Who Else Is The Entertainment Industry Stalking?

from the watch-your-back dept

Even for people who think we're often too hard on the entertainment industry, it's hard to see how you can reasonably defend their actions sometimes. For instance, it appears that the industry is really focused on stalking people they don't like. Earlier this year we had the story of how the RIAA was caught gathering private information on the children of one of the people who's resisting an RIAA lawsuit. However, they really seem to enjoy stalking executives at companies they don't like. Last year, for example, it came out that they had stalked the head of Kazaa for months. Earlier this week came the news that the MPAA hired a private eye to stalk one of the Pirate Bay people. Now comes the news that the MPAA also hired someone to stalk Torrentspy's founder. Some of this was known before. Last month, the news came out that the MPAA had hired a hacker to hack into Torrentspy's system and gather info. However, the new details suggest that the guy was hired to do much more than that -- and to gather all sorts of information on Torrentspy's founder however possible. If they have a legitimate legal complaint with the company (which is questionable), settle it in the courts -- but to stalk someone to get private, confidential info is ridiculous. The industry execs clearly think they're above the law -- which is partially true, since they seem to get to write the laws these days.
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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 23 Jun 2006 @ 2:25am

    Ugh.

    Another reason the RIAA is bad for your health.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Drama2Sell, 23 Jun 2006 @ 3:15am

    This article actaully reminds me of a MAD magazine feature 20-25 years ago! It was one of those Mad Interviews the Business King sort of things.

    In the "interview" they asked how he dealt with competition--he replied something to the effect of:

    I study them, I work with them day and night, and pay attention to everything they say.

    So you can learn from them? The reporter asked.

    No, said the King, so I can learn their dirty secrets and blackmail them into selling me the business for cheap.

    ---Apparently MAD was creating the business model for the next generation.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Dom, 23 Jun 2006 @ 4:39am

    Not the first time...

    Apparently the MPAA also hired a private eye to stalk the operator of The Pirate Bay:
    http://thepiratebay.org/blog.php?id=30

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike (profile), 23 Jun 2006 @ 3:24pm

      Re: Not the first time...

      Apparently the MPAA also hired a private eye to stalk the operator of The Pirate Bay:

      That was in the original post...

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    N. Gunray, 23 Jun 2006 @ 5:15am

    Above the Law

    “The industry execs clearly think they're above the law -- which is partially true, since they seem to get to write the laws these days.”

    — My Lord, is that … leeeeeegal?

    — I will make it legal!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Cynical Monkey, 23 Jun 2006 @ 5:54am

    The way to fight RIAA

    There have been many suggestions in the posts here to fight RIAA by not buying CDs. If enough people did it, the results would be tangible, I suspect. Yet, it may be difficult to convince a person to forgo buying the CD that he/she really wants.

    There is perhaps a better way--buy used CDs, don't buy new ones. Both Amazon and Ebay offer like-new CDs from private sellers for a fraction cost of the new ones. None of your money will go to the recording industry...

    Of course, the artists will get hurt too... unless there is another way to reward the artists without rewarding RIAA.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 23 Jun 2006 @ 6:07am

      Re: The way to fight RIAA

      Of course, the RIAA would like to make buying used CDs and Records illegal also. Unless they get some portion of the proceeds.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      RareButSeriousSideEffects, 23 Jun 2006 @ 6:59am

      Re: The way to fight RIAA

      Amen on buying Used. LaLa.com is another good resource for that.

      Whenever possible though, also investigate independent artists who sell directly, or the "good guys" among the digital outlets, like mp3tunes.com.

      Basically, if music is available in an unencumbered form which funds the artist and not the MAFIAA (mafiaa.org), then I'm glad to pay out.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      DoctorN3rd, 23 Jun 2006 @ 10:13am

      Re: The way to fight RIAA

      The very money hungry but intelligent music industry have applied the idea of releasing new music/movies and telling their retailers to sell them as used for a smaller percentage of the price.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 23 Jun 2006 @ 10:51am

      Re: The way to fight RIAA

      Of course, the artists will get hurt too... unless there is another way to reward the artists without rewarding RIAA.

      Umm, go to their concerts, buy the concessions.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 23 Jun 2006 @ 6:16am

    Yeah, don't forget the MPAA violated copyright law itself, by making illegal copies of "This film is unyet rated".

    Funny how it's ok for the MPAA to make illegal copies of movies, but yet no one else can.... /boggle

    I best just not buy any movies for fear of getting busted by them.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    NeTw0rKTr0jAn, 23 Jun 2006 @ 6:52am

    Entertainment Industry - Eat My Shitake

    I buy the product.. I share it... Someone else buys the product and they share it, I will DOWNLOAD it. I will download, upload and do what ever I want because I can......

    ~NeTw0rKTr0jAn~

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    wolff000, 23 Jun 2006 @ 6:54am

    Don't Buy CDs

    This is an excellent solution to the RIAA problem. i just don't understand why the very people that complain about high cd prices continue to buy. I have not bought a new cd in over 6 years. Come to think of it if its digital I haven't bought it in 6 years. I download everything, damnn the man! Fight the Power! Vive Bit Torrent, Vive Bit Torrent!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Michael Haney, 23 Jun 2006 @ 7:39am

    eMusic

    eMusic specializes in Independent, Unsigned bands and they well unencumbered MP3s also.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    I, for one, 23 Jun 2006 @ 7:48am

    lawlessness breeds

    "Last month, the news came out that the MPAA had hired a hacker to hack into Torrentspy's system and gather info."

    What you are describing is a crime. Not a civil offence, a criminal act. In my country there would be jail time for this under the Computer Misuse Act. I believe that in America you can face 40 years for doing this.

    According to the original article
    http://news.com.com/2100-1030_3-6076665.html?part=rss&tag=6076665&subj=news

    "We have very significant proof of wrongdoing and the MPAA's involvement," Rothken said.

    Of course if the law starts being selective about who's side it is on there is only one way this is going to go...

    Whether or not they get a prosecution against the MPAA it should be noted that the MPAA are really playing with fire. Stalking executives of corporations and engaging in criminal activity is raising the stakes a step too far. Do they think they are the only ones with access to mercenary force? How long is it before one of these stalkers or, maybe an MPAA exec turns up in the river? You know the Russians are behind allofmp3.com right? Are the MPAA going to run to the cops and say "One of our agents engaged in illegal breaking and entering is missing?" I think not.

    Lets hope the law can sort this out before it escalates into a kind of low level gang warfare.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    n00b, 23 Jun 2006 @ 8:27am

    Easy solution

    If you cheap losers would quit stealing stuff, other companies wouldn't need to waste everyone's time with all the protection mess.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      NeTw0rKTr0jAn, 23 Jun 2006 @ 3:26pm

      Re: Easy solution by n00b

      STFU n00b.. I own you... You don't even know how to use the word n00b.. Shitake you don't even know what “n00b” means......

      Go ask your mom for your allowance and go buy your Barney “I Love You” CD and leave the world of p2p to the professionals..

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    BadXAsh, 23 Jun 2006 @ 9:02am

    Email em

    webmaster@riaa.com

    Send em an email and let em know how you really feel about em. hehe

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    [= 3nj0y0s3lf =], 23 Jun 2006 @ 9:12am

    wtf!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    [= 3nj0y0s3lf =], 23 Jun 2006 @ 9:26am

    wtf!

    "Last month, the news came out that the MPAA had hired a hacker to hack into Torrentspy's system and gather info." "What you are describing is a crime. Not a civil offence, a criminal act. In my country there would be jail time for this under the Computer Misuse Act. I believe that in America you can face 40 years for doing this." Also, when and if you get, you would not be allowed to own a toaster! I guess if you have money to throw around like the MPAA/RIAA, you can buy your way out of it. Why don't they just give up. I mean if they tried to sue me, and I was going to lose, I'd file chapter 7 bancruptcy and then they would not be able to get shite and I could still be downloading :)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Matthew, 23 Jun 2006 @ 9:52am

    Reminds me of

    the South Park Episode where the Entertainment Executive is constantly shouting "I am above the law!" and then has to spooge his hair back with the gel -- which I suspect is the refined gore of his victims.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    charlie potatoes, 23 Jun 2006 @ 9:57am

    you're all missing the point

    the simple fact of the matter is this...if we all walked around naked smoking dope there would be no more conflicts of any sort.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 23 Jun 2006 @ 9:57am

    You want to support the artist and not the riaa? Go to one of their shows. Artists make most of their money through touring and merch (tshirts, cds,stickers,posters,your mom)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    AudioWB, 23 Jun 2006 @ 10:27am

    starving artists

    Actually, artists make most of their money by owning the recording and songwriting rights of their songs. Then, the artist collects money every single time the song is played on the radio, jukebox, etc. That is why getting a "hit" is so important -- the top 40 radio stations are the ticket to the big time. (Ugh, how I dislike top 40 stations; however, I wouldn't mind having a song in the rotation.) Tours often lose money because of all the costs associated with putting the tour together.

    Maybe one day the RIAA will go away.....

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Lewis Salem, 23 Jun 2006 @ 10:32am

    Mesh Networking..

    ..I can't wait for P2P mesh networking.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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