DOJ to prosecute file swappers

ZDNet News ^ | August 20, 2002 | Declan McCullagh

[steve-b]

Well, it seems everyone has learned well from the Democrats, if you want to steal from someone, you first demagogue them and then de-legitimize their rights.

Yes, and the recording industry's attacks on fair use have made it easy, just as Enron & Co. made attacks on Big Business easy.

Since I have a finite amount of energy, I prefer to expend it in the defense of people who do not insist upon self-destructing in a manner that inflicts collateral damage upon me.

[Wm Bach]

Mrs. Andre Previn.

It just goes to show you that even the Bud Cort-looking, chubby guys who can score for the divas, can score with the divas.

[lavaroise]

swapping illicit copies of music and movies is a criminal offense that can result in lengthy prison terms.

I think those morons should go after the real terrorists in Hollywood. File swapping? Yeah, right, they are not even exact copies but broken down mp3s. As for file swaping they should go after Holywood's ideas and file swaping with terrorist ideologies.

[tdadams]

e.g. ripping of CDs to hard disk in order to convert them to MP3s

Either you're naive or being disingenuous. How many people ripping to MP3 are doing so only for their own use instead of file swapping? I've heard several kids bragging about copying their CDs and selling them to friends for two or three bucks. That's criminal and they ought to be prosecuted.

Should we do nothing and send the message to these kids that breaking the law isn't that serious and depriving someone of their rightful income is OK?

I have no problem with fair use provisions. I do have a problem with wanton copyright violation.

[steve-b]

How many people ripping to MP3 are doing so only for their own use instead of file swapping?

Numbers are irrelevant. I do, and that is sufficient to make any attempt to prevent it an unacceptable infringement upon my rights.

Really, I would have been glad to support copyright holders' legitimate efforts against bootleggers, but they insisted upon picking a fight with me. You'll understand if my reaction to their troubles is to do my impression of Rhett Butler's closing line.

[jjm2111]

I think you're right. There's no way the feds can determine if mp.3s and divx's are legally owned anyway. Obtaining evidence against end users will be difficult at best, and convictions will be difficult.

1. The law is hazy. Say for instance, you purchase a CD, rip the songs to your computer, then sell or give away the CD. Since you made that copy for your own private use, the copy is legal. I do not think the law specifies whether it has to be destroyed or not.

2. Also, how are the feds going to get the evidence? There's no probable cause in seeing a teenager w/ an MP3 player.

3. With civil cases the legal standard is preponderance of evidence. Criminal cases require guilt beyond a resonable doubt. That reasonable doubt standard would make it very difficult for the feds to convict pirates.

Apillar, you are right on the money. Also, the RIAA SUX!!! :)

[jjm2111]

Since record companies are stealing from me, I have NO problem stealing from them. I know two wrongs don't make a right, but I figure I'm just evening the scales a bit. Is metallica's music really worth millions? Collusion is what causes high prices for entertainment. I think file sharing is just the market finding the correct price for entertainment.

Before the modern era, entertainers were not nearly the financial powerhouses that they are today. Their value is artificial.

[jjm2111]

I'm not employed by a record company and haven't been for nearly 10 years.

You consult for one. :)

[Protagoras]

check out Freenet, the secure, anonymous, strongly-encrypted internet. It's free, it's peer-to-peer, and it works

The link doesnt work for me.

[jjm2111]

I'm impressed... two classical music fans on one thread.

[tdadams]

Since record companies are stealing from me...(socialist/populist blather snipped)

Please tell me how record companies are stealing from you. Is someone forcing you to buy CDs against your will? I don't think so.

I'm still amazed that all the free market conservatives on FR turn into power-to-the-people populists with all the disturbing Democrat rhetoric when it comes to this issue.

[TC Rider]

DOJ to prosecute file swappers

When I saw the headline I was hoping it meant the eminent arrest of Craig Livingston and Hillary!

[Hemingway's Ghost]

.will imtitate Jimmy Buffet, and eschew the record companies altogether.

I think Buffet is a sucky musician, but GDAMN is he a shrewd, outstanding businessman.

[tdadams]

You consult for [a record company]

Wrong again, smarty.

[hobbes1]

he's a musician? lol

[WindMinstrel]

The link doesnt work for me.

Hrmm, looks like the server is messed up temporarily. I'm sure it'll be up soon. They host on Sourceforge, which is durned stable for the most part

[webstersII]

But sad to say, experience has taught me that record companies are a necessary part of the equation.

Discussing the merits of the law on file swapping is one thing, but let's not be ridiculous here. There was music in this country before there were these huge record companies and the huge business it has become. The record companies have no basic right to exist anymore than any other business.

To use your terms, let's observe the law. Let the record companies use civil lawsuits to go after copyright violaters. That's their recourse.

[tdadams]

When I saw the headline I was hoping it meant the eminent arrest of Craig Livingston and Hillary!

Now that I would cheer about.

[WindMinstrel]

You may both pucker up and kiss my pimply white parrothead buttocks. Master Buffett is da man, as the kids are wont to say.

[Protagoras]

When I saw the headline I was hoping it meant the eminent arrest of Craig Livingston and Hillary!

ROTFLMAO