IFPI Wants ISPs To Cut Off File-Sharers
from the such-nice-people dept
While the RIAA is busy sending out SWAT teams, its international equivalent, the IFPI also wants some help in its fight against copyright infringement: it's again calling for ISPs to cut off customers who it says share copyrighted music. It's not clear exactly why ISPs should be compelled to do the IFPI's bidding, much like it's unclear why the RIAA gets to deploy public law enforcement SWAT teams. However, in the UK, the recent Gowers Report on intellectual property recommended that ISPs come to some sort of arrangement with the record labels in this area, or that government should intervene. There are theoretical objections to the idea, but it could be a somewhat decent idea, and is certainly preferable to suing consumers into oblivion. However, there's no guarantee that getting an ISP to cut off a user would preclude separate legal action, and it's highly unlikely that the IFPI will push for the shutdown process to be implemented in a fair way that allows for a user to defend themselves before getting cut off. When groups like the IFPI, RIAA or MPAA are the ones accusing people of illegal file-sharing, they often don't bother to collect sufficient evidence. They accuse the wrong people, or even try to say that the mere existence of a shared files folder constitutes illegal activity. Presumably what they want is something akin to YouTube's DMCA takedown process: they fill out a web form somewhere with an IP address, and boom, that user gets cut off from the internet, with no recourse or -- god forbid -- due process.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Sieg Heil.
Punishment without evidence, Prosecution without cause.
I can honestly say that I am amazed that the RIAA and all its various counterparts are even paid attention to anymore.
All they do it waste taxpayer time and money [ With all the baseless scare tactic lawsuits ], I'm suprised no one has come foreward to make them just shut the hell up for once.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
RIAA (NAZI'S)
"You are guilty of everythings" Bang
Sentences served.
I find it amazing that the amount of time and money spent on the lawsuits and so forth that they have not yet figured out the best way is to use the technology at hand.
Most people do not want to intentinally steal music, but then again they don't want to pay 18.00 for a CD with one song on it.
As the damage they have done to themselves is not going to get any better by constant sueing and
Brown Shirt methods...
"So let me introduce you t our new enforcer..
Heir Himmler...
Now you will comply or be shot...
ikw
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Woooooo oh no!
We'll just have to encrypt the transmissions over different ports! Dang!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Woooooo oh no!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
To add to the current bullshit the UK has decided not to extend legal protections to search engines and aggregators that is currently afforded ISPS. In other words, that they are not responsible for the information they present or aggregate, that they are merely conduits of said information.
More here: http://www.out-law.com/page-7670
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
A tool to fight back -- Anonymous DSL
So please forgive this commercial, which I intend more as a public service announcement.
---------------> Joe
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]