he_faces_bankruptcy_after_675K_piracy_verdict
- PCWorldhttps://www.pcworld.com/article/155861/riaa_changes_its_tune_but_lawsuits_continue.html
- sichttps://web.archive.org/web/20120522123800/http://beckermanlegal.com/pdf/?file=%2FLawyer_Copyright_Internet_Law%2Flondonsire_does_080617TranscriptConference.pdf
- "Memorandum and Order, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, et al., v. Joel Tenenbaum"https://web.archive.org/web/20120522092825/http://beckermanlegal.com/pdf/?file=%2FLawyer_Copyright_Internet_Law%2Fsony_tenenbaum_091207DecisionSumJudg.pdf
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2009/jul/27/filesharing-music-industry
- "Professor CVs"http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/nesson_more.html
- "Sony BMG Music Entertainment v. Tenenbaum"https://web.archive.org/web/20120429145904/http://jolt.law.harvard.edu/digest/copyright/sony-bmg-music-entertainment-v-tenenbaum
- sichttps://web.archive.org/web/20110819015316/http://joelfightsback.com/wp-content/uploads/transcript201.pdf
- "Case 1:03-cv-11661-NG Document 909: Jury Instructions"https://www.scribd.com/doc/18056906/Final-jury-insturctions-in-Sony-v-Joel-Tenenbaum
- New York Daily Newshttp://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/07/31/2009-07-31_court_orders_boston_university_student_joel_tenenbaum_to_pay_675g_for_illegally_.html
- "Boston judge cuts penalty in song-sharing case"http://boston.cbslocal.com/2010/07/09/boston-judge-cuts-penalty-in-song-sharing-case-4
- "Memorandum & Order Re: Defendant's Motion for New Trial or Remittitur"https://www.scribd.com/doc/34122318/Sony-v-Tenenbaum-Damages-Ruling
- "Labels file notice of appeal in Tenenbaum case"https://copyrightsandcampaigns.blogspot.com/2010/07/labels-file-notice-of-appeal-in.html
- Intellectual Property Briefhttp://www.ipbrief.net/2011/04/08/sony-v-tenenbaum-saga-file-sharing-case-makes-its-way-to-first-circuit/
- Sony BMG v. Tenenbaumhttp://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/pdf.opinions/10-1883P-01A.pdf
- Boston Globehttp://archive.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/09/20/federal_appeals_court_reinstates_675k_fine_against_student_convicted_of_downloading_music/
- Harvard Law School: "http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/2011/02/4_practice.html", accessed May 4, 2011http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/2011/02/4_practice.html
- "Petition for Rehearing en banc of the Defendant, Apellee/Cross-Apellant"http://beckermanlegal.com/Lawyer_Copyright_Internet_Law/sony_tenenbaum_111102MotRehearingInBanc.pdf
- "Practitioner Insights"http://newsandinsight.thomsonreuters.com/Legal/News/2011/11_-_November/Appeals_court_rejects_request_by_serial_downloader/
- "Court won't reduce student's music download fine"https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hhj3MqcZarmbxeUUIJ06m1AkKIrg
- "Supreme Court Turns Down File-Sharing Appeal Challenging Remittitur Procedure"http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/supreme_court_turns_down_file_sharing_appeal_challenging_remittitur_procedu/
- "Defendant's Opening Brief on Remand"http://beckermanlegal.com/Lawyer_Copyright_Internet_Law/sony_tenenbaum_120103DefendantsBrief.pdf
- "Intervenor United States' Memorandum on Remand"http://beckermanlegal.com/Lawyer_Copyright_Internet_Law/sony_tenenbaum_120127DOJMemo.pdf
- "Plaintiffs' Memorandum of Points and Authorities"http://beckermanlegal.com/Lawyer_Copyright_Internet_Law/sony_tenenbaum_120127RIAAMemo.pdf
- "Defendant's Reply Brief to Intervenor United States' Memorandum on Remand"http://beckermanlegal.com/Lawyer_Copyright_Internet_Law/sony_tenenbaum_120206DeftsReplyMemoGovt.pdf
- "Defendant's Reply Brief to Plaintiffs' Memorandum of Points and Authorities"http://beckermanlegal.com/Lawyer_Copyright_Internet_Law/sony_tenenbaum_120206DeftsReplyMemoPltffs.pdf
- "Defendant's Response to Plaintiff's Motion to Strike, or in the Alternative, to Disregard Defendant's Reply Briefs"http://beckermanlegal.com/Lawyer_Copyright_Internet_Law/sony_tenenbaum_120216.pdf
- "Plaintiffs' motion to strike, or in the alternative, disregard defendant's reply briefs"http://beckermanlegal.com/Lawyer_Copyright_Internet_Law/sony_tenenbaum_120213PltffsMotStrikeDeftsReplyBriefs.pdf
- "Further submission of the defendant"http://beckermanlegal.com/Lawyer_Copyright_Internet_Law/sony_tenenbaum_120605RequestForNewTrial.pdf
- "Plaintiff's motion to strike defendant's amended further submission"http://beckermanlegal.com/Lawyer_Copyright_Internet_Law/sony_tenenbaum_120706PltffsMotStrikeDeftsSubmission.pdf
- "Sony BMG Music Entertainment, et al. v. Joel Tenenbaum - Order"http://beckermanlegal.com/Lawyer_Copyright_Internet_Law/sony_tenenbaum_120823Decision.pdf
- 1999 Congressional Record, Vol. 145, Page H6798 (August 2, 1999)https://www.govinfo.gov/link/crec/145/H/6798
- "Copyright Damages Improvement Act of 1999 - Report [to accompany H.R. 1761]"https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-106hrpt216/pdf/CRPT-106hrpt216.pdf
- "Defendant's Notice of Appeal"http://beckermanlegal.com/Lawyer_Copyright_Internet_Law/sony_tenenbaum_120917NoticeOfAppeal.pdf
- Huffington Posthttps://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/25/joel-tenenbaum-music-fine-downloading_n_3500076.html
- Sony BMG v. Tenenbaum, no. 12-2146, (1st Cir June 25, 2013)http://media.ca1.uscourts.gov/pdf.opinions/12-2146P-01A.pdf
- Joel N. Tenenbaum, Case 15-14315, District of Massachusettshttps://archive.org/details/gov.uscourts.mab.462544
- "Plaintiffs Supplemental Disclosure Statement 10.28.08"https://www.scribd.com/doc/17299117/Plaintiffs-Supplemental-Disclosure-Statement-102808