MPAA Gets Town To Turn Off Free Muni-WiFi Over Single Unauthorized Movie Download

from the the-internets-must-die dept

Wed, Nov 11th 2009 4:13am — Mike Masnick

Dan alerts us to the news that the free muni-WiFi system used around the Coshocton’s County Courthouse in Northern Ohio was shut down over a complaint by the MPAA over a single unauthorized movie download. Amazingly, rather than admit that perhaps that was going a bit too far in punishing everyone in that town over a single individual's usage, the MPAA couldn't resist the opportunity to complain about the evils of movie piracy again. The MPAA doesn't seem concerned at all about the collateral damage, and just thinks that it's a good opportunity to push ahead with its misguided complaint against file sharing.

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Filed Under: copyright, mpaa, muni-wifi, piracy, shut down, wifi
Companies: mpaa

53 Comments

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senshikaze (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 4:36am

If i was the county It admin, I would have said bugger off. Hell, I have never seen our county governments react that fast to anything technology wise (roommate works for the IT dept in our county). The request would have to have gone through at least ten level of bureaucratic BS until the decision was made, and then it would have to go back through to make sure the decision was made properly. One letter from anybody wouldn't do jack shit around here.
Sometimes having a slow, techno-phobic government isn't all that bad...
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 5:03am

Interesting Idea
Perhaps the three strikes law they are trying to implement in the UK good be amended as follows:-

Once accused three times the accused's Internet access is cut off along with all of their neighbours within a 100 metre radius.

Also, to discourage further "theft" the neighbours should be sent the name, address and recent mugshot of the accused along with a note saying "go get the thieving bastard who cut off your internet access".
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Dan, 11 Nov 2009 @ 5:45am

Boycott
Just don't ever buy any movies - only if its your all time favorite and no more than 1 a years of those and preferably bought on ebay.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 5:48am

Re:
It may take 10 levels to start something but in any bureaucracy, it only takes one call from the top down to the bottom to stop it. Check it out and you may find the MPAA has a friend at the top in that county.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 5:53am

Re: Boycott
I've had enough of this "Boycott" @%#& IT WILL NEVER WORK! Why ? Because the people that already understand what is happening ARE boycotting. Everyone else goes on in the wonderful little la-la-land.
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NullOp, 11 Nov 2009 @ 5:55am

Strike a blow for freedom
You've heard me say it before, now here it is again. This Christmas leave all the media on the shelves. Let "GreedyWood" deal with the results of low sales this Xmas! Really, Strike a Blow For Freedom!
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Dark Helmet (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 5:57am

Please tell me..
...that they didn't name the infringing downloader. That guy would be the Steve Bartman of the town and probably have to move...
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Skout (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 6:05am

I wonder how it was downloaded
While I'm almost always on the side of freedom and sharing, I have to wonder what medium was used to download it, and I think that consideration show weigh heavily on any decision. If it was a torrent or kazaa, I think the admins of the system SHOULD be embarrassed and take it down.

A free service run by taxpayers should be run by professionals who know how to control the system and prevent active illegal filesharing.

Otherwise, carry on! :) As to NullOp above, hear hear! I'm not sure Hollywood will hear us correctly when we don't buy more of their offerings, but it's the only way we can voice our ire: STOP BUYING THEIR PRODUCT.
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jsl4980 (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 6:09am

This promotes buying?
This is a great opportunity to ask again - how does this promote buying?
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Dark Helmet (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 6:14am

Re: I wonder how it was downloaded
"A free service run by taxpayers should be run by professionals who know how to control the system and prevent active illegal filesharing."

Well, hey, I'm not the most technical person in the virtual room, but you're telling me that there are IT Professionals that can lock down internet access on a network in such a way that they can prevent EVEN ONE CASE of filesharing?

It seems to me that if we've learned anything from the filesharers throughout the world, it's that by and large you ain't gonna stop them. Certainly not at a 100% clip.
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Call me Al, 11 Nov 2009 @ 6:25am

Re: Re: I wonder how it was downloaded
Very true. Many people, including no small number of Techdirt readers, pride themselves on being able to get around systems put in place to stop them doing what they want to do. A determined person who knows there stuff will crack any system the County could have put in place.

Also lets face it, the best and the brightest are hardly likely to be workng for the County and running their free WIFI.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 6:33am

Re: I wonder how it was downloaded
"I'm not sure Hollywood will hear us correctly when we don't buy more of their offerings, but it's the only way we can voice our ire: STOP BUYING THEIR PRODUCT."

No, they will just claim the declining sales are all due to piracy. They will go on 60 Minutes and show depressed retailers moaning about dismal sales due to piracy. They will hold press conferences and issue press releases with bogus statistics showing how piracy is to blame for their problems and press their pocket Congressmen to pass laws to protect their precious profit machine.
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Lisa (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 6:35am

Re: This promotes buying?
It doesn't, I suspect things like this are probably just done to try to ease the minds of industry shareholders.
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Poddys (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 6:39am

I know the MPAA are handing out some strict punishments for illegally downloading movies in an attempt to stop people from doing this, but it's rather unfair to punish the whole community because of the actions of one individual.

And come on - it was only ONE MOVIE after all! I think a warning ought to suffice...
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Christopher (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 6:40am

Re: I wonder how it was downloaded
So much wrong with this sentence: "A free service run by taxpayers should be run by professionals who know how to control the system and prevent active illegal filesharing."

It's not free, the taxpayers paid for it.

The people running it are professionals, unless they do not draw a salary to run it, which is highly unlikely.

Preventing active illegal "anything" is as possible as the same preventive measures you take for anything else the taxpayer funded for public use: roads, schools, buildings. Do we shut down roads because a bank robber fled on it? No, you find the bank robber. Do we close schools and board them up because someone gets hurt? No.

So why does the MPAA get to stop a piece of public infrastructure? Because you let them.
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gorehound (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 6:58am

I am getting more and more angry at what these bigwig greedbag hollywood and mpaa are doing to us.we are not all pirates assholes.you are offending me and millions of others with your asshole ideas taking away freedoms and things we should have legally.
i am going to protest your greedyness by not buying anymore new films.i can wait a few weeks and then i can go out and buy your new movie USED !!!! and buying a movie used will insure that you greedbags get nothing out of me.and as far as sony goes you can kiss my ass.
i do not own blu-ray.i do not own a PS3.
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Tom The Toe, 11 Nov 2009 @ 7:01am

Not a download
This wasn't even a movie download. The user was sharing a movie from his own computer
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 7:08am

Its a sad day when our county governments are so scared of companies suing them that they react in this way. The complaint was about a single file being uploaded. So the knuckleheads in the IT department shutdown the entire wifi network - a network that is used by the courts and local police (among others) to do county business. Also, it sounds like the city already did some filtering and is now going to implement monitoring too. Its Sony's job to protect its property not the county's.
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Hephaestus (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 7:10am

Does anyone know .....
What proof was offered that there was an actual infringement? I didnt find anything in the article other than ...

"after Sony Pictures tracked one user sharing a single movie and issued a complaint"
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sexydiverguy (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 7:16am

Does the MPAA even know how to read server logs? The admins could try and block the abusers ports.

Someone had mentioned torrents or Kazza..Kazza possibly yes, torrents no..even Microsoft uses torrents and if torrents are used the system has no way of telling if its a legal software download or a movie.
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Chris, 11 Nov 2009 @ 7:26am

You have to wonder if they have a death wish or something. I for one will not pay for any movie to support these attitudes from the MPAA.
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Ben (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 7:30am

Cell phones?
What if I used my 3G phone as a very expensive modem to download a movie? Would Sony have AT&T shut down nationwide?
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Daemon_ZOGG, 11 Nov 2009 @ 7:32am

Free WiFi Networks....
Anyone that admins a free public network SHOULD certainly know better than the admins for the courthouse WiFi. The shutdown of the network was a bit over-done. If it were me, and yes I'm an admin, it wouldn't have happened to begin with. Secondly, I would have locked down the ports and protocols a hell of a lot more than they did, strictly for liability purposes. However, I do support file-sharing. ;)

The MPAA/RIAA are nothing more than MAFIA Organizations who's business model died decades ago. " }:> "

And as for Sony Pictures... Their pre-release "DVD Screeners" for new movies are the most WIDELY LEAKED DVDs in the file-sharing community. They need to look in the mirror, before pointing their finger at others. " }:> "

Share the wealth. ;)
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tipo, 11 Nov 2009 @ 7:38am

So.. someone use X road to commit a murder... lets close that road so no one can used again to commit a murder.. its the same principle.. or someone use X gun to murder someone.... lets close the gun making factory...better yet... a guys use his cellphone to do something illegal.. lest shutdown all the phone companies !!!
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 7:54am

Re: Re: Boycott
Well then go out and tell someone. If all of us tell one person each and they tell one person each then the news spreads.
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Peet McKimmie (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 7:56am

Re: Re:
Yup. I guess the call from the top was a message on some lowly tech's answer machine from his boss's boss's boss saying "Do whatever it takes to make sure this never happens again; I don't want to be bothered with the trivia, just get it stopped."
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geekrawker, 11 Nov 2009 @ 8:09am

Re: I wonder how it was downloaded
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geekrawker, 11 Nov 2009 @ 8:12am

Re: Re: Re: I wonder how it was downloaded
Porting on isle 5, porting on isle 5. Would the user of the blue dell netbook please report to security for a mandatory HD format.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 8:19am

Re:
Well, I have heard (sorry, I haven't been able to find a citation) that one of the arguments against building the interstate highway system is that it would aid bank robbers.
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geekrawker, 11 Nov 2009 @ 8:24am

Re: Re: This promotes buying?
Sure, to ease the minds of industry shareholders...and for the MPAA's legal departments to justify there rates. If they found no instances of file sharing, or were unable to shutdown public infrastructures and throw old ladies in jail, there would be no reason to keep the legal vigilantes on payroll. Job Security anyone?

As to the comments on Boycotting, ya that doesn't really work. Look how well the gas boycotts go each year. There are too many in the masses that don't care or are oblivious to the facts. I doubt our small group of tech heads would make much of an impact on the industry. I stopped buying movies and audio CDs in 2001 (with the exception of my favorites, probably just a few discs a year now). Plus i prefer to order direct from the artist or company when available, so at least they can associate the sale with a true fan, and all the malling lists perks like stickers, coozies, and pre-releases.

I think it will take the death of the baby boom generation before we ever see any real reform with copyrights, IP, TM, and the Music and Movie industry. (Don't take that the wrong way dad)
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 8:41am

In a world where stupid suits' decisions hurt everyone...
...one man had the strength to stand up for justice--if...they could find him in time.

"Sir! The MPAA is telling us to shut off all the public wi-fi! They're threatening legal action! Legal action!"

"Get me...

Terry Childs."
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 8:48am

Re: Cell phones?
The issue was with uploading, not downloading.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 8:49am

i have a idea
Can we find that lawyer who sued for like 50 million dollars over some pants? Get him to sue the MPAA and RIAA for harassment, claiming the warning and 'you wouldn't steal a car' adds are harassing. I think he can do it.
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Ignorant Troll, 11 Nov 2009 @ 9:04am

Someone should pirate these people's lives the world will be a better place. Honest. Once gone, the free market should kick in, we'll have movies worth watching and music possibly worth buying. But that's just me an ignorant troll
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 9:32am

Re: i have a idea
He was a judge and he lost every case he has brought to trial. It might work as far as a good harassment tactic, but as far as setting precedent it might be a very bad idea...
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 9:35am

Excuse
I'm betting that someone high up in local gov't already had it in for muni-WiFi (probably under influence from the local cable and telephone operators) and was just looking for an excuse to shut it down anyway. This was it (it might have even been a setup) and the check is in the mail.
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AC, 11 Nov 2009 @ 9:48am

Re: Interesting Idea
What a brainwave - why don't you recommnd fellow citizens put bricks through the accused's windows, just for good measure.
Oh sorry. I forgot, US of A. Vigilantees R US. Due process, innocent until proven guilty - yeah we've heard of that.
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Captain Obvious, 11 Nov 2009 @ 10:00am

The HQ's of the *AA's need to be wiped out - without a place to operate from, and without their records and files, they cannot function. Cut off the serpent's head, and all that. Come to think of it, the same should be done for the RIAA and the Fed.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 10:14am

Let me see if I have this right.

Sony (apparently NOT the MPAA) sent a letter to an ISP, a copy of which is not provided, the ISP in some manner contacted the town (presumably its IT people, but it could have been another group in the town), and the town then presumably decides to shut down the system for some unstated period of time.

Despite the above, people on this site once more rail "greed", "MPAA", and all the other buzzwords that get them whipped up into a techdirt inspiried frenzy.

If this is an example of what to expect with internet journalism, then we have a much bigger problem than internet v. print journalism. We have a lack of critical, independent thinking among the news consuming public.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 10:33am

Incorrect title?
Hey Mike, according ot the article:
"was completely shut down by the county’s Information Technology Department, after Sony Pictures tracked one user sharing a single movie and issued a complaint"

I think that 'sharing' is uploading, not downloading. Am I missing something that makes this upload a download?
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 10:58am

Re:
MPAA members include the "big six" major Hollywood studios which are:
Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group (The Walt Disney Company);
Columbia Pictures (Sony Corporation);
Paramount Pictures (Viacom);
20th Century Fox (News Corporation);
Universal Studios (NBC Universal);
Warner Bros. (Time Warner).

So, Sony is actually part of the MPAA. Don't believe any movie industry trolls that may be going around pretending otherwise. In addition, the MPAA has been going around spinning the story in the press.
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Cipher-0, 11 Nov 2009 @ 11:33am

Obligatory Pedant
It's been a while since I read it, but don't the Geneva Conventions specifically outlaw collective punishment?
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harbingerofdoom (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 11:44am

quite honestly, there is something missing from this.

either there is a component to the story that is not being told or the IT department is either under the thumb of an idiot or comprised of idiots.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 11:49am

Re:
If this is an example of what to expect with internet journalism, then we have a much bigger problem than internet v. print journalism. We have a lack of critical, independent thinking among the news consuming public.

Have you asked Mike if he considers this blog to be categorized as a news site?

As for the rest of your comment, I tend to think the opposite. It seems that due to personnel cutbacks, print news lacks the resources to dig deeper than a press release authored by a PR firm. And for most print journalists, the press release is sufficient enough to produce a story. Lack of critical, independent thinking isn't a problem with the general public.

The internet has free resources which can dig deeper into a story and provide sources that may add to the original story. These free resources can't be duplicated in a newsroom with a defined number of journalists, and deadlines.

Out of your points, I'll give you one- some print resources have better editing and a house-defined style, but that's about the only difference.

I think more people gravitate to internet news because it seems more "human" and interesting to the reader.
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randy, 11 Nov 2009 @ 11:54am

might as well do the crime
I've never illegally downloaded or shared a movie file - seriously. Never done Kazaa, Napster or any flavor of torrent. But if I were just punished (my access cut off) for being the neighbor of someone who did, well then, maybe I should get my money's worth and start building a library.
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John Fenderson (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 12:01pm

Re:
"If this is an example of what to expect with internet journalism..."

No worries, because this site doesn't do journalism. It does analysis and commentary.
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John Fenderson (profile), 11 Nov 2009 @ 12:02pm

Re: Re:
"I think more people gravitate to internet news because it seems more "human" and interesting to the reader."

Maybe so. I gravitate to internet news because it's more accurate and timely than the usual sources most of the time.
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batch, 11 Nov 2009 @ 12:30pm

It was an overreaction by the IT dept. Probably because they realized that closing ports wouldn't stop a determined person, that many other options exist to bypass that, then their head exploded from the paradox.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2009 @ 2:13pm

Why is it when we read about some nutjob running around killing tons of people, it's never at the RIAA or MPAA headquarters?
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hegemon13, 11 Nov 2009 @ 3:40pm

Re: Strike a blow for freedom
They would just use the low sales numbers as "proof" of the effect of piracy, and strengthen their position with Congress in getting more anti-consumer laws passed.

It's a no-win situation now.
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Rekrul, 11 Nov 2009 @ 8:42pm

If you were to give the MPAA/RIAA a magic button that would instantly and permanently disable every single device in the world capable of being used for copyright infringement, they'd be pounding on it like maniacs before you could even finish the first sentence, and then would wonder why none of of their cameras or recording studios were working.
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Kyote (profile), 12 Nov 2009 @ 6:39am

Re: Re: Re: Re: I wonder how it was downloaded
LMAO
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MD, 12 Nov 2009 @ 11:34pm

Re: Incorrect title?
According to the source article: "It was disabled last week after someone used the wireless local area network address to illegally download a movie."

http://www.coshoctontribune.com/article/20091109/UPDATES01/91109015
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