Consumer Advocates In Germany Helping Those Accused Of File Sharing

from the getting-help dept

Fri, Sep 4th 2009 6:36am — Mike Masnick

It looks like the concerns over copyright holders taking advantage of people online in Germany by doing things like sending threatening letters based on weak evidence, or even putting up their own files to try to find file sharers is worrying some consumer advocates. A consumer advocacy group in the country is now promising to help those who get such pre-settlement letters to respond to them while protecting their rights. It's good to see more people recognizing that at least some of these organizations appear to be taking advantage of the ability to send legalistic letters.

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Filed Under: consumer advocates, file sharing, germany

3 Comments

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C.G., 4 Sep 2009 @ 7:43am

Similar Reaction in the UK
The UK Consumer Watchdog has also chimed in on this (though they aren't promising to help write letters).

http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/en/content/cms/News___Press_speech/Change_in_position_o /Change_in_position_o.aspx
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Druid man, 4 Sep 2009 @ 8:13am

For about one year I thought Nathan Myhrvold it was cool. Then I Realized what he was doing and now he gives all trolls a worse name.

The man belongs in Putin's Russia.
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Ben, 6 Sep 2009 @ 9:17am

suuuuure
So, if I put a dollar on the street and attach a sign that says take me. Then I go and hide behind a park bench with a camera to see who complies and take pictures. I get sued for privacy infringement.
If I, however; do the same thing online, I can sue them instead for taking what I offered? I can see it now, every free offering from M$ is now going to cost you a lawsuit. Now you can be sued for doing you updates, they are copy-protected and you forgot to call first to ask if you can do them today or not. How dare you download for free. Even though they tell you it is free. They, of course, being the people who hold the copyright. Draconian or not surely we have not fell this far.
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