Who Else Is The Entertainment Industry Stalking?

from the watch-your-back dept

Fri, Jun 23rd 2006 1:49am — Mike Masnick

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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26 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jun 2006 @ 2:25am

Ugh.
Another reason the RIAA is bad for your health.
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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.
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- Wolfger, 23 Jun 2006 @ 4:41am
  
  Re:
  damn you, Alfred E. Neumann!
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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
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- 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...
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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!
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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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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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.
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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~
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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!
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Michael Haney, 23 Jun 2006 @ 7:39am

eMusic
eMusic specializes in Independent, Unsigned bands and they well unencumbered MP3s also.
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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.
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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.
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- 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..
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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
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[= 3nj0y0s3lf =], 23 Jun 2006 @ 9:12am

wtf!
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[= 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 :)
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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.....
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Lewis Salem, 23 Jun 2006 @ 10:32am

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