MPAA Sues Movie-Swappers 585
aacool writes "The MPAA has filed a first wave of lawsuits against individuals they say are offering pirated copies of films using Internet-based peer-to-peer file sharing programs." From the article: "The MPAA said it would also make available a computer program that sniffs out movie and music files on a user's computer as well as any installed file sharing programs. The MPAA said the information detected by the free program would not be shared with it or any other body, but could be used to remove any 'infringing movies or music files' and remove file sharing programs."
We need a lab rat! (Score:2, Interesting)
That's not a bad idea (Score:3, Interesting)
Nice... (Score:5, Interesting)
So this program, presumably similar to what they use to find movies and music, is actually available to everyone? So, for example, I can "check" "my" drive for any "illegal" music or movies? I've ripped most of my CDs onto my hard-drive. Of course the MPAA doesn't know if I own those CDs (they would have to prove I do not), but I will gladly direct them to the boxes downstairs where I keep all the jewel cases (for the record, since file-sharing, my music purchasing has gone from 1-2 CDs per month to 3-4 CDs per week).
Other people might use the program as "insurance" to make sure they are safe from any one tracking them.
As I don't have anything to hide, I would not mind using that program. Rest assured I would do my best to make sure information isn't being sent somewhere (custom host file? firewall? who knows).
So, my guess is I am the anomaly and would actually not mind downloading that software and trying it out.
Bittorrent block? (Score:2, Interesting)
yay, more freedom (Score:2, Interesting)
Free as in [freedom|beer] now:
freedom as in slavery!
something isn't right here.... (Score:1, Interesting)
would these be the same ads where low-paid lighting technicians and extras complain about piracy because they are losing money(ie. the same ads salaried workers are paid extra to claim their payment from a film has anything to do with the profit of the film itself)? or would these be the same ads where the movie industry parades around its underpaid workers while "forgetting" to mention that, even if [imdb.com] a [imdb.com] movie [imdb.com] is [imdb.com] horrible [imdb.com] the "stars" will still get millions?
Target users of the program.. (Score:5, Interesting)
There have already been well publicised cases of families having to settle with the RIAA because of a child's filesharing activities.
I expect this will be promoted by the MPAA as a way for parents to ensure that their children don't get the family in trouble.
Re:Nice... (Score:5, Interesting)
well maybe this program has an intelligent way of finding out if those files are in a 'p2p-shared' directory or not. (my guess is probably not though)
Re:A weakness in their system? (Score:1, Interesting)
Hmmm (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm rather interested to see about this. I only use BitTorrent right now; are they tracking bittorrent users as well?
I wouldn't be surprised if they were (BitTorrent is inherently public after all), but I'm wondering what they will do about Japanese anime type of stuff (Since that's the only thing I download these days).
Re:Not a trojan or worm... (Score:2, Interesting)
That's the problem with many of the young people of these days - the parents don't care enough.
Re:They can have my BitTorrent (Score:2, Interesting)
and to tell the truth, most P2P apps are for piracy.. kazaa's only purpose is piracy.. no one will use it for real legal file sharing.. that is what BitTorrent is for.. the first truly usefull p2p app that has more uses than just piracy
Which makes me think.. can they even go after pirates on BT? I mean sure they can see whos downloading/uploading a file, but they cant see if that person has other movies, or if hes uploading movies just because or if hes just downloading the movie for personal use.. sure its still piracy but the RIAA doesnt go after someone sharing 1 song or downloading 1 song, they went after people who had gigs upon gigs being shared 24x7.. something that, while possible in BT, cant be confirmed.
Re:Too funny! (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:What does this have to do with our rights onlin (Score:3, Interesting)
Plus it's the MPA*A* - America only. I hope the MPAA does go through with this hackneyed plan so that they delete the private, legal files of some poor Brazillian who, in turn, sues the MPAA and the American government for allowing such a travesty.
Re:yeah, right (Score:5, Interesting)
If they sued me, I'd find ten lawyers who'd work for the "we'll get paid after the case" idea. Then the CPCC (our equivalent) would have to pay my lawyers.
It doesn't really matter. We pay a fee on all blank media, and in exchange, we can freely download music, software, and movies - legally.
Completely anonymous P2P? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:A weakness in their system? (Score:5, Interesting)
No. Renaming probably doesn't help. This software almost certainly searched for files by hash. In fact, some file trading services such as e-donkey actually search for the files by Hash. You can find the Hash from FINDHASH.ORG [findhash.org] making it easier to find the movies you want. Not only does this allow you to find the same file which has been renamed several times over by other users, but it also allows you to be sure that the file you are downloading is in fact the file it claims to be.
All the while, sites like FindHash.Org are perfectly legal as they do not contain the files in question, but rather only hashes by which they can be identified.
Re:yeah, right (Score:2, Interesting)
I hope this goes the way the CRIA (RIAA Canadian Equiv.) suits went in Canada, the ISPs all refuse to give up the information, they are taken to court, and the courts rule in the ISPs favor. I hope htat sent a precident when the MPAA of Canada starts suing.
But, only time can tell. If they courts rule for them then I might have to stop my movie/music downloading.
Re:Three words... (Score:1, Interesting)
Too high a price (Score:5, Interesting)
Helping movie studios and record companies continue to exist in spite of technology that makes it trivial to violate their copyrights does not come free. At some point the cost of these forms of entertainment is too much. How many FBI agents will we need to enforce the technology restrictions the entertainment industry wants to impose? How many more lawyers will we have to support? How much personal freedom will we give up so Hollywood can exist?
At some point you have to cut your losses. I wouldn't go to movies or buy CDs if they were $50 a pop, and I would personally rather live without them entirely than give the people who run studios and record companies all the powers they want, or pay the monetary cost of keeping the system going.
This article may not be distributed (Score:4, Interesting)
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
And just below that:
PRINT THIS ARTICLE -- EMAIL THIS ARTICLE
I mean, stupid unenforceable copyright notices are one thing (especially when it relates to an article that is about illegal distribution of copyrighted material) but then they actually include a link to email it on, encouraging people to break their own rules?
What the hell was going through the minds of the designers of msnbc's website they built that sort of functionality?
Re:Completely anonymous P2P? (Score:3, Interesting)
I have said it before and I will say it again. If Freenet would add an option to 'host' (share) files without locally even while losing a significant ammount of anonymity(the routing still hides you, but not to the extent of a suppresed chinese christian would want) things would go SO much easier.
I have a gig+ of software I want to share... Plus things like isos and would-be bittorrents. If I could seed/host those on freenet, instead of having to 'insert' them(the downloading would distribute them akin to insertion anyway, just not initially) that would make kazaa-style use more more doable.
This way, I can gauratee availability of a file, while freenet drops files after certain ammount of unuse.
Re:Three words... (Score:3, Interesting)
In which case I will encrypt all of my data to a proxy server off shore. That way there's no way in hell my ISP will be able to look at what I am doing, and any file sharing program I use will show me downloading form outside the US.
I really don't see this effecting me, because I can get around it, long enough for the public to wake up, and realize they are getting raped in the ass by big brother and it's buddy, Corporations.
Re:Sure, so long as (Score:5, Interesting)
Here's an example. Imagine if Sony put out a CD you wanted and sold it to WalMart for $10. Then WalMart would price it at $12 for the consumer. If you were going to buy the CD but instead pirated it, then there is a loss. Sony loses a theoretical $10 and WalMart loses a theoretical $2.
Now consider if you steal it instead of download it. Now, WalMart has lost an item they paid for. They have a theoretical loss of $2 plus an actual loss of $10. Needing to buy more, they purchase another copy from Sony. Now, it's just like Sony made a sale. Sony loses nothing from this.
It's actually better for the RIAA if you go to a store and steal a CD.
Re:Hmmm (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Completely anonymous P2P? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Sure, so long as (Score:1, Interesting)
No, that isn't what it said at all. If you got down off your soapbox and looked at the facts, you would note that the people they are going after are those who share movies. The situation isn't too different from bootleg DVDs, The guy who is distributing them is going to be in a whole hell of a lot more trouble then the person buying them. If you download a copyrighted file then that is only one copy pirated. If you share a copyrighted file, you could easly help thousands of other people pirate copies.
Re:Not even (Score:2, Interesting)
-kaplanfx
If you truly want to protest... (Score:1, Interesting)
Here is an idea. When the tool is released...download it....and download it again...and again...and again..and again..and again. Delete it and repeat.
You aren't attacking their network...you are downloading their product...you just can't seem to keep a copy handy and therefore must download again...one copy for all your computers in the racks. Someone has to pay for the bandwidth.
You give me 10,000 users willing to download for a week non stop and I'll show you a miserably failing campaign that cost the MPAA more money than their pride will ever admit to.
If the MPAA wants us to pay...make them pay 10x more....bleed them dry.
Also call their 800 number and sit on hold..they will pay for every minute you are connected to them...everyone call...everyone hold..hang up and call back. IF they truly want to play hardball..and you guys are truly ready to take them to task...then it's time. No postering...no complaining...just do it.
Re:Three words... (Score:3, Interesting)
The beautiful thing is the industry is also raping the public domain.. 75 years ago. Go lord, you watched something that even those with survived WWI watched in their childhood?
The real absurdity of the time limit becomes apparent when you realize that, seventy-five years ago, we were just entering the sound-era in film and Hollywood, as we know it (the bloated, industry that wants these laws the most), didn't even exist.
Even more absurd, the average lifespan of a U.S. male is 77.43 for males (80.36 for females) [cia.gov]. Meaning, if you're male, you'll probably never be able to experience any of your favorite movies, books, or music--pieces of our common culture and heritage--without paying for it. And if you're female, you're not much better off because you're only LIKELY to see copyrighted material from before your sixth birthday go public domain.
-Grym
Re:Except... (Score:2, Interesting)