MPAA Begins to HuntCox customers get warnings ( old news - 09:14AM Thursday Jul 11 2002) tags: legal · Fileswapping In accordance with the Film and Music Industy's new strategy of targeting individual users, it appears that Cox communications is sending out warnings to users trading files over Gnutella at the behest of the MPAA (Something Sony Music has been known to do). The warning lists which files the user has downloaded, as well as the date of the offense and the IP address of the offender. There is no indication as to whether or not Cox actually confirms the information before sending the letter. Originally spotted at the Politechbot mailing list, we reprint the letter below. Dear Customer,
We are writing on behalf of Cox Communications to advise you that we have received a notification that you are using your Cox High Speed Internet service to post or transmit material that infringes the copyrights of a complainant's members. I have enclosed a copy of the complaint letter. Pursuant to the provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA"), which is codified at 17 U.S.C. § 512, upon receiving such notification, Cox is required to "act expeditiously to remove, or disable access to" the infringing material in order to avoid liability for any alleged copyright infringement. Accordingly, Cox will suspend your account and disable your connection to the Internet within 24 hours of your receipt of this email if the offending material is not removed.
Please be aware that the DMCA also provides procedures by which a subscriber accused of copyright violation can respond to the allegations of infringement and, under certain circumstances, cause his or her account to be reinstated. To do so, however, the response must meet
certain criteria. Pursuant to section (g) of the DMCA (17 U.S.C. §512(g)), you have the right to submit to Cox a counter-notification which, to be effective, must include the following elements:
(a) a physical or electronic signature of the subscriber;
(b) identification of the material that has been removed or to whichaccess has been disabled and the location at which the material appeared before it was removed or disabled;
(c) a statement under penalty of perjury that the subscriber has a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification of the material to be removed or disabled;
(d) the subscriber's name, address, and telephone number and a statement that the subscriber consents to the jurisdiction of the Federal District Court for the judicial district in which the address is located.
In the event that you submit to Cox a counter-notification that includes these elements, Cox will forward your counter notification to the complainant and advise them that Cox will cease disabling access to the allegedly infringing material in ten (10) business days. Unless the
complainant notifies us that it has filed an action seeking a court order to restrain you from engaging in the allegedly infringing activity prior to the expiration of those ten (10) business days, Cox will reactivate your account.
Sincerely,
The Cox Abuse Team
MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC.
15503 VENTURA BOULEVARD
ENCINO, CALIFORNIA 91436
UNITED STATES
Anti-Piracy Operations
PHONE: (818) 728 - 8127
Email: MPAA@copyright.org
Monday, July 08, 2002
Name: abuse@cox.net
E-mail: abuse@cox.net
ISP: Cox Communications
Via Fax/Email
RE: Unauthorized Distribution of Copyrighted Motion Pictures
Site/URL: gnutella://xxxxx:6346/ [with IP address: xxxx]
Reference#: 517703
Date of Infringement: 7/2/2002 4:08:38 AM GMT
Dear abuse@cox.net:
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) represents the following motion picture production and distribution companies:
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Paramount Pictures Corporation
TriStar Pictures, Inc.
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
United Artists Pictures, Inc.
United Artists Corporation
Universal City Studios, Inc.
Warner Bros., a Division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
We have received information that an individual has utilized the above referenced IP address at the noted date and time to offer downloads of copyrighted motion picture(s) through a peer-to-peer service, including such title(s) as:
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone
Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back
Simpsons, The (TV)
Windtalkers
The distribution of unauthorized copies of copyrighted motion pictures constitutes copyright infringement under the Copyright Act, Title 17 United States Code Section 106(3). This conduct may also violate the laws of other countries, international law, and/or treaty obligations.
Since you own this IP address, we request that you immediately do the following:
1. Disable access to the individual who has engaged in the conduct described above, and;
2. Take appropriate action against the account holder under your Abuse Policy/Terms of Service Agreement.
On behalf of the respective owners of the exclusive rights to the copyrighted material at issue in this notice, we hereby state, pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Title 17 United States Code Section 512, that we have a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owners, their respective agents, or the law.
Also pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we hereby state, under penalty of perjury, under the laws of the State of California and under the laws of the United States, that the information in this notification is accurate and that we are authorized to act on behalf of the owners of the exclusive rights being infringed as set forth in this notification.
Please contact us at the above listed address or by replying to this email should you have any questions. Kindly include the above noted Reference # in the subject line of all email correspondence.
We thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Your prompt response is requested.
Respectfully,
Ken Jacobsen
Senior Vice President and Director
Worldwide Anti-Piracy
------=_Part_38152_15391325.1026155139639
Content-Type: text/plain; name=case517703-1-gnutella.txt
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=case517703-1-gnutella.txt
Gnutella Incident
Date: 2002-07-02 04:08:38 GMT
Host: xxxxxxxxx
Index Size Name
----- ------ ---------------------------------------------------
11 259 MB (smr)harry_potter-ts(1of2).avi
12 196 MB (smr)jay_and_silent_bob_strike_back-wp(2of2).avi
13 137 MB ctp - windtalkers - svcd to divx (1of2).avi
14 42 MB South park - 603 - Asspen(DivX).avi
15 43 MB Southpark_-_504_Super_best_friends(DivX).avi
16 52 MB Southpark_-_505_Terrance_and_Garfunkel(DivX).avi
17 53 MB South_Park_0413-Trapper_Keeper_(DivX).avi
18 94 MB The Simpsons - Crayon Brain (Divx).avi
-end-
Related:- Pirate Bay Gets Yanked Offline
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- Barry Manilow Highlights 'Three Strikes' Law Stupidity
- British Cops, Spies Oppose 'Three Strikes'
- Will 'Three Strikes' Come To The United States?
- Wi-Fi Network Shuttered By MPAA Re-Opens
- Pirate Bay Tracker Offline for Good
|
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vknight775
join:2001-12-08
Etobicoke, ON
|  No F-ing way!
My guess is the Empire threatened to sue Cox itself if they didn't take this action. What surprises me is Cox is monitoring every file you send/receive, and has given this information to the Empire. That has to violate at least one privacy law.
Looks like ISP snooping is the new front on the war against file trading. If this keeps up, my cable modem is going to be for sale on eBay. I don't need this headache. It's going to get to the point where having broadband access isn't worth the trouble.
What's next? I'm going to have my access terminated because I use an ad-blocker to keep from getting 1000 pop-ups at a time?
It's a good thing I'm no longer a Cox customer. Their service sucked anyway. This just adds more fuel to the argument.
--
"Look at the fruit on the tree." | |
|  | 
pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
 ·Comcast
| Re: No F-ing way! Cox most likely isn't monitoring every file you send/receive. What is more likely is that the MPAA has its own computers running Gnutella looking for this stuff. The MPAA would then get your IP Address when their computers found what they were looking for on yours. They could then determine your ISP based on your IP address. Recall from the article it was the MPAA that yelled at Cox, and then Cox which yelled at the customer.
Considering the volume of traffic that passes through your average ISP, its highly doubtful that they are monitoring every single packet that goes into and out of your system. | |
| | 
ninersfan
join:2001-02-09
Hayward, CA
| I have received an email from the Abuse Department of DIRECTV Broadband, Inc. about a file I had downloaded off
KaZaA. As I recall, the file I downloaded didn't even "play" and was only retained in "my shared folder" on
KaZaA until I deleted it the next day, but now I have this email:
Mr. _____,
On the 1 of July we received a formal complaint of unauthorized
distribution of copyrighted materials originating from an IP address of
64.XXX.XXX.XX. Our records show that this IP address belongs to your DSL
connection.
We are obligated to contact you and warn you that the type of alleged
activity is strictly against the terms of service that you agreed to when
signing up for service.
Under our Corporate Terms and Conditions of Use, Responsibility of
Actions: "Indirect or attempted violations of these policies by the Customer
or the Customer's User, or actual or attempted violations initiated or
undertaken by a third party on behalf of a DIRECTV Broadband Inc. customer
or that Customer's User, shall be treated by DIRECTV Broadband Inc. as if
they were direct violations of this policy document undertaken by the
Customer."
You have ten business days to respond to this warning. Should you fail to
respond, DIRECTV Broadband, Inc. may Suspend or Terminate service.
The complaining party, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, specifically
requests that
you immediately cease and desist in the distribution of copyrighted
motion pictures. In addition, please inform the Abuse Department of DIRECTV
Broadband, Inc. in writing, that the alleged activity has ceased.
Please, respond to us with the following letter:
"I have removed the offending material.
I would like to assure you that I am aware that as a DIRECTV Broadband Inc.
user I Am fully accountable for my actions and I will be held responsible
and liable for any activities originating from my machine. I am aware that
as a> DIRECTV Broadband Inc. DSL user I am bound by the referenced AUP
and, yes, I will prevent
any further copyrighted material from being served from my machine."
Sample Logs:
------------------------------
First Found: 1 Jul 2002 03:33:0 EDT (GMT -0400)
Last Found: 1 Jul 2002 03:33:0 EDT (GMT -0400)
Network: KaZaA
IP Address: 64.XXX.XXX.XX
IP Port: 0
Protocol: FastTrack
Username: XXXXX@KaZaA
What was located as infringing content:
------------------------------
Filename: [tmd]minority.report.(asz).subbed.ts(2of2).avi (199,170kb)
Abuse Department
DIRECTV Broadband, Inc.
abuse@directvdsl.com
____________________________________________________
Any suggestions how or if I should respond to this would
be greatly appreciated... | |
| | | bodysurf
join:2002-01-23
Placentia, CA
| Re: No F-ing way! said by dpierc03:
I have received an email from the Abuse Department of DIRECTV Broadband, Inc. about a file I had downloaded off KaZaA. As I recall, the file I downloaded didn't even "play" and was only retained in "my shared folder" on KaZaA until I deleted it the next day, but now I have this email:
They have to prove that file contained illegal content, and the only way to prove that is to download it and view it. If it didn't play correctly and no one downloaded it from you, then you are safe.
You can have files called "Road_to_Perdition.DivX.AVI" or "Photoshop.RAR" that could contain AVIs of you reviewing that movie/software that you took with your camcorder.
That being said, if you do dabble in "quasi-legal" digital stuff, you may want to stick to various Usenet groups where you will be a lot safer. | |
| | 
pyromania
join:2001-11-24
Chicago, IL
| Now a days I realize it isn't right downloading all these MP3's for free and i actually stopped. I go out to stores and buy my cd's. I find it very low how you people think its ok to steal other artists albums AND then f*cking complain about getting caught. Stop being cheap, if you like the CD, go out and buy it, if you dont then do the right thing and dont steal it.
Now for those complaining that their ISP are sending them warning messages, Dam straight, you deserve one, Cut the crap, there are many great uses for broadband.
If the RIAA aint spying on me or anything, hell, let them bring the cheap asses to justice.
Piracy needs to come to an end! | |
| | |
vknight775
join:2001-12-08
Etobicoke, ON | Re: No F-ing way! Man. Unplug yourself from the Matrix.
--
"Look at the fruit on the tree." | |
| | | 
silverfawx
Maybe Later
join:2001-10-05
Mesa, AZ
clubs: | we're soul-less bastards and we like free stuff. | |
| cbs228
Geeks Of The World, Unite
join:2000-09-04
Saint Louis, MO
|  This can't work.
They are using the fear factor, fear of legal action which cannot be easily fought, to go after file traders.
This is customer alienation in extremis. The RIAA can expect another dramatic sales drop right about now.
--
If you stare too long into the abyss the abyss stares back at you. -Nietzsche | |
| | 
zoom314
Superman
Premium
join:2001-04-30
Yermo, CA
| Re: This can't work. | |
| 
BrianDamage
We Are The Hounds From Hell
Premium
join:2001-08-14
Rowlett, TX
clubs:
| The Redcoats are coming After having read this stuff, I can only think that all of these folks (RIAA, MPAA) have legitimate gripes, but the way they are going about trying to rectify these events are frightening.
I noticed this from the one letter:
Index Size Name
> ----- ------ ---------------------------------------------------
> 11 259 MB (smr)harry_potter-ts(1of2).avi
> 12 196 MB (smr)jay_and_silent_bob_strike_back-wp(2of2).avi
> 13 137 MB ctp - windtalkers - svcd to divx (1of2).avi
> 14 42 MB South park - 603 - Asspen(DivX).avi
> 15 43 MB Southpark_-_504_Super_best_friends(DivX).avi
> 16 52 MB Southpark_-_505_Terrance_and_Garfunkel(DivX).avi
> 17 53 MB South_Park_0413-Trapper_Keeper_(DivX).avi
> 18 94 MB The Simpsons - Crayon Brain (Divx).avi
> -end-
Looking at file sizes, I would tend to believe that none of these are the full movies or shows, but snippets, like trailers and stuff.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
The way I see it, it's like free advertising for the studios and moviehouses that show the movies, plus retailers who would carry DVD and VHS stock of the stuff.
I could understand the frustration if these are full-length, first-run movies out there.
I also don't see the difference between getting a Simpsons episode in this way and simply recording it from the tube when it's on TV, to videotape.
The way I understand the consumer protection laws, that scenario is perfectly legal.
Why is this any different? It's just a different medium.
Maybe, just maybe, the DMCA is just a little overzealous in scope.
I feel that there needs to be some major revisions and clarifications of laws on the books and a need to reexamine consumer protection laws in relation to them, instead of just letting these corporate big dogs run amuck with consumers.
Some lines need to be drawn, on both sides.
All of this is getting way out of hand.
--
The only human truth is that we live and we die. Everything in between those events is open to interpretation. | |
| | 
Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | Re: The Redcoats are coming I believe those are the full shows....yes...
--
Palpatine for Senate | |
| | | cookem
join:2002-01-24
Maple Heights, OH | Re: The Redcoats are coming No those are not full shows.....movies are not that small...learn what you are talking about b4 u post | |
| | | |
Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | Re: The Redcoats are coming LOL. Yeah ok guy. That's just a 50 meg southpark commercial.
(nods)
--
Palpatine for Senate | |
| | | | | TheWickerMan
join:2002-04-09
Enola, PA
| Re: The Redcoats are coming said by Leviathan:
LOL. Yeah ok guy. That's just a 50 meg southpark commercial.
50 meg isn't very big for a video file. The original South Park "Spirit of Christmas" is about that size, and it's only about 5 minutes long. | |
| | | | | |
BrianDamage
We Are The Hounds From Hell
Premium
join:2001-08-14
Rowlett, TX
clubs: | Re: The Redcoats are coming That's why I posed the question.
50 megs doesn't seem like much video to me. | |
| | | | | |
Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02
Host:
Road Runner
PC gaming GAMES
PC gaming Tech
| Well you trim commercials...then cut the intro and outro....and you're looking at 18 minutes or less worth of actual show, with degraded quality and size to save space....
As for the films, it says right there the harry potter is file 1of2....
--
Palpatine for Senate | |
| | | | | | |
BrianDamage
We Are The Hounds From Hell
Premium
join:2001-08-14
Rowlett, TX
clubs:
| Re: The Redcoats are coming Even so, at 259 mb, is it large enough to be even half of the movie?
I ask because even though I have voiced my opinions in this argument quite often, I am not an avid or even regular downloader of movies and such. As a matter of fact, the only movie I have EVER downloaded was an indie film put out in DivX, and it was only like 20 minutes long.
Just the occasional MP3 and not much else.
[text was edited by author 2002-07-11 10:51:30] | |
| | | | | | | |
Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02
Host:
Road Runner
PC gaming GAMES
PC gaming Tech
| Re: The Redcoats are coming Yeah...that would clock the total film in at around 600-700 megs once you merged the file, and that's about right.
With the TV shows, like I said, they edit the commercials and use garbage size and resolution to get those small footprints.
--
Palpatine for Senate | |
| | | | | | | | |
BrianDamage
We Are The Hounds From Hell
Premium
join:2001-08-14
Rowlett, TX
clubs:
| Re: The Redcoats are coming In that case, I have another thought.
I can understand Hollywood's frustration then in seeing first run movies essentially bootlegged via the internet prior to VHS od DVD release.
However, once a title makes it to that stage, then dissemination over the internet is no different than renting a copy of it at Blockbuster and then making a copy of it.
To do so is perfectly within a consumer's right, as far as I can tell, provided that the consumer who copies it only does so for personal use and does not offer it for resale.
Having said that, making a title available via one's computer over a P2P network like Gnutella for free does not violate any resale clauses, or even the basic definition of copyright infringement, which requires resale without compensation to the owners of the intellectual property, and without their consent.
--
The only human truth is that we live and we die. Everything in between those events is open to interpretation. | |
| | | | | | | | | | NGOwner
join:2000-11-21
Leawood, KS
| Re: The Redcoats are coming said by BrianDamage:
However, once a title makes it to that stage, then dissemination over the internet is no different than renting a copy of it at Blockbuster and then making a copy of it.
To do so is perfectly within a consumer's right, as far as I can tell, provided that the consumer who copies it only does so for personal use and does not offer it for resale.
Totally, completely, utterly wrong. You are not legally permitted to do what you suggest. Do you even read the FBI warning at the beginning of the movie? You may view the rented movie. That's it.
Another thing, the MPAA isn't going after someone who downloaded these files. They are going after someone who made these files AVAILABLE for download.
In essence, they aren't going after the drug users, they are going after the drug DEALERS.
[NG]Owner
--
It is impossible to create an idiot-proof product. Humanity is simply too adept at churning out better idiots. | |
| | | | | | | | | | 
marigolds
Gainfully employed, finally
Premium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
| Re: The Redcoats are coming said by NGOwner:
Another thing, the MPAA isn't going after someone who downloaded these files. They are going after someone who made these files AVAILABLE for download.
In essence, they aren't going after the drug users, they are going after the drug DEALERS.
[NG]Owner
Even though the wrong letter is posted, reread the article... that is what the dramatic shift has been, they are now going after people who download not just the people who offer downloads.
--
ISCABBS - the oldest and largest BBS on the Internet
telnet://whip.isca.uiowa.edu
or Go to
»isca.whiteboard.net for more information (and java telnet access) | |
| | | | | | | | | | Crux667
join:2002-07-11
Atlanta, GA
| Re: The Redcoats are coming said by marigolds:
Even though the wrong letter is posted, reread the article... that is what the dramatic shift has been, they are now going after people who download not just the people who offer downloads.
That is completely incorrect. The Copyright letter is only for people distributing the stuff, not downloading it. That's not to say that someday in the future, people like the MPAA won't try to start monitoring downloads. However, THAT is an invasion of privacy. Searching out things that are made freely available on these file sharing clients doesn't infringe on anyone's privacy.
And another thing, no matter how it is justified, when you take copywritten material without paying for it, you are taking money away from the artists who created it. In the end, the artists get bent over as royalty rates drop due to record companies trying to compensate for losses. Sh|t rolls downhill.
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
marigolds
Gainfully employed, finally
Premium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
| said by Crux667:
said by marigolds:
Even though the wrong letter is posted, reread the article... that is what the dramatic shift has been, they are now going after people who download not just the people who offer downloads.
That is completely incorrect. The Copyright letter is only for people distributing the stuff, not downloading it. That's not to say that someday in the future, people like the MPAA won't try to start monitoring downloads. However, THAT is an invasion of privacy. Searching out things that are made freely available on these file sharing clients doesn't infringe on anyone's privacy.
As I mentioned above, the copyright letter posted is the wrong letter the article clearly mentions (as is already being reported across several sources) that first the RIAA and now the MPAA are going after people who download files as well as people who are uploading. More specifically, they are offering downloads from their own systems and logging the IPs of the people who download from them.
Editing: Adding this to clarify my point (emphasis mine):
In accordance with the Film and Music Industy's new strategy of targeting individual users, it appears that Cox communications is sending out warnings to users trading files over Gnutella at the behest of the MPAA (Something Sony Music has been known to do). The warning lists which files the user has downloaded, as well as the date of the offense and the IP address of the offender. There is no indication as to whether or not Cox actually confirms the information before sending the letter. Originally spotted at the Politechbot mailing list, we reprint the letter below. (letter snipped) [text was edited by author 2002-07-12 00:24:09] | |
| | | | | | | | | | 
Mrhowes
join:2000-11-16
Saint Paul, MN
| To reproduce, redistribute, or set for public exhibition, in whole or in part, is illegal, per the FBI warning on every VHS tape and DVD/laserdisc. So to place even a small portion of a movie on the net for public distribution and/or viewing is against the law. Period.
FBI warning: federal law provides severe civil criminal penalties for the unauthorized reproduction or exhibition of
copyrighted motion pictures and video tape ( title 17, united states code, section 501 and 506 ). the federal bureau of investigation investigates allegations of criminal copyright infringement ( title 17, united states code, section 506 ).
unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.
--
Listen....do you smell something? | |
| | | | | | | | | | randysavage0
join:2002-04-16
Fayetteville, AR | Re: The Redcoats are coming not if you already bought a copy and it got ate so you are copying the rental.... | |
| | | | | | | | | | NGOwner
join:2000-11-21
Leawood, KS
| Re: The Redcoats are coming said by randysavage:
not if you already bought a copy and it got ate so you are copying the rental....
Sorry, but even that is technically not permitted.
You are permitted to make a copy of what you already own, and theoretically make a copy of your copy if your original has been destroyed, so you have one backup on hands at all times.
But, if you neglected to make a copy before your original was destroyed, you are SOL.
[NG]Owner
--
It is impossible to create an idiot-proof product. Humanity is simply too adept at churning out better idiots. | |
| | | | | | | | | cookem
join:2002-01-24
Maple Heights, OH | That new math you doing....249 +249 = 600 -700 ??? try again math god....BTW harry poter is like 3 hours so I would say the whole movie even in shit quality would have to be around or over a gig | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | topher68
join:2001-08-15
Holtsville, NY | in case anyone is interested, an mpg video file runs at least 10 MB/minute = 4 minut song = 40MB | |
| | | | 
Optimum1
Hey Macleod, Get Offa My Ewe
Premium
join:2001-08-22
Minneapolis, MN
clubs: | Uh, those are full South Park episodes -- you should do more learning, and less flaming... | |
| | | | | 
gogeta6
join:2002-06-20
San Diego, CA
clubs:
| Re: The Redcoats are coming You think 250 MB is too small for a movies?
SMR is navi and though not that high quality that is avg size.
and with new DIVX 5 or new real media compressions 50 MB is plenty for a tv show especially a cartoon where compression can be greater. | |
| | | | |
Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | Exactly. Thank you. | |
| | | 
Topmounter
Sent By Grocery Clerks
join:2001-02-20
Evergreen, CO
·Cox HSI
| ROFLOL - DO YOU KNOW how they figure out who to send the letters to? These are the people trying to download these "bogus" files off of MPAA/RIAA servers!!!
Of course these could be "full-length" files, but I guarantee that they are ultra low-rez squint-o-vision dial-up quality stuff.
In reality they are probably clips with an 800 number on how to order the "real" DVD or VHS tape. | |
| | | | 
amoneyous
@insightBB.com
| Re: The Redcoats are coming After reading this they just lost a house full of loyal customers we have all agreed not to buy DVD's any more after reading this. TOTALLY disgusted. We all spent 100 in dVD's a month atleast. Tell me, how do you feel about 800 $ losses in 5 minutes? I know they read this I hope they enjoy the read  | |
| | cbs228
Geeks Of The World, Unite
join:2000-09-04
Saint Louis, MO
| just a little overzealous
The DMCA allows the labels to silence those who say things that they find objectionable without going through the proper court procedure.
To that extent, the DMCA prohibits the distribution of anything (be it an idea, a program, or what have you) that disables or otherwise bypasses content protection. Call me crazy, but I think that's skittering dangerously close to violating our precious First Amendment. It has never been illegal to distribute information on how to commit a crime, otherwise I would not be able to get information on how to pick a lock (which I needed strictly for legal reasons, I might add).
In addition, the industry is trying to ram DRM related software down everyone's throats and hard drives. And yes, it's probably illegal to distribute information on how to bypass said DRM as well. In fact regulations may soon force all electronic devices manufactured, from this Mac to my wristwatch, to have extensive media copying protection built in!
The very idea that DVDs can only be played on industry approved players disgusts me. If I wanted to (and knew how) to manufacture a standard VCR, I don't think I would have to have industry approval to do so (although the FCC would be unhappy if the device caused radio interference). By controlling the manufacturing of DVD players, the MPAA can effectively control how we watch our paid for content, and their region system and the complete control a player must give to a DVD disk skitters pretty darn close to infringing on fair use.
Let's not forget our old friend, internet radio. The DMCA establishes rates based solely on a medium's ability to replace/promote phono record sales. Do you not agree that fair compensation would be based on the ability of said medium to generate revenue for the broadcaster? After all, business class DSL service and commercial software licenses charge more because that product is being used to make money.
And quit waiting for the government to bail us out of this nonsense. They will do nothing of the kind as long as the RIAA keeps lining their wallets.
The industry is roaring, "We own you!" not only to the artists behind them but also the consumer. I must make it abundantly clear that they will stop at nothing that is within their power to do to achieve this end. They will not stop until someone gives them a firm slap on the face to make them wake up and 'face the music' of the 21st century.
--
If you stare too long into the abyss the abyss stares back at you. -Nietzsche | |
| | |
BrianDamage
We Are The Hounds From Hell
Premium
join:2001-08-14
Rowlett, TX
clubs:
| Re: just a little overzealous "The industry is roaring, "We own you!" not only to the artists behind them but also the consumer. I must make it abundantly clear that they will stop at nothing that is within their power to do to achieve this end. They will not stop until someone gives them a firm slap on the face to make them wake up and 'face the music' of the 21st century."
I agree. The madness has got to end.
--
The only human truth is that we live and we die. Everything in between those events is open to interpretation. | |
| | | 
rklein
God Among Hogs
join:2001-01-18
Worcester, MA
| said by cbs228:
The very idea that DVDs can only be played on industry approved players disgusts me. If I wanted to (and knew how) to manufacture a standard VCR, I don't think I would have to have industry approval to do so (although the FCC would be unhappy if the device caused radio interference). By controlling the manufacturing of DVD players, the MPAA can effectively control how we watch our paid for content, and their region system and the complete control a player must give to a DVD disk skitters pretty darn close to infringing on fair use.
Good point. And it reminds me of what's going on with cars. The engines (indeed, all systems in the car) are becoming ever more tightly controlled by the computers, and it's becoming not only more difficult, but illegal to tamper with those systems. I haven't found a competent mechanic in years, so I do all my own work on my car and find this trend particularly worrisome.
But back to the movies! I just bought a new DVD. Everyone's invited to my living room to watch it. Thanks to peer-to-peer networks my living room is bigger than ever! Of course I'm not going to charge you guys to watch it; that would be illegal! | |
| | 
Ericthorn
It only hurts when I laugh
Premium
join:2001-08-10
Paragould, AR
clubs:
·Paragould.net
| Re: The Redcoats are coming First off, the file sizes are all fine. The Simpsons and SP are full episodes (minus filler) and the movies are just that.. 1 of 2 or 2 of 2, not full movies by themselves, but if you get the 1of2 and the 2of2 you can merge them or just watch them separately. Size in video all depends on how it was encoded, what compression, and to what format. Any of you thinking otherwise don't know much, so STFU.
I agree that it's like free advertising. I wanted to see K-Pax when it came out. A friend had already gotten a screener of it, so I got a copy and watched it and what a piece of garbage movie IMO. Thank GOD I didn't shell out 9$ for that crap. I'll wait for the video if I really want to suffer through the whole thing. However, when I saw the screener of Blackhawk Down, I was at the theater THAT NIGHT watching the movie. Has anyone at the MPAA ever watched a screener? The quality is usually crap trying to watch it full screen on a 19" monitor, worse on a TV. Only Divx rips of released DVD's (or Academy screeners *snicker*) are really clean, and the file sizes (500-800mb) make it prohibitive for all but broadband users to get. Maybe a small majority of people aren't going to some movies because they know it's crap, like myself and K-Pax. They didn't get my 9$ because I saw it on my PC first. But some people ARE going to movies because they saw it on their PC, and what is that compared to seeing it on the big screen with THX surround? As far as TV/Cable episodes go, once they've been aired, who gives a hoot? I don't have cable, so I don't get to see The Osbournes or South Park or any # of good shows on cable.. I'm just not gonna shell out 40-50$ a month to see them. That's ridiculous. Network TV is free and I tape whatever I want. But I should pay to have access to Comedy Central? I don't feel a bit bad when I download an episode of something that's already been shown on TV. I could call my bro and say "Hey dude, tape SP for me tonight", or I can wait a day or two and download it. Where's the loss of revenue to anyone? Because I didn't see the commercials that I never pay attention to anyway? Because I'm not shelling out money to Charter for something that should be free? There is legislation being introduced regarding copyright law and the DMCA. Let's all keep our fingers crossed.
So far, they're only targeting heavy users sharing many files, or people acting as SuperNode's in some cases. The average trader will never be bothered by it. And for you heavy traders... I strongly suggest IRC. Get off that crap Gnutella/KazAa/Grokster (although I do like Grokster). It's a bit more difficult to use, and you have to wait a bit longer, but you won't be getting any letters from anyone regardless how much you leech or serve up. Going after individual traders is only going to piss off the community in general. Like the RIAA/labels spoofing music files to derail mp3 downloading. I foresee massive DDOS attacks on MPAA/movie studio websites (can't wait for the article )
--
All I wanted was a Pepsi | |
| | | 
kremit
Super Tux
join:2001-12-20
Columbus, OH
clubs:
| Re: The Redcoats are coming said by Ericthorn:
As far as TV/Cable episodes go, once they've been aired, who gives a hoot? I don't have cable, so I don't get to see The Osbournes or South Park or any # of good shows on cable.. I'm just not gonna shell out 40-50$ a month to see them. That's ridiculous. Network TV is free and I tape whatever I want. But I should pay to have access to Comedy Central? I don't feel a bit bad when I download an episode of something that's already been shown on TV. I could call my bro and say "Hey dude, tape SP for me tonight", or I can wait a day or two and download it. Where's the loss of revenue to anyone?
Its all the MPAA on that one. The creators of South Park have said themselves that they LIKE the fact that people can download their shows on the Internet, because it allows more people to see and enjoy the show...
»www.southparkstudios.com/show/faq.html
...look at the third question on that page.
| |
| | | | misterhaze
join:2002-06-04
Diboll, TX
·Suddenlink
| The file sharing service has many legit uses. The end user is responsible and should be held accountable vs the file sharing service. It was the end users discretion to make the copyrighted file available for download. If the courts are going to shut down file sharing services they might as well take your pretty little Instant messaging program to b/c it also includes file transfer. Frankly the Im program does the same service as Kazaa or napster only that Kazaa would make it easier to access the information. | |
| 
rgoulet
join:2000-10-27
Pittsburgh, PA
| Here is how to stop the madness
Every thing we buy from these people provides them with the cash they use to beat us down a little further. Buy nothing from them. Watch them throw their little tantrums. Continue to buy nothing from them. Watch them slowly fall from their high-rises to the street.
This whole issue is not about piracy. The only value the members of the RIAA/MPAA provide customers is their distribution method. We consumer are telling them that with broadband their distribution method is outdated and provides no value to us. So we switch to an alternative (the only alternative) that does provide us value.
In a true free market this is exactly what is supposed to happen to keep the whole system healthy. But armed with lawyers, billions of dollars and a few bought-and-paid-for politicos, the RIAA/MPAA is perverting and distorting the very system that allows everything to work in the first place.
Well the system does still work, and if we stop buying from them they won't have the resources to continue these kinds of fascist programs. | |
| |
See 15 replies to this post | |
BroadbandWef
join:2002-06-07
Evanston, IL
| Blah 259 MB (smr)harry_potter-ts(1of2).avi
That IS a full version of the movie. It's compressed into a little box on your computer screen. Not too much fun, especially for special effects.
There's a big VCD trading scene out there. One hour of VCD fits on a CD that you can burn and watch on a standard DVD player hooked to an actual television.
These huge files (600-800MB) are not hosted on Gnutella... Most are served from campus dorm rooms with high speed ethernet connections on the pirate IRC servers. | |
| payurbills
join:2002-01-18
Springfield, VA | I guess dynamic IPs are the way to goooo I guess dynamic IPs are the way to goooo
Go COVAD | |
| |
See 6 replies to this post | |
ldg
join:2001-08-24
Norman, OK | wow, they really are Cox suckers I dropped Cox because of their lousy internet service. Now I find out their a**holes to boot.
Check out www.vcdquality.com for video information. They don't offer download links, but they do offer user reviews of bootlegs. | |
|
boojumbunn
@telocity.net
 from:
NGOwner 
| Come on folks. Come on, folks. Lets be aware of the difference between breaking the law and not. This particular person seems to have been distributing either chunks of or the whole films. If they were then they were breaking the law.
If we ever expect the world and the courts to accept our arguments about how bad the suppression of technology is then we need to realise when the other side has a legitimate point.
The truth of the matter is that if I create a work (or own the copyright to a work) then there is nothing that says I have to display it or advertise it at all. In fact, I have the right NOT to display or advertise it. The argument that it provides free advertising or that it helps the industry is specious at best. The people who OWN the work can manage their affairs so they go down in flames, if thats what they choose to do.
The real problem with what the entertainment industry is doing is that it restricts non-infringing use of the technologies. If I want to make my own movie and distribute it on the internet (as quite a number of people do) then that is MY right. By making technologies against the law they work to restrict that right.
They also are restricting my fair use of a product I have bought. Fair use does NOT include copying it and then distributing it to my friends. But fair use may well include playing it on the device of my choice.. linux for example.
I almost have to wince whenever someone brings up fair use. Fair use is your ability to use something you have purchased or for the purposes of instruction or review. It is NOT your right to send copies to all of your friends or to use something you haven't purchased.
Lets focus on all the people who's works are being stifled who AREN'T breaking the law, not on the ones who really are breaking the law. Lets fight this fight because the DMCA stifles legitimate and noninfringing use of what we own and not blindly support everyone who runs afoul of it.
In this particular instance the movie industry seems to have a point. If they do not then the person who owns the site can object and keep their site up. If they ARE distributing copyright material, then they really do deserve to have their access cut until they stop. | |
| |
See 15 replies to this post | |
awax
join:2000-09-25
Fayetteville, AR
|  They have been doing this for a while
| |
| 
RiceSan
join:2002-01-15
111 | The Joke of the year?! This way too stupid! I can`t believe they resorted to this childish way of dealing with this crap!
I am sorry you big greedy music companies but P2P is here to stay! so get loser! HAHAHHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaa | |
| 
CtrlAltDel
WORSE. THAN. CARTER.
Arbitrary Text
join:2001-12-30
Backyard
 ·1and1
 ·Verizon Online DSL
·Comcast
| You might want to try this! »www.steganos.com/./en/sia/index.htm
This software claims to hide your identity. Wonder if it really works?
Maybe i will go back to kazaa and see if i get another letter like this one:
"We have received a complaint concerning the unauthorized distribution of
copyrighted material by your account. This is a violation of Section 9,
Subscriber's Responsibility, of your Internet Access Agreement that you
accepted when you opened your account. In addition, the distribution,
duplication or transmission of this type of material is strictly prohibited
by law without the express permission of the licensee. There are severe
civil and criminal fines and penalties upon conviction.
Infringment Detail:
Infringing Work: xxxxxxxxx
Filename: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
First Found: 8 Jun 2002 19:31:23 EDT (GMT -0400)
Last Found: 8 Jun 2002 19:31:23 EDT (GMT -0400)
Filesize: 192,639k
IP Address: 14xxxxxxxx
Network: KaZaA
Protocol: FastTrack
Username: @KaZaA
Infringing Work: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Filename: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
First Found: 8 Jun 2002 19:31:57 EDT (GMT -0400)
Last Found: 8 Jun 2002 19:31:57 EDT (GMT -0400)
Filesize: 200,558k
IP Address: 14xxxxxxxxxxx
Network: KaZaA
Protocol: FastTrack
Username: @KaZaA
Consider this official notice that Verizon does not tolerate the use of its
accounts in this manner. Any future violations of your Internet Access
Agreement will result in immediate termination of your account without
further notice and notification of the proper law enforcement agencies and
software companies.
Verizon Internet Operations
security@verizon.net"
These files were weak copies of a movie taken by some fool with a video camera in a theater. I always preview movies before I go to the theater or rent or purchase the video. Guess i forgot to turn off "file sharing" that particular day.
--
vini, vidi, velcro (I came, I saw, I stuck around) | |
| | | | | | |
ninersfan
join:2001-02-09
Hayward, CA
| said by sportyrider:
»www.steganos.com/./en/sia/index.htm
This software claims to hide your identity. Wonder if it really works?
Looks interesting, but from what I can tell it is simply
using proxy servers...rotating/randomizing or whatever, which is fine for privacy while web surfing (I'm using a proxy server right now for that purpose), but it won't do anything for P2P transfers unless it interfaces directly with the proxy settings in KaZaA or whatever flavor you're using. | |
| 
Shipon
Roflcopter
Premium
join:2001-12-05
Anaheim, CA
| This is BS I can't believe this. Now, people are going to lose their internet because of some greedy-ass company who wants nothing but to over-charge the consumer. WTF? I thought this was AMERICA, not communist Russia.
It's all because of the DMCA, a bad idea from the start. People are getting sued because making copies of what SHOULD be everyone's, not some company.
It's all because of the government allowing companies to basically rule people's lives.
How about we all make an agreement to boy-cott the industry, and to share more files? If they care so much about their stupid profits that they're willing to screw over their own potential customers using a law that SHOULD be un-constitutional, then they don't deserve our money. In fact, someone should make a LOT of copies of DVDs and music CDs and pass them out in a bunch a cities. Make the industry pay for what they're doing.
Just reading that letter makes me want to buy a lot of large servers, a fast connection, and a lot of movies and music. Then, I'd just start a free server for everyone to use. If I got dis-connected, I'd just get another account. I would just LOVE the chance to screw the industry out of thousands of potential dollars.
People, if you release anything on any media, then expect to see piracy. When it gets out into the public, then piracy will happen. Nothing short of never releasing any music, videos, or software(well, even that might not stop it, since people on the inside may release it illegally), or shutting down the internet(which would be basically impossible) will stop it; not billions of dollars, not many stupid laws, not anything.
--
Current Computer:500 MHz K6/2|256 MB RAM|15 GB HDD|GF2 MX 32 MB PCI| | |
| 
Mashiki
Balking The Enemy's Plans
join:2002-02-04
Woodstock, ON
·Bright House
·Rogers Hi-Speed
| DMCA, RIAA, MPAA If I remember correctly, the laws of the land say "innocent before guilty in a court of law". Am I correct or incorrect? I pretty damned sure I'm correct, unless the US and Canada has turned into France.
These letters as well as the DMCA, allow compaines to be Judge, Jury, and Executioner with out any type of true evidence besides a file name.
Now if I created a bogus file, that was 645.12 MB and named it thc-spm_1of2.rar(Spiderman disc 1[name ripped from isonews.com and modified]), allowed it to be downloaded via kazaa or winmx or edonkey or anything else, prove to me that it's actually the file!
All you have without downloading it is a file that looks like a pirated rip of spiderman, but it's not. It's just a dummy file. And as far as I can figure out with this ranger software, all it does is collect names of files and report them. Nothing more!
Bah, this is turning more and more into a pile of steaming crap, with a new plutocracy comeing into power.
Kind of reminds me of Yuri, "No more Free Will, only My Will". | |
| |
iRCD-Pumpkin
@attbi.com
| Re: DMCA, RIAA, MPAA >These letters as well as the DMCA, allow compaines to be >Judge, Jury, and Executioner with out any type of true >evidence besides a file name.
Sad news bro, they are all of the above. The one positive is that they are using "really dumb bots". Check out the complaint I received:
--------------------------------------------------------
Subject: [*Username Edited for Posting*] - Policy Violation (JP) [TICKET_ID: [*Edited for Posting*] ] {RPTR}:W:
Date: Mon, 8 Jul 2002 12:24:35 -0600 (MDT)
* * * IMMEDIATE ACTION and REPLY REQUIRED * * *
Please read this entire message, review the required action(s) below, and send a
prompt reply message to acknowledge receipt of this email.
From: AT&T Broadband Abuse Department [abuse@attbi.com]
AT&T Broadband has been made aware that you have violated the AT&T Broadband
Service Agreement and/or Acceptable Usage Policy. These policies can be found at
»www.attbroadband.com/security. Failure to comply with these policies may
result in a permanent termination of your service. The account holder is solely
responsible for any and all activities performed from the AT&T Broadband
service. Please read the following information carefully to ensure that you
understand the violation, our policies, and what you need to do to respond to
this warning.
Type of violation: Distribution of Copyrighted Material
Related Policy: Acceptable Usage Policy: Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, using the AT&T Broadband Equipment (as defined in the Subscriber
Agreement) or the Service to
i. undertake or accomplish any unlawful purpose. This includes, but is not
limited to, posting, storing, transmitting or disseminating information, data or
material which is libelous, obscene, unlawful, threatening, defamatory, or which
infringes the intellectual property rights of any person or entity, or which in
any way constitutes or encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal
offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any local, state,
federal or international law, order or regulation;
Explanation: AT&T Broadband has received notice that you are distributing
copyrighted material via your AT&T Broadband Service.
Action Required: Remove the copyrighted material immediately. Reply to this
message, keeping the subject line intact, to acknowledge that you have received
this warning and will ensure that there will be no further violations of the
Service Agreement.
Related Logs/Evidence:
------------------------------
Infringment Detail:
Infringing Work: Spider-Man
Filepath: \I.AGREE.TO.ALL.THE.TERMS.AND.WILL.ONLY.DOWNLOAD.WHAT.I.HAVE.LEGAL.ACCESS.TO\
N64\ROM.SOURCE\
Filename: n64.spiderman.rar
First Found: 3 Jun 2002 08:15:24 EDT (GMT -0400)
Last Found: 3 Jun 2002 08:15:24 EDT (GMT -0400)
Filesize: 27,034k
IP Address: 12.***.***.***
IP Port: 5763
Network: Undernet
Protocol: IRC
Username: [*Edited for Posting*]
------------
If you have questions regarding this email, please contact the AT&T Broadband
Legal Demands Center @ 1-800-871-6298 Option #2 and reference case # [*Edited for Posting*]
----------------------------------------------------------
Brings a Terminator quote to mind : "We learned to spot the machines, and we learned to fight .."
Obviously the Mpaa holds no copyright on rom source code. That didn't stop the automated harvester which was set to seek and terminate 'Spiderman' offenders. I lost my internet
service for two weeks and am now wiser for the experience.
"Them's bastards" but they're not to bright/well scripted.
We'll learn to spot them in time.
 | |
| | |
iRCD-Pumpkin
@attbi.com
| Re: DMCA, RIAA, MPAA One more piece of irony:
I find a Windows machine with File/Print sharing enabled,
unpassworded.
I peruse the filesystem, I am evil hax0r, I go to jail.
Mpaa finds my machine with open shares, they peruse filesystem.
They register complaint on what was found during the un-authorized access of my files (see previous post)
I get shut-off , again I am the evil hax0r, and get threatened with jail.
Strange and funny times we live in. | |
| | | |
Mashiki
Balking The Enemy's Plans
join:2002-02-04
Woodstock, ON | Re: DMCA, RIAA, MPAA An oh so true point. And some intresting information you posted. | |
| | |
iRCD-Pumpkin
@attbi.com
| I checked out the RangerInc website today, they brag about how wonderful their new bot is and that it never sends out 'false positives'
I think Uncle Jack has best quote on the site:
"Out of the 54,000 notices sent out by Ranger last year, only two resulted in challenges. They're like a bloodhound sniffing out titles." -Jack Volenti : CEO : MPA/A
So Am I lucky #3 ?
| |
| | | 
jw55505
Fish Head
Premium
join:2001-11-28
Mechanicsville, VA | Kind of OT, but it just floors me how willing the ISPs are to help the RIAA/MPAA get rid of THEIR OWN (the ISP's) customers. ?? It's like the ISPs are committing suicide with these letters/emails. | |
| 
paranoidxe
Premium
join:2002-03-29
Ogden, UT
| MPAA is protecting their product I am probably the only one FOR this movement, but oh well.
I think movie pirates deserve what they get. There is a difference between the RIAA and MPAA..the MPAA puts out pictures that you can enjoy the entire film. You can read film synopsis and information before you go out and waste money on it. $10 - $20 for a DVD isn't a ridicilous price in comparison to production costs it takes to make the movie. Saying MPAA is ripping you off is just obsurd.
RIAA on the other hand..produces CDs with one good song on them (most of the time) and offers hardly anyway to preview the songs, except for on sites like cdnow, and even they don't have all tracks.
DVDs offer extra features, CDs offered by RIAA don't have any special features.
RIAA is ripping off the public, MPAA on the other hand isn't, production costs for movies are WAY higher than that of Music CDs, so I am actually suprised they are only $20.
Obviously there will be codec advances which will make videos smaller in size, or internet speeds will increase..but currently I don't understand WHY anyone would waste their time downloading a full movie when all it costs is $7 to experience SUPERIOR quality at a theater, or $20 for the high quality DVD.
--
paranoidfiles.org "Better to look stupid for 5 minutes and ask a question than to be stupid for the rest of your life." | |
| | 
NiceGuyNY21
join:2000-10-15
Buffalo, NY
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: MPAA is protecting their product what do i gotta do to get one of these letters :-P i almost feel left out...last time i got one was for running opennap on a unix box over time warner cable...and that was what like 10 months ago from the riaa, im definetly feeling left out...dammit where's my fair share at ??? | |
| | 
hhawkman
Premium
join:2001-02-08
Port Hueneme, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
| said by paranoidxe:
I am probably the only one FOR this movement, but oh well.
I think movie pirates deserve what they get. There is a difference between the RIAA and MPAA..the MPAA puts out pictures that you can enjoy the entire film. You can read film synopsis and information before you go out and waste money on it. $10 - $20 for a DVD isn't a ridicilous price in comparison to production costs it takes to make the movie. Saying MPAA is ripping you off is just obsurd.
RIAA on the other hand..produces CDs with one good song on them (most of the time) and offers hardly anyway to preview the songs, except for on sites like cdnow, and even they don't have all tracks.
snip......
Just so there is no confusion here, neither the MPAA or RIAA produce anything but lawsuits. The Film companies, and Record companies DISTRIBUTE the content. The MPAA and RIAA only represent the DISTRIBUTERS. The artists who actually CREATE the content will never see any benefit of this whole thing. | |
|
Tom Crews
@rr.com
| just a consumer...right? »homeandoffice.hp.com/hho/us/eng/···ew_date=
Funny...HP's website on how to burn a cd doesn't mention the legality of what you downloaded off the web. It just "sells" how fun and cool it is to download mp3's off the web, burn them onto cd's. The people that are "smart" enough are aware of the acronyms MPAA (or whatever), and that downloading music or movies is illegal. But John Q. Public watches the commercials on tv (waiting for South Park to come back on), and sees the ad for Cox Cable, and Road Runner, and boy...that looks cool!, and sees the ad for the new Gateways, the Dude from Dell, and Compaq's latest offerings. "Download MP3's & Burn CD's!!!" I'm not an expert...but I would have to say a better than 50% of those people convinced to get DSL or Cable modem access, did so to be able to d/l big files...songs, movies...and not just to send emails a little faster. 56K does open up websites just fine. But we can charge $45 for cable modem access. Threaten to take away my service! .... You can still d/l songs and movies on 56K...it just takes longer. I admit to grabbing mp3's. And once in while a movie...but I also spend alot of money on cd's, at Blockbuster, and at the movie theatre.
I don't have problems sleeping at night. | |
|
dephial
@dialsprint.net
| Ripped Movies I'll tell you one thing, When I did have broadband and downloaded movies, It was to see if it was worth seeing. And or it was already out of the movies. Any movie I like I went and seen because there isn't NOTHING like seeing it in the movies. Which is why I still goto them theaters that play movies that are out on video already JUST because they kicked ass. Everyone seems to be working together to stop this now because they aren't getting their way. When I was on a dialup and I downloaded a part of The Matrix I stoped right where I was and went to the movies THAT day. I also do admit movies I would of seen I didn't because they just plain sucked and they put up only the BEST parts of it. Them BEST parts were the ONLY parts that made it the movie. Same with CDs and MP3s. If I like the artist, I support the Artist. If they have one good song out of a bunch of CDs they aren't worth supporting in my eyes. | |
| |
Flic
@verizon.net
| Re: Ripped Movies I read through this and I want to clear up a the idea of being anonymous on the internet.
I work for an ISP and I know beyond a doubt that we keep logs of everything. When you dialup/dsl/cable/satalite we log which user is connecting, when they are connecting , and pretty much what the connect to. Via MAC addressing or usernames or ANI information. We do this because of C.Y.A. reasons. We cannot have a user doing illegal things on our network. When users do things that are illegal and we get a warrant served on us to provide information, if we can't provide basic logs of transgressions then we can be held as a knowing party to the crime. Let's say I give my friend my car to use and he robs a bank. I better be able to prove that I was not involved in helping him rob the bank. That I only lent him the car to go to work or I'm going to join him in jail.
Since Sept. 11 there have been a huge increase in warrants for records of online activity. I have many friends in the ISP business and from my dealings with them, their work places do the same things for the same reasons.
What I see here is like bragging that you have an unlisted number. If you commit a crime on that phone IT CAN BE TRACED BACK TO YOU. Just takes a little more time and effort. Piracy is a crime.
People think they are protected online. The truth be told I am suprised at how little people understand that most everything is logged (FTP/NNTP/...). Of course those logs are huge and are only kept for a certain length of time but logs are logs, they will damn the ones who choose to break the law.
Be lucky those 50,000 warning letters were not 50,000 court summons to hearings for copy right infringment in say California. Lets see people from Florida show up for their court dates. Now I am no student of law but when I didn't show for and traffic citation I was assumed guilty and fined. The DMCA has some pretty stiff fines.
Now aren't some of you just trying to remember what you have done recently online that was a just shade off being legal.
--- just thought I would give everyone a wake up call to the realities of life on the internet--- | |
|
Carl The Nrd
@iconisp.com | Then Stop Using File Sharing Software Just stop using lame file swaping software... Go back to old school ftp. | |
| | misterhaze
join:2002-06-04
Diboll, TX
·Suddenlink
| Re: Then Stop Using File Sharing Software Most users have never even heard of the acronym FTP. Besides most hosting packages that come with Internet service are lame and the idea of even one song on the server would eat up all of your space. Dont even look at hosting your own FTP b/c most broadband connections prohibit FTP in the TOS or if not the actual throughput of your connection would make it a painful download for the end user. Why not just download some software and get all your music for free....much easier | |
|
smoochy
@cox.net
| Boycott the bastards I'm sure we all spend a lot of money at movies and on cd's. That does not give us the right to steal from them. But, they shouldn't be allowed to spy on us either. So I say screw them and lets stop buying their crap for a couple of months and then see what they have to say about it. If we all convince a few freinds to do this it will spread like an internet virus. Their sales will slump and they will be pissed. So we must join together and start a boycott. | |
| | 
skyjock41
Shag Diesel
Premium
join:2001-12-11
Ledyard, CT
clubs:
| Re: Boycott the bastards i would drop COX like a bad habit. If ATT does that sh*t i would respond to to their email like this. Dear ATT you cant take your muther f**king $hitty a$$ service and this threat to suspend me and shove it straight up your a$$. Make sure you send me a refund check for the month i just paid. Thank you. Anyone that bends over and takes it in the butt from cox is a joke. I would not sit there and say oh gee well cox said they will suspend me so i better erase cause the people that make a living off my damn $$$$ for Internet Service said so. Common people give me a break. Cable companies are stupid. Do you have to pay for how much tv you watch or that you recorded a movie off of HBO and DVD sells are down??? Boycott cox and the people win......bottom line. Then i can go to the RIAA Forum and read Cox post pleading for compensation from the RIAA for losing customers. When will they understand that THEY WILL NEVER STOP THE SHARING???? I can record a song off the radio turn it into MP3 and share it. I had eminem new song 3 weeks before his CD was released. What does that tell you?? | |
| | misterhaze
join:2002-06-04
Diboll, TX
·Suddenlink
| Re: Boycotting the bastards will not work Actually they can very easily stop the major file sharing networks. Now someone might still send an MP3 through ICQ but access to the files would be much harder.
Besides the boycott method will fail. Everyone has to get the music fix on somehow and if you stop going to the store you start downloading....what about those who dont have a computer? Polls show that downloading does not have any adverse effect on cd sales....at least until the RIAA conducted a poll | |
| 
Jimbo666$
join:2002-07-05
Mississauga, ON
| Missing the point I think most of you are missing the scariest part of this whole thing. That being that the MPAA is employing what essentially amounts to illegal wiretap. How is tapping your local p2p network and checking who downloaded what, any different than if they tapped your telephone to listen to who said what? I would agree it's ironic that I should be speaking out against one illegal (or should be) act, that is designed to target the perpetrators of another... but like my mother always said "two wrongs don't make a right", and the right to privacy has always been one of my strongest help convictions.
Another question, does anyone really think this "p2p watching" software distinguishes between the copyrighted material of the client and everything else? Not likely. That means it's very likely compiling a tidy list of all the files you've downloaded including that perfectly legal, but embarassing and twisted porno you're into. What right does anyone have to gaze into your private life in this manner? They don't have any right, it's that simple.
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Who, I say who's responsible for this unwarranted attack on my person? -- Foghorn Leghorn | |
| |
Reqq
@tx.u | Re: Missing the point Gah what a bunch of stupid prats.
Yes 50mb is a full south park show in RM and its a fairly decent quality one at that. 200-250mb IS a 1/2 peice of a typical telesync.
Learn some shit before you talk shit. | |
| | cracklingice
join:2002-01-21
Naples, FL
| I say get rid of them all. Everyone with a broadband connection, call your ISP and tell them you will discontinue your service contract if IMMIDATE action is not taken to reinstate your privacy. BTW the RIAA and ALL of its affilates are the biggest pansys on this planet. SHUT DOWN THE RIAA AND IT'S AFFILIATES. Who needs entertainment from such morons. Artists need to go their own ways to get their work to the fans. This can prove much more rewarding. I myself have not bought but one CD in the last year or two b/c of those idiots at the RIAA. They need to get out of thier two year old everything is mine and you can't have it stage or suffer the consequences. If you agree, respond to this and lets start those annoying chain letters that tell everyone to boycot this bull. DOWN WITH THE PIGS. | |
| 
Methmn
join:2002-02-02
Brooklyn, NY
| The Real Truth Behind all the BULLS**T.
Don't get me wrong I do think that they should get something for they're hard work, effort, and time but it ain't worth it when I spend $15 for a CD expecting (at least) 6 songs to be good when only the "Radio singles" are the best or When you pay ($2 price increase!) $10 for a wack ass movie I know a lot of you out there wanted to smash 1 or 2 CDs that you bought that turn out to be straight Trash or punch the chick behind the ticket booth for your money back cause the movie was straight wack. So what the MPAA & RIAA really want to protect are there Children's trust funds & there fat ass wallets cause dudes like me and millions of other people are cutting out the middle man (THEM) and enjoying it and they aren't getting something out of your wallet for it. So now they want to cry and bitch and find ways to either frustrate us (all the freaking P2P flood Gimmicks) or crack down and track you. We do have to thank them for making it all VERY popular with out all the Press and exposure it would have never gotten this big (Well maybe eventually). I must say though I wouldn't want to work and not get paid but if my work wasn't worth what I was getting paid then people wouldn't want to pay for my stuff and I would bitch too, wouldn't you. So let the debate begin ........ | |
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Re: You might want to try this!