Calif: P2P [file-sharing] in the Legal Crosshairs [CA AG's letter actually authored by MPAA]

Wired News ^ | Mar. 15, 2004 | Xeni Jardin

[John Jorsett]

Is California's attorney general preparing a legislative assault on peer-to-peer file sharing?

A draft letter purportedly circulated by Bill Lockyer to fellow state attorneys general characterizes P2P software as a "dangerous product" and describes the failure of technology makers to warn consumers of those dangers as a deceptive trade practice.

[John Jorsett]

Lockyer wants to be governor, so he's going to do the bidding of any group that might donate big money. The MPAA has a LOT of money. If their theory was that consumers should watch movies while setting themselves ablaze, Lockyer would be handing out lighters.

[Tribune7]

This guy might be the worst attorney general in the country.

[_Jim]

I have an idea: just outlaw 'files' ...

[Sir Gawain]

Outlaw shared folders.

[philetus]

"It's deeply troubling that an industry as monopolistic as this can manipulate the public via top law enforcement officials, as evidenced in this letter," said Grokster spokesperson Hal Bringman. "More than 60 million P2P users, many of whom are voters, will not tolerate this kind of behavior."

[philetus]

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University’s Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media is offering a unique class this spring on peer-to-peer file sharing.


Titled “Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Filesharing: From Download Nation to Collaborative Technology,” the class will meet on Friday and Saturday, March 19 and 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Topics covered in the course include the technology, policy, economics, management and user behavior associated with P2P systems. Fifty-five students have enrolled in this first-of-its-kind course.

[Arkinsaw]

The computermakers also make a product that can be used to run such deceptive programs. These deceptive programs run under Microsoft Windows. People can also sit in chairs while running these deceptive programs.

Essentially, everything is illegal but we will selectively prosecute only what will give us personal political and monetary gain or strikes our fancy at the moment. You know.......tyranny.

[irv]

If the MPAA was directly involved in drafting or revising the California attorney general's letter, criticism is likely to come not only from P2P fans. Others might be concerned about the propriety of a commercial organization effectively placing words in the mouth of an elected official.

This might be a small understatement. Or, it might be a bombshell just waiting to destroy a promising political career. We can only hope.

[newzjunkey]

If the MPAA was directly involved in drafting or revising the California attorney general's letter, criticism is likely to come not only from P2P fans. Others might be concerned about the propriety of a commercial organization effectively placing words in the mouth of an elected official.

MIGHT BE? Good grief. Is this isn't a scandal... Imagine if a Republican had done this, he'd already have been impeached.

[steplock]

P2P software as a "dangerous product"

It will be discovered to be an extrememly dangerous product when the citizens begin to exert their SECOND AMENDMENT rights and rid the world of these communists.


.

[Paul C. Jesup]

CA AG's letter actually authored by MPAA

I can just see this being presented by the defense in a court of law.

[.38sw]

This guy might be the worst attorney general in the country.

He's pretty bad. So, he just might have a shot at the governor's chair! When Scott Peterson (you know, accused killer of Laci Peterson and their unborn son, Connor) was arrested, he inserted himself into the press conference (so, what's the AG doing there anyway? It's a local law enforcement deal) and said that the case against Peterson was a "slam dunk". Oh, good job, Bill.

[longtermmemmory]

The fact that outside information was ACCEPTED if not solicited stinks to high heck. Does California have an open government or sunshine law? This has the makings of a big scandal in the world's 5th largest ecconomy.

It seems like a fake attempt to attack spyware which is hidden in the small print. All which can be adressed with anti-spy software or spy free p2p variants.

But in the end the media will CYA for a democrat and CYA for their own in hollyweird.

[BurbankKarl]

This guy is a baffoon....first he knocked up a campaign staffer and married her, then he refused to enforce the State Constitution in SF....now he pay-for-plays with the MPAA!!!

[Jeff Gordon]

Bill Lockyer is a well known whore whose pimps include the MPAA, Sarah Brady (Gun Control) and the Gay Agenda.

[goldstategop]

Michael Robertson of Lindows is an enthusiastic proponent of 2P2 technology. He says instead of trying to stamp it out, the recording and motion picture industry should view it as new means to get their products out to the market. And no surprise, Lindows has incorporated P2P technology in its Linux based operating system. Robertson as an entrepreneur, is not afraid to go where the old giants of industry are are afraid to exploit a whole new digital frontier.

[goldstategop]

Michael Robertson of Lindows is an enthusiastic proponent of 2P2 technology. He says instead of trying to stamp it out, the recording and motion picture industry should view it as new means to get their products out to the market. And no surprise, Lindows has incorporated P2P technology in its Linux based operating system. Robertson as an entrepreneur, is not afraid to go where the old giants of industry are afraid to exploit a whole new digital frontier.

[tm22721]

Fast forward 300 years when a 'replicator' can make you multiple perfect copies of your Mercedes 500SL - one for each memeber of your family.

What will happen then ? The end of capitalism ?

BUMP

[antiRepublicrat]

The law stinks, but if its there, then by dingies it needs to be enforced.

Already happened, sort of. The RIAA sued a student over a campus shared folder indexing site a while back (like a mini-Google for the campus network). Among the categories you could search for was MP3 files. He had to settle and pay although he'd done nothing because the legal world is like the wild west in that whoever has the big guns makes the law.