Entertainment industry accuses campus laser-printers of downloading Indiana Jones

[PeaceNikki]

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/the-inexact-science-behind-dmca-takedown-notices/index.html

The Inexact Science Behind D.M.C.A. Takedown Notices

A new study from the University of Washington suggests that media industry trade groups are using flawed tactics in their investigations of users who violate copyrights on peer-to-peer file sharing networks.

Those trade groups, including the Motion Picture Association of America (M.P.A.A.) Entertainment Software Association (E.S.A.) and Recording Industry Association of America (R.I.A.A.), send universities and other network operators an increasing number of takedown notices each year, asserting that their intellectual property rights have been violated under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Many universities pass those letters directly on to students without questioning the veracity of the allegations. The R.I.A.A. in particular follows up some of those notices by threatening legal action and forcing reported file-sharers into a financial settlement.

....

In their report, the researchers also demonstrate a way to manipulate I.P. addresses so that another user appears responsible for the file-sharing.

An inanimate object could also get the blame. The researchers rigged the software agents to implicate three laserjet printers, which were then accused in takedown letters by the M.P.A.A. of downloading copies of “Iron Man” and the latest Indiana Jones film.

“Because current enforcement techniques are weak, it is possible that anyone, regardless of sharing content or using BitTorrent, could get a D.M.C.A. takedown notice claiming they were committing copyright infringement,” said Mr. Piatek.

[PeaceNikki]

1. I find this extremely troublesome in light of this:

House passes bill that will let the RIAA take away your home for downloading music

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3268246

[populistdriven]

3. House bill: RIAA can take away your home for downloading music? Who sponsored this PIECE of SHIT?

You have to be kidding me.

[populistdriven]

2. This is why I despise the Clintons so much - they single handedly created this monster

[PeaceNikki]

4. Heh HARDLY "single handedly". The current Congress is helping it right along.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3268246

[populistdriven]

7. It is all being done to expand the powers of the DMCA

[PeaceNikki]

10. Our legislators support the mafia-like tactics of the RIAA and keep giving them power

You can thank Sonny Bono for getting the ball rolling on this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Bono_Copyright_Term_Extension_Act

[MrCoffee]

5. What am I supposed to do, my laser printer simply LOVES George Lucas

I've got 385,432 pictures of Jar Jar Binks to prove it.

It was the laser printer that did it, why would anyone in their right mind print 385,432 pictures of Jar Jar? Sure he's all cute and cuddly and whatnot, and how can anyone resist his charming patois, but really it was the printer acting alone. Late at night, after the wife and kids are asleep.

I blame Michael Dell.

[populistdriven]

6. The DNC gets NONE of my donatations - They go Straight to Obama!

US Pirate Party Endorses Barack Obama
http://torrentfreak.com/pirate-party-endorses-obama-080103/

[PeaceNikki]

8. Go back to dot-matrix? They are far less nefarious beings.

[MrCoffee]

9. Meesa ASCII Jar-Jar? Issa terrrrible thing you suggestseses!

[PeaceNikki]

11. Your "jar-jar" speak is freakin' me out.

:scared:

[populistdriven]

12. OMG I have one of those in the garage! For some reason they cost a fortune now.

[SergeyDovlatov]

13. Ha-ha! Yes. Haul those laser printer to prison. I dare you n/t

[IDemo]

14. They're gonna have to crank up that page-per-minute count

or that is going to be one long movie.

[PeaceNikki]

15. Kick for stupid mafia-like tactic exposure.