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Recording Industry Association of America v. Diamond Multimedia Systems Inc.

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

180 F.3d 1072 (1999)

Facts

Diamond Multimedia Systems Inc. (defendant) manufactured and distributed a portable handheld music player called the Rio that was accompanied by separate computer software called Rio Manager. Once a digital audio file had been downloaded onto a computer hard drive from the internet or some other source, Rio Manager enabled a user to download that file to the Rio itself for portable listening. The Rio’s sole output was the audio signal sent to the user via headphones. The Rio was otherwise incapable of making copies of any of the digital audio files it stored or transferring such files to any other device. The Recording Industry Association of America (plaintiff) brought suit to enjoin the manufacture and distribution of the Rio, alleging that the Rio did not meet the requirements for digital-audio recording devices under the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (O’Scannlain, J.)

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