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Apperently You Don't Need Proof in Courts These Days!
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| St_Andrew |
| quote: | 16,000 kronor fine for file sharing
The 28 year old man at the centre of Sweden's debate on illegal file sharing has been found guilty of breaking the country's copyright law and fined 16,000 kronor (2,000 US dollars) by Västmanland district court in Västerås.
The man admitted in a police interview that he had made the Swedish film Hip Hip Hora accessible on the internet using the file sharing programme DC++, but in the trial he withdrew the confession and said it was based on a misunderstanding.
Nevertheless, the court considered that his backtracking was a fabrication. Nor did the judges give any credence to the defence lawyer's claims that the evidence presented by the prosecution could have been manipulated.
In its judgement, the court pointed out that illegal file sharing could have major consequences for the film industry and that "one should therefore take this crime seriously".
This particular case only dealt with one film, and since the 28 year old made no financial gain from sharing it the court said it was imposing "a not insignificant fine" instead of prison.
Prosecutor Chatrine Rudström said she was satisfied that the court accepted her evidence and clarified the legal position - that file sharing is "public distribution" which is regulated by copyright laws.
"I am satisfied that it was stated that this is a criminal offence and that it can be seen as public distribution," she said to TT.
The last few weeks have seen considerable speculation about the consequences of a guilty verdict and fine for the continued hunt for file sharers.
If the crime "only" results in a fine instead of prison, it means that police are unable to request personal details from internet operators. And that means the police cannot carry out raids on homes since they will not know exactly who is represented by the IP address.
Chatrine Rudström said she wanted to wait and see what happened in other cases before drawing any conclusions about what this means for the issue as a whole in Sweden.
She won't have to wait long: a similar trial is to be held in Sollentuna district court on Wednesday. |
So, the only proof they (the Swedish similarity to US' RIAA/MPAA) had, was a ing screenshot?! A SCREENSHOT?! WHAT THE ?!
Just to prove how stupid this is, a lobby organisation (pro piracy) created the "Proof Machine", you can find it -here- ("Namn" = name/nick, "Ip-nummer" = IP, "Fil att dela ut" = File to share).
Let's use that one and prosecute some ppl we don't like!!
Also, 2000 dollars for one ing movie?! There is noooo way that someone who shoplifted a DVD would get that much, so why would you get so much more on the internet?! Even ppl who drive drunk get lower fines?! Again what the hell is happening?!
Clearly big interests are taking over, and it's ing aweful if you ask me. |
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| NebulousQ |
Overwhelming Big International Corporations:
"Profits are dropping! We only 2939039402 trillion dollars and not 2939039402 trillion dollars and one cent!"
"Holy crap! What do we do?"
"Scapegoat! Scapegoat!"
"Perfect idea! But who?"
"I know this person over here downloaded a freakin movie for free!"
"For free!!!! OMGIDIE!"
"Death to PTP! Death! Death and destruction!"
"No, no, no lets sue and fine the people involved to make more money!"
"Brilliant! Let's cook some books as a toast!"
The End |
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| shaolin_Z |
Those greedy corporate  s make me wanna 
I just had to test out those smileys and this was my opportunity :D |
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| Fir3start3r |
| What...praytell is THAT --> |
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| Philby |
| quote: | Originally posted by NebulousQ
Overwhelming Big International Corporations:
"Profits are dropping! We only 2939039402 trillion dollars and not 2939039402 trillion dollars and one cent!"
"Holy crap! What do we do?"
"Scapegoat! Scapegoat!"
"Perfect idea! But who?"
"I know this person over here downloaded a freakin movie for free!"
"For free!!!! OMGIDIE!"
"Death to PTP! Death! Death and destruction!"
"No, no, no lets sue and fine the people involved to make more money!"
"Brilliant! Let's cook some books as a toast!"
The End |
"yeah! lets all steal someone's hard work and share it for free! yeah!!" |
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| ogvh5150 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Philby
"yeah! lets all steal someone's hard work and share it for free! yeah!!" |
Let's all wait and see when Hollywood actually comes up with original ideas!!! |
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| NebulousQ |
| quote: | Originally posted by Philby
"yeah! lets all steal someone's hard work and share it for free! yeah!!" |
I am not condoning peer to peer sharing of copyrighted materials, but the media hype and the blaming PTP programs for the decline in sales is mostly a bunch of hogwash. More people download and "steal" things that they would have never bought, then people who download things they were planning to buy.
I know in my experience PTP file sharing broadened my horizons in music and now I buy albums that I would not have bought before. I dont use PTP programs any more btw. |
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| ogvh5150 |
| quote: | Originally posted by NebulousQ
I am not condoning peer to peer sharing of copyrighted materials, but the media hype and the blaming PTP programs for the decline in sales is mostly a bunch of hogwash. More people download and "steal" things that they would have never bought, then people who download things they were planning to buy. |
I would say that software and music that is downloaded is undergoing extensive review. I would personally have to say that the price for certain software is unwarranted. Take XP for example. I don't see the need in it being over $US200 retail for the Pro version. Every version of that operating system is under perpetual repair. Try buying a new car and then go to the dealer at least once a month for some new repair. After a while it kind of loses it value doesn't it? Why can't the same be for your software?
Music on the other hand is not (now I don't speak for everyone) all it's cracked up to be. It's the same beat and same dynamic. Especially pop music. You have everyone fighting for your pocketbook with some remake of some other band from yesteryear. No one in pop music has any more fresh ideas. The same thing goes for Hollywood movies. All I see is remakes, sequels and tv-to-film movies.
| quote: | | I know in my experience PTP file sharing broadened my horizons in music and now I buy albums that I would not have bought before. |
I share this same thought. I don't want to buy a movie or album and play it at home and say to myself what the ^%$& is this noise I see or hear.
P2P is not about stealing it's about sharing ideas. No release group condones illegal downloading. They all ask that you support software designers (not the companies just the designers) and artists when after you're done listening or using, that you buy the product IF YOU LIKE IT. You don't want to buy something you don't like.
What media wants you to do is to buy their garbage and not care if you like it or not. As long as they get their cash on their end they couldn't care less what you do with that KD Lang CD.
So no one is going to get me to side with being against P2P. That's like pointing a gun to my head to buy some album I'm eventually going to throw out anyway. The only difference is that the gun comes in the form of frivolous litigation. And that is not the way to win me over to new music.
Hey MPAA and RIAA. If your product sucks then find new talent. After all who needs to see another reincarnation of the Zorro films. Did you MPAA forget Zorro the Gay Blade?
Sorry smokeape but here goes:
[[[[smoke]]]]
PS I do plan on getting that Playing the Angel CD soon. |
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| Sunsnail |
For god's sake. This man speaks the truth! ^^
Let's say, hypothetically, I downloaded 3d max 8. That piece of software is $3500 or somewhere near there. I am a student with $20 on my desk. Is downloading that piece of software losing that company money? uhh, no, because I wouldn't buy it anyway. The only thing that could happen is I will get interested in 3d modeling and animation and may eventually buy a copy if I go into the industry (which I hypothetically am thinking about :D )
If you can afford it and download it instead, then shame on you, but I honestly cannot afford anything :p |
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| NebulousQ |
| quote: | Originally posted by ogvh5150
Did you MPAA forget Zorro the Gay Blade? |
lol dont give them ideas :nervous:
else we will see Zorro the Gay Blade Reloaded |
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| ogvh5150 |
The file-sharing world has lost yet another commercial P2P application. Grokster, the main defendant in the MGM vs. Grokster Supreme Court trial, has officially surrendered. In a statement on its homepage, the decision appears to be final – at far as free P2P is concerned.
Grokster was a spyware/adware ridden client that connected to the FastTrack P2P network. Its reputation for being an obtrusive and potentially computer-damaging application earned it vast disrespect from the file-sharing community.
Adding to its public relation woes, Grokster found itself at odds with MGM Studios. MGM Studios accused Grokster of facilitating the wholesale distribution of copyrighted music and movies. In a drawn out courtroom saga, two federal courts agreed that Grokster was not responsible for the actions of its users. However, on June 29th, the Supreme Court found that Grokster was responsible and could be sued by MGM Studios.
This decision, although specifically directed at Grokster, would lead to a domino effect for commercial P2P vendors. iMesh, WinMX, MetaMachine, LimeWire and BearShare were all forced to change in one manner or another. Today, Grokster announced it has ceased any and all operations related to its former self.
As part of a settlement agreement with the member companies of the RIAA and MPAA, three years of litigation have come to an end. In addition to other undisclosed aspects of the agreement, Grokster must "permanent injunction prohibiting infringement – directly or indirectly – of any of the plaintiffs’ copyrighted works. This includes ceasing immediately distribution of the Grokster client application and ceasing to operate the Grokster system and software."
The following message is all that remains on the Grokster.com homepage:
"The United States Supreme Court unanimously confirmed that using this service to trade copyrighted material is illegal. Copying copyrighted motion picture and music files using unauthorized peer-to-peer services is illegal and is prosecuted by copyright owners."
"There are legal services for downloading music and movies. This service is not one of them."
"Grokster hopes to have a safe and legal service available soon."
According to Grokster's homepage, a new "legal" service is currently under development. The project, called Grokster3G touts itself as a "safe, secure & legal P2P experience."
Keep in mind, this settlement only affects the future downloading of the Grokster client. It does not prevent current Grokster users from obtaining files from the FastTrack network in any way.
The interesting aspect of "legal" music and movie services is the attempt to convey their "safe" and "secure" characteristics. Yet the RIAA's and MPAA's actions on behalf of their member companies has served to eradicate many of the worst offending P2P applications, leaving considerably more "safe" and "secure" open source clients to fill the gaps. The file-sharing world is a better place with Grokster officially vanquished.
Grokster Shuts Down
MGM Studios, from what I recall is now owned by Sony. Sony now has all the post-1948 catalog of MGM and UA titles. Ted Turner owns pre-1948 MGM and UA titles.
Although a bad blow to p2p users. Grokster, like Kazaa, we can do without due to spyware. |
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