German Prosecutors Won't Help RIAA Counterpart 199
NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "A German court decision ruled that the European counterpart to the RIAA cannot invoke criminal proceedings over petty file sharing incidents. The goal was to to find out from ISPs the identity of alleged file-sharing subscribers; the requests have been refused as the judge saw the the proceedings as not in the 'public interest', and little or no economic damage was shown to have been caused to the record companies. Offering a few copyright-protected music tracks via a P2P network client was 'a petty offense,' the court declared. Within days, German prosecutors have now indicated that they will no longer permit the use of 'criminal proceedings' to procure subscriber information."
If only... (Score:5, Insightful)
I sure wish... (Score:2, Insightful)
Where these cases belong... (Score:5, Insightful)
Forget American Courts (Score:1, Insightful)
This is great (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Where these cases belong... (Score:5, Insightful)
History reversed (Score:1, Insightful)
Wow (Score:5, Insightful)
Yet another country passes us on the personal freedom issue.
Re:I sure wish... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:German music sucks (Score:5, Insightful)
An old english expression (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:If only... (Score:2, Insightful)
model and accepted practice. As much as the kids that believe it
it is acceptable to download music tracks without paying for them.
Touche'.... I think we are at loggerheads.
Re:Threatening Germany (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:If only... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Deutschland Uber Alles! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:If only... (Score:3, Insightful)
That's not the way it is supposed to work. The legislators are supposed to work in the best interests of the people. If they fail (see 1 year jail time for recording a short clip of a movie for the purposes of a review), the executive is supposed to also exercise judgement to protect the interests of the people. If the executive fails to protect the interests of the people, then the courts are supposed to protect the interests of the people. That's the way the government was supposed to work, and why we have three branches protecting us. However, now it is seen that none of them are out to protect us. The legislative branches are filled with bought-out politicians, and the other branches shouldn't use good judgement. So, who is left to protect your rights?
Re:Deutschland Uber Alles! (Score:5, Insightful)
Sure, and the Pledge of Allegiance in the US is satanic because you are worshiping an idol (the flag). And yes, I've heard more than one person claim this.
Your country above your family? Your love? Your honor? It's an evil concept when taken out of its original context (1848 revolutions, when nationalism was liberal and meant freedom from the German monarchs, and progress) and applied to a modern industrial nation, as the Nazis did (when nationalism became utter hell).
I've heard that the military in the US espouses "God, country, family" in that order. Again, that puts the country above the family, love, honor and all that. Is that evil too?
WTF are you talking about? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Where these cases belong... (Score:3, Insightful)