Yahoo, Sony Settle Over Launch

Yahoo settled with Sony Music Entertainment as part of a lawsuit filed by the record industry against the Web portal’s online music subsidiary, Launch. The Recording Industry Association of America filed the suit in May 2001. The RIAA alleged that Launch violated copyright laws by giving its Web radio listeners too much control over their song choices. As a penalty, Yahoo will pay Sony an undisclosed amount for its past use, and the portal will enter into a nonexclusive license to broadcast Sony’s songs on its LaunchCast radio service. Financial terms were not disclosed.