Congressional Aide Hires Fake Hackers To Improve Apparently Well-Deserved Low GPA

France The Latest To Tell The RIAA That Privacy Is More Important Than Piracy

from the a-little-privacy-please dept

Fri, Dec 22nd 2006 12:17pm — Mike Masnick

As the entertainment industry has rushed around the world assuming that no one deserves any privacy at all if the RIAA or MPAA believe they may have at one point or another accessed, downloaded or shared an unauthorized file, it seems that some courts are finally recognizing that there are some privacy issues to be dealt with. Over in the Netherlands, a court last year noted that privacy rights were more important than the entertainment industry's screams of piracy -- and that the entertainment industry needed to respect local privacy laws. A higher court later limited that decision, based on some odd criteria, but it seems like the entertainment industry might not be as lucky in France. A French court has now found that the entertainment industry cannot engage in "unrestrained" internet monitoring in trying to track down unauthorized file sharers. In the case, like just about every similar case, the recording industry used an IP address to obtain the information necessary to file a lawsuit. However, the French court is noting that the industry didn't get court authorization to find out who was associated with that IP address -- basically saying that a court should decide if there's enough evidence before an ISP can just hand over names.

Of course, as you might expect, the recording industry is playing down the decision, claiming it's an "isolated decision." Apparently, to the recording industry, things like privacy are simply an isolated nuisance. More interesting, though, may be the impact this decision has on the small group of companies out there that do the industry's dirty work in tracking IP addresses. This ruling could mean that they're all breaking the law -- and could face fines or prison time. In fact, the article notes that one government organization is already looking to crack down on such firms, which could put a crimp in the industry's plans to keep on spying on people.

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33 Comments

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Jason, 22 Dec 2006 @ 12:30pm

France did something right?
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2006 @ 12:36pm

It did, oh lovely Aryan American.
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2006 @ 12:41pm

I'm waiting for the day that someone goes to court, IP list in hand, and gets sent home at the door because here weren't any direct connections, only encrypted ones - I2P all the way.
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DittoBox, 22 Dec 2006 @ 1:08pm

Re:
I wish you stupid American pigs would realize you're just as bad as everyone else.

And I can say that, because I'm American.
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2006 @ 1:18pm

way to go?
way to go France, can we borrow some of your judges over here, and blast the heck out of the RIAA?

I don't know if im alone, but i think that th RiAA and MPAA have got a bit to far?
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Tony, 22 Dec 2006 @ 1:24pm

Great
Beat the hell out of RIAA...
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An American, 22 Dec 2006 @ 1:31pm

Sheesh
Still bashing France?

C'mon pod people wake up! Remember why so many American's began bashing the French in the first place?

If I recall correctly it was because they didn't immediately leap into the fray after 9/11, when there was still a lot of fact-finding left to do. They wouldn't get behind the search for WMDs in our Terrorism routing.

Way to have a back-bone France, imaging thinking for yourself...

So stop harping on WWII and at least criticize them for being rude or something (Which of course Americans are already world renowned for.).

Making fun of France is soooooo 2005...
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justin, 22 Dec 2006 @ 1:45pm

france ... ugg
wow, even tho france has the right stance on the issue they are still I still dislike them. I mean, they make issues out of "french fries". I hope they all get bleeding arse cancer; and spread this topic around as gospel.
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justin, 22 Dec 2006 @ 1:46pm

france ... ugg
wow, even tho france has the right stance on the issue _but_ I still dislike them. I mean, they make issues out of "french fries". I hope they all get bleeding arse cancer; and spread this topic around as gospel.
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ian, 22 Dec 2006 @ 1:53pm

Go to school justin
Nobody made a big deal about "freedom fries" execept those involved in naming them "freedom fries". The rest of the world was busy laughing at us.
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2006 @ 1:53pm

American government officials are the ones that made an issue of french fries. "Freedom fries"? Pfft.
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Vukovar, 22 Dec 2006 @ 1:53pm

Proud American
As a proud American, I can safely say that I have grossly misunderestimated our unknown unknowns in trying to export our warmongering to those evil-doers. Next, someone's going to tell me that Gilligan's Island wasn't a reality show....
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SimplyGimp, 22 Dec 2006 @ 1:56pm

Did you know?
If it wasn't for France, America would probably be Little Britain. Thank you France, for fighting the RIAA and our country's independence.
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BillDivX, 22 Dec 2006 @ 2:07pm

Ironic...
that we got all huffy and wanted to call them "freedom fries."

you know, since it seems to be france that's actually looking out for american freedoms...
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2006 @ 2:25pm

Re: DittoboxDork
Go live somewhere else DittoboxDork. We don't want you here anyway. Go somewhere where you don't have the freedom. You're an idiot.
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The infamous Joe, 22 Dec 2006 @ 2:42pm

Take that!
Hahaha! I can't help but laugh at those humans, they are so silly-- they didn't do what my humans did! Foolish humans.
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Mr Schotz, 22 Dec 2006 @ 2:46pm

We will find another way
We will find another way to deal with you people who steal
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SimplyGimp, 22 Dec 2006 @ 2:50pm

Re: We will find another way
And we'll continue to find ways to circumvent you until you types run out of funds and the government can no longer stand your intrusions into personal lives.

I hope your Christmas sucks btw :)
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2006 @ 3:10pm

Boy i sure guess going to the library is stealing too... F-ucking retard. Go through your money elsewhere stupid kommi @sshole
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The infamous Joe, 22 Dec 2006 @ 3:43pm

Dodge, Parry, Jab.
Fisrt off, Mr. Schotz, stealing and copyright infringement are not the same thing. If you'd like further information, a simple google search on the subject should help you out. That is, of course, assuming you're not a troll and really don't know the difference.

Secondly, I still hope you have a Merry Christmas, because it's not nice to be mean.

Next, I don't get why there is a hyphen in AC#19's comment between the F and the U... it's almost as if he or she was trying to partially censor him/herself and forgot to leave out a letter. I won't even touch the 'kommi' part, because maybe that's how kids spell it these days, I never can tell.

Finally, I'd like to point out, not for the first time on Techdirt, that chances are good that none of you are actually part of the governments you are defending, and that name calling doesn't really sway anyone that is undecided to your side. Pariotism is an excellent trait to have, but all the 'My dad is better than your dad.' nonesense is more than a little childish.

In addition to Mr. Schotz, I hope you all have a Merry Christmas.
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DittoBox, 22 Dec 2006 @ 3:51pm

Re: Re: DittoboxDork
If I'm socially outcast for my beliefs, and told to leave (regardless of their truth) where's my vaunted freedom?

I don't just want freedom to believe what you believe, I want freedom to believe what I believe. That's freedom. If you can't swallow that you're in the wrong country.
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2006 @ 3:51pm

You really want to screw the MPAA and RIAA good. Stop buying dvds, cds, mp3, etc. Stop buying all there shit. When they run out of money they will see who the bitches are, themselves. Shit if the American market dropped out one them, all the conmpanies would go bankrupt. To make a side note, don't buy a Zune. I say this to Microsoft proudly, go F-yourself cause I'm not paying $1 to any music compony by buying your shitty Zune.
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krum, 22 Dec 2006 @ 4:06pm

freedom fries
If they want to call them Freedom Fries they should call the French Dip something else like a Liberty Dip or Freedom dip...but hen you'd have to swap the AiJus for oil. But seriously, good for France and their citizens' privacy rights and I too hope eveyone has a merry Christmas...aside from the MPAA and the RIAA.
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Engrish prease, 22 Dec 2006 @ 6:24pm

Re:
English Much?
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Lefty, 22 Dec 2006 @ 8:01pm

Freedom Fries?
I take it people aren't aware that the decision to change the name was done by the Senate subcommittee in charge of the Capital Hill lunch room? And that it did not go through any sort of vote, motion, or any other processes by which more then three or four people could review it, prior to the change taking place. To go further, I believe it was this past summer that the menu was changed back to read as French Fries; as well read the comments made by the French Embassy when asked to respond to the change and you'll see that they were more amused then anything else.
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misa, 22 Dec 2006 @ 8:02pm

question to americans
and by the way....when you americans say that you live in the land of freedom ....what do you mean by freedom?

what kind of special situation do you have that makes you people say that you live in total freedom?
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misa, 22 Dec 2006 @ 8:06pm

question to americans
cuz here in mexico i can go wherever i want whenever i want ...believe in what ever i want ..mock politicians ...i can be an activist and ill never be investigated or be a suspect of terrorism ....ahh and if i dont want to ill never go to any war and be obligated to kill nobody
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Luci, 22 Dec 2006 @ 8:26pm

Re: Did you know?
Finally! Someone who knows a bit more about our own Revolution than is common, these days! Yes, Benjamin Franklin, Arthur Lee, Silas Deane, and later John Adams went abroad to look for help in funding our bid for freedom. Even though it was a measure of their dislike for England at the time, France was the major contributor to our war chests.
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JohnnyZTS, 22 Dec 2006 @ 10:35pm

Re: Sheesh
France has been pig fodder long before 911. You must be too young or to stupid to know much World history. Study up my friend or better yet immigrate to Paris. But first you'll need to learn to speak Arabic.
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JohnnyZTS, 22 Dec 2006 @ 10:39pm

Re: Re: DittoboxDork
"Go live somewhere else DittoboxDork. We don't want you here anyway" Whats this we shit ? have you got a turd in your back pocket ? The Anonymous Coward is both
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getLaidIan, 23 Dec 2006 @ 12:34pm

Re: Go to school justin
it was us calling our fries freedom fries, yes; the reason is that france is a nation of rude, smelly, utterly useless country. When we saved them they thought us american's are the shit, when they didn't support the war they're feeling changed? Are reasons are teh same .. freedom ...

if france got in a war today, what are they going to bring to the battlefield? Pastires and bad smelling perfume to scare the enemy away.

Go france for believing in thier peoples rights, boo america on that ... but still, I am proud to live here and if france wants to stick there nose up at us ... sit and spin france...
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JM, 23 Dec 2006 @ 10:31pm

Re: Re:
You're a jackass and so is the AC you're in a pissing match with. You both need to STFU.
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claire rand, 27 Dec 2006 @ 12:06am

Re: Re: Go to school justin
chips anyone?

french/freedom fries just don't cut the mustard, sorry chaps (and chappesses...)

sorry for naff spelling, using my work pc, no spell checker in the browser :-(
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