Film Company That's Sued Thousands Might Not Even Own Rights To Film It's Suing Over

from the now-that's-how-it's-done dept

Fri, Apr 1st 2011 8:50am — Mike Masnick

Wired has a "big" story up covering how various indie filmmakers seem to be jumping on the "sue downloaders as a business model," bandwagon. It notes that for some filmmakers, these legal shakedowns are becoming the business model of choice:

Welcome to the future of Hollywood, or at least the less glittery outskirts of Tinsel Town that produce art films, exploitation flicks and porn. Over the past year, small-budget film producers have nearly perfected a slick, courtroom-based business strategy that�s targeted more than 130,000 suspected movie downloaders.

As the article notes, this is wholly different from the RIAA's multi-year lawsuit strategy (which was a big money loser), which was supposed to be about deterrent. These new lawsuits are all about squeezing people for cash. Of course, if you read Techdirt, there's not much new there. But it is a nice piece bringing a bunch of these stories together.

But here is something new. Over at THREsq, Eriq Gardner picks up on the Wired story, and notes that the main example used by Wired reporter David Kravets, the B-movie Nude Nuns With Big Guns -- which Camelot Distribution Group has used to sue 5,865 alleged downloaders, claiming they're owed $880 million dollars -- may be even more ridiculous than some of the others. That's because Camelot is being sued by Incentive Capital for "breach of contract and fraud" in relation to a $650,000 loan that was given to Camelot to acquire the rights to various films, including Nude Nuns With Big Guns. Since Camelot failed to live up to its payment requirements, Incentive foreclosed on the film -- to which "no objection was made." So, technically, it appears that Camelot no longer holds the rights to the movie at all... despite the lawsuits over it.

Yes, you read that right. Camelot didn't make the movie. It has little to do with the movie. It apparently took out a loan to acquire the rights, sued nearly 6,000 people demanding cash for downloading the movie... and, according to the company who lent it the money, failed to pay back the loan, meaning they took control over the rights. Think about that for a second. That's quite a business model: borrow money, "buy" the rights to a film, sue thousands of people demanding they pay up, and don't pay back the loan, let the lending company "reclaim" the rights, but keep the lawsuits (and the cashflow) coming in.

Of course, it seems like this could open Camelot up to serious legal consequences, especially since it filed the lawsuit against those thousands of file sharers approximately two weeks after Incentive allegedly took over the rights to the film...

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Filed Under: file sharing, lawsuits, loan, nude nuns with big guns, ownership, p2p
Companies: camelot distribution group, incentive capital

82 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:04am

"Film Company That's Sued Thousands Might Not Even Own Rights To Film It's Suing Over"

So big deal, the fine is a slap on the wrist compared with the fine of (accidental) infringement. They have everything to gain and little to lose.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:05am

Reading the story, it's not clear that Camelot DIDN'T own the rights when the alleged infringements took place. According to Incentive's claim, they got the rights back from Camelot on February 21st. Camelot filed the mass infringement lawsuit two weeks later, on March 7. It's very likely that the infringements they're suing over happened before February 21st, i.e., when they still owned the rights. If that's the case, then there is no problem.

Without knowing the dates of the alleged infringements, your article is pure FUD. Have you considered pulling up the filing to see the dates of the alleged infringements? Rather than FUDing it out, you could actually do some research to see if there's really an issue.
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- Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:12am
  
  Re:
  You really think the details will mean the whole strategy of Camelot stinks and is not a drain on society?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:30am
    
    Re: Re:
    But it's a business model that works!
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:42am
    
    Re: Re:
    You really think the details will mean the whole strategy of Camelot stinks and is not a drain on society?
    
    I said nothing of the sort. I'm merely pointing out that there is likely no issue here with Camelot bringing suits against those who infringed their rights while they owned those rights. The subsequent transfer of rights is irrelevant.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:03am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      I'm merely pointing out that there is likely no issue here with Camelot
      
      And the point you missed everyone making here is that you're definition of "no issue" is narrowly limited to the law.
      
      It's like (over) stating that there was "no issue" in owning a slave in 1800.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:07am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Yes, I'm talking about the law. Considering that Mike started the discussion by saying Camelot could face "serious legal consequences," it's appropriate to discuss whether or not that's true.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:36am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I accept your apology.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 11:02am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I accept your apology.
        
        I gave you none, nor do I give you one now.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 11:17am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I accept your retraction.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 11:32am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        And I accept the fact that you're not nearly as funny as you think you are. :)
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 11:51am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        End scene.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Atkray (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 2:37pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Mail out legal notices for infringement.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        The eejit (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:39am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Then why shouldn't they, or rather their legal team, face ethics sanctions for this? IT's a pretty good case of extortive attempts.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 11:03am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Then why shouldn't they, or rather their legal team, face ethics sanctions for this? IT's a pretty good case of extortive attempts.
        
        You have to show that it's fraud first.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        RD, 1 Apr 2011 @ 11:34am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "Then why shouldn't they, or rather their legal team, face ethics sanctions for this? IT's a pretty good case of extortive attempts.
        
        You have to show that it's fraud first."
        
        This is awesome. AC vs AC. Its like having an automatic pilot for intellectual property arguments.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- So if they no longer have the rights..., 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:30am
  
  Re:
  ... what harm was done. You could claim there was harm for a short period while they had the rights (although most here would dispute that, including me). But even if your premise is granted, why then would these people be on the hook for $880 million (as claimed by the studio sans rights)?
  
  Surely you can't argue they 'lost' that money, they no longer have the rights to it. Of course there's an issue here, stop spreading your FUD, AC.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:36am
    
    Re: Re:
    ... what harm was done. You could claim there was harm for a short period while they had the rights (although most here would dispute that, including me). But even if your premise is granted, why then would these people be on the hook for $880 million (as claimed by the studio sans rights)?
    
    Surely you can't argue they 'lost' that money, they no longer have the rights to it. Of course there's an issue here, stop spreading your FUD, AC.
    
    I didn't say anything about harm. I'm merely pointing out that Mike's conclusion is pure FUD. If the infringements happened while they owned the rights, they retain the right to sue for the infringement even if the rights subsequently changed ownership. I am spreading no FUD.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Berenerd (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:49am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Technically they didn't own the rights. a contract was made to buy the rights, the rights were handed over but no money was paid cept by the loaning company. Therefore, minus the cost of lawyer fees (assuming the loan company continued with the lawsuits) camelot would have no claims what so ever to any infringement. They literally invested almost nothing to gain absolutely everything. Their entire business model is a fraud.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:57am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Technically they didn't own the rights. a contract was made to buy the rights, the rights were handed over but no money was paid cept by the loaning company. Therefore, minus the cost of lawyer fees (assuming the loan company continued with the lawsuits) camelot would have no claims what so ever to any infringement. They literally invested almost nothing to gain absolutely everything. Their entire business model is a fraud.
        
        Not true. Ownership transferred when the contract was perfected.
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        The eejit (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:46am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        And taken away when Camelot defaulted.
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        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:48am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        And taken away when Camelot defaulted.
        
        Yes, the rights appear to have returned to Incentive. What's important for the alleged infringers is whether or not Camelot owned the rights when the infringement allegedly occurred.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        The eejit (profile), 2 Apr 2011 @ 4:52am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Which makes no sense for us laymen. Once the rights were transferred as a result of the default, the right were no longer in the plaintiff's hands, as it were. Therefore, realistically, any monies earned after that time were deceptively obtained. So the ethical issue raised above is that there are monies obtained by deception, which is different from fraud legally speaking.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 2 Apr 2011 @ 9:33am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Which makes no sense for us laymen. Once the rights were transferred as a result of the default, the right were no longer in the plaintiff's hands, as it were.
        
        Let me give you an analogy. Let's say you own a car and you are in wreck with some guy, and it's that guy's fault. You subsequently sell your car to someone else. You can still sue the guy who hit you, even though you do not own the car. You still retain the right to sue for the accident that happened when you owned the car.
        
        Therefore, realistically, any monies earned after that time were deceptively obtained. So the ethical issue raised above is that there are monies obtained by deception, which is different from fraud legally speaking.
        
        If the rights did transfer back to Incentive, then indeed Camelot would not be able to sue people who infringed on those rights after they transferred back. However, it's not clear that these rights did in fact transfer back to Incentive. That's simply Incentive's claim.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anunimus Kowerd, 3 Apr 2011 @ 2:51am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "Let's say you own a car and you are in wreck with some guy, and it's that guy's fault. You subsequently sell your car to someone else. You can still sue the guy who hit you, even though you do not own the car. You still retain the right to sue for the accident that happened when you owned the car."
        
        Except, I don't own the car. I borrowed/leased it temporarily as part of my master plan, being to get into an accident in order to gain the excuse of suing someone for monetary gain. No matter what analogy you use, it will always boils down to an IMMORAL abuse of copyright and the law. I agree with a previous poster, the problem stems from people seeing IP rights the same as property rights, and this story shows us once again why that needs to change.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 3 Apr 2011 @ 8:00am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Except, I don't own the car. I borrowed/leased it temporarily as part of my master plan, being to get into an accident in order to gain the excuse of suing someone for monetary gain. No matter what analogy you use, it will always boils down to an IMMORAL abuse of copyright and the law. I agree with a previous poster, the problem stems from people seeing IP rights the same as property rights, and this story shows us once again why that needs to change.
        
        You are assuming facts not in evidence. If this was some immoral scheme, I'd agree with you. But as it is, you're making assumptions.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anunimus Kowerd, 3 Apr 2011 @ 10:48pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        At the risk of sounding childish, you started it. Plus we're talking analogies here, so I don't see the harm as they too have nothing to do with "facts" and everything to do with conjecture. I felt yours needed a slight tweak for the sake of accuracy and is the primary reason I bothered to post at all.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Replyer, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:33am
  
  Re:
  That's an interesting point, but still...if the title passes to new ownership, why wouldn't the ability to collect pass along with it? Not sure that just because Camelot MAY HAVE owned the rights during that period means they can continue to exert claims for the past period.
  Plus, this wasn't a sale of ownership. This was a foreclosure. They arguably didn't fulfill their obligations that would give them legitimate ownership over the titles in the first place.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:41am
    
    Re: Re:
    That's an interesting point, but still...if the title passes to new ownership, why wouldn't the ability to collect pass along with it? Not sure that just because Camelot MAY HAVE owned the rights during that period means they can continue to exert claims for the past period.
    Plus, this wasn't a sale of ownership. This was a foreclosure. They arguably didn't fulfill their obligations that would give them legitimate ownership over the titles in the first place.
    
    My understanding is that the accreted right to sue remains with the transferor unless explicitly granted to the transferee. The foreclosure subsequent to the breach of contract did not rescind the contract. The rights were still Camelot's for a period of time.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Any Mouse (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 5:23pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Are you sure of that? Where was that pointed out in the articles? There is the chance that during the breach of contract those rights were likewise rescinded.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Dark Helmet (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:34am
  
  Re:
  So you're saying the law is clear that a company doesn't have to own the rights at the time of filing, but rather at the time of infringement? I see your point, but can you point me to where this is stated as a matter of procedural law (honest question)?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:36am
  
  Response to: Anonymous Coward on Apr 1st, 2011 @ 9:05am
  So by your logic, it is perfectly ok to take out a loan to buy rights to something for which you never intended to make payments on, quick file a bunch of lawsuits over it before the first payment is due, let the loan default, and reap rewards for something you "owned" briefly but never paid for. You're a bigger scumbag for defending them than the perpetrators of this scam.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:48am
    
    Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on Apr 1st, 2011 @ 9:05am
    So by your logic, it is perfectly ok to take out a loan to buy rights to something for which you never intended to make payments on, quick file a bunch of lawsuits over it before the first payment is due, let the loan default, and reap rewards for something you "owned" briefly but never paid for. You're a bigger scumbag for defending them than the perpetrators of this scam.
    
    Not my logic at all. That would be fraud. I'm not defending anyone. I'm merely pointing out what I believe to be in fact the law.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:00am
      
      Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on Apr 1st, 2011 @ 9:05am
      If my example is fraud, then how is what they did not? They are doing exactly that. Would my example still be fraud if I made one or two payments on my rights purchase? Afterall, I technically am the "owner" for that brief period for which I made the first payment. Of course I know full well that I never intended to pay off the full loan but no one else does. I just briefly wanted to own it long enough to file lawsuits against infringers during the time I made payments on it.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - drewdad (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:06am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on Apr 1st, 2011 @ 9:05am
        It all comes down to intent.
        
        If they intended not to pay the loan, just to temporarily gain the rights, then it is fraud.
        
        If they planned to pay the loan, and were unable to do so, then it isn't fraud.
        
        Personally, I don't see how they could have honestly expected to make enough money in time to service the loan.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:11am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on Apr 1st, 2011 @ 9:05am
        It all comes down to intent.
        
        If they intended not to pay the loan, just to temporarily gain the rights, then it is fraud.
        
        If they planned to pay the loan, and were unable to do so, then it isn't fraud.
        
        Personally, I don't see how they could have honestly expected to make enough money in time to service the loan.
        
        That's exactly right. For it to be fraud, there must that intent. We have no information one way or the other whether it was fraud or not. If it was fraud, then the contract could be rescinded, and the rights would therefore have never transferred to Camelot.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:36am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on Apr 1st, 2011 @ 9:05am
        So what you are the saying is, that even though I never had any intent to repay the loan, and no one knows that, all I have to do is outwardly portray to everyone that I did intend to repay the loan, as evidenced by me making the first payment, and voila! I have a successful business model that people like you would support.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:47am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on Apr 1st, 2011 @ 9:05am
        So what you are the saying is, that even though I never had any intent to repay the loan, and no one knows that, all I have to do is outwardly portray to everyone that I did intend to repay the loan, as evidenced by me making the first payment, and voila! I have a successful business model that people like you would support.
        
        I'm not saying that at all. We don't know whether Camelot intended to repay the loan or not. I'm not saying I support anything. I'm simply trying to explain and understand the legal issues at play here. I in no way support fraud, and if this is fraud, I hope Camelot is held accountable.
        
        Incentive is suing for breach of contract and fraud. If they win the fraud case, the contract can be rescinded. That would mean the rights never transferred to Camelot. If it's merely a breach of contract without fraud, then the rights were owned by Camelot for a period of time, and they can sue people who infringed during that time.
        
        I don't know if this is fraud or not. If it turns out to be ruled fraud, that could get the alleged infringers off the hook.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 12:23pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on Apr 1st, 2011 @ 9:05am
        Very nice argument, and one that has valid footing. I applaud you for keeping it civil and standing your ground. These types of back and forths make for great reading.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Don, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:37am
  
  Re:
  I think TechDirt is referring to the morality of the whole thing and not the legality of it.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:39am
    
    Re: Re:
    I think Techdirt needs a morality icon when making arguments because the lawyers who chime in never get the distinction in points.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - PRMan, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:50am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      It's how we flush out the lawyers around here. It's very effective.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - slander (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 3:46pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "Flush" being the operative term...
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:52am
    
    Re: Re:
    I think TechDirt is referring to the morality of the whole thing and not the legality of it.
    
    Mike's final paragraph indicates otherwise: "Of course, it seems like this could open Camelot up to serious legal consequences, especially since it filed the lawsuit against those thousands of file sharers approximately two weeks after Incentive allegedly took over the rights to the film..."
    
    Morally, I'm on board with what Mike is saying. Legally, I disagree.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:54am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Got it, so you latch on to the strong stance "seem like this could" speculation and make that the main thrust of your rebuttal.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:59am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Got it, so you latch on to the strong stance "seem like this could" speculation and make that the main thrust of your rebuttal.
        
        Yes, I was responding to the legal issues that Mike raised. Not sure why that ruffles everyone's feathers. That last paragraph was all FUD. Mike can't write a story about infringement lawsuits without spreading FUD all over it. That much is clear.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        vivaelamor (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 11:43am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "That last paragraph was all FUD"
        
        Is it still FUD if it's true?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        techflaws.org (profile), 2 Apr 2011 @ 1:24am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I like the point you raised and the way you argue still I'm pretty sure your use of FUD is wrong in this context.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Jay (profile), 2 Apr 2011 @ 8:22am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        The problem is, it's the only context he ever has...
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:43am
  
  Re:
  Isn't that in direct contradiction to the Kookaburra - Land Down Under Ruling? Yes, I realize that this is US law vs AUS law, but any individual country would have to choose one of the two situations, I'd imagine.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- mike allen (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:51am
  
  Re:
  Stupid git yes you troll I for one am fed up with your silly stupid comments you need a brain transplant oh I know a Sinclair spectrum instead has better logic. As Camelot NEVER paid for the rights they never owned the rights therefore they have committed fraud on 6000 people. think about it. If you buy a car on instalments who owns the car? hint NOT YOU. if you don't pay the instalments who owns and eventually takes the car? hint THE REAL OWNERS.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:54am
    
    Re: Re:
    Stupid git yes you troll I for one am fed up with your silly stupid comments you need a brain transplant oh I know a Sinclair spectrum instead has better logic. As Camelot NEVER paid for the rights they never owned the rights therefore they have committed fraud on 6000 people. think about it. If you buy a car on instalments who owns the car? hint NOT YOU. if you don't pay the instalments who owns and eventually takes the car? hint THE REAL OWNERS.
    
    Ownership transferred when the contract was perfected, regardless of whether Camelot paid the price. The article mentions that Camelot did make payments at first, so you're apparently wrong about that, but that is irrelevant to the issue of transfer of ownership.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Jay (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:10am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Yep, copyright...
      
      It's the new phase in hiring mercenary contracts. Not putting anything on the market? Get a patent.
      
      Not sure about your creation of yesteryear? Get a copyright?
      
      Want to make money with little effort? Sue the other people with fake property.
      
      *thumbs up*
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:13am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Are you trying to add something to the discussion? If so, I don't see it.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:23am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        That's because your IP is in the way.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 11:00am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        You would defend anything that is favorable to copyrights even if it was Osama Bin Laden you probably be defending him too, that is how disgusting you are.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 11:31am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        You would defend anything that is favorable to copyrights even if it was Osama Bin Laden you probably be defending him too, that is how disgusting you are.
        
        I'm not defending anyone. I'm merely explaining the law. Are you not interested in understanding what the law actually is here? I suppose understanding things is not for everyone. Personally, I'm obsessed with understanding how things work.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        vivaelamor (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 11:49am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "Personally, I'm obsessed with understanding how things work."
        
        Apparently not quite so obsessed with paying attention to what's going on.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Gwiz (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 12:48pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Are you not interested in understanding what the law actually is here?
        
        Actually, what I was wondering about, was if they still require ethics classes in law school anymore.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 1:17pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        They do. I got an A.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Gwiz (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 1:25pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        They do. I got an A.
        
        Did you cheat on the final exam?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 1:27pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        LOL!
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Jay (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 1:51pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        That would be great and dandy if there was anything in it that didn't seem to be to promote a culture based not on improving the arts and sciences, but the misguided belief that "transferring copyright" allows for supported growth in industry.
        
        The thing I'm mocking was that transferring of copyright. That sure as hell doesn't help the artists involved.
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        The eejit (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 2:00pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Thank you for at least taking the time to address the points raised. IT's not often that someone actually addresses those, instead going for the 'ATTACK!' plan.
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    - mike allen (profile), 2 Apr 2011 @ 3:54pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      you are still wrong they had a loan it belonged to the bank not them use what little brain you have.
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      - Anonymous Coward, 2 Apr 2011 @ 7:30pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        you are still wrong they had a loan it belonged to the bank not them use what little brain you have.
        
        That doesn't change the analysis. Ownership still transferred to them when the contract was perfected. Ownership transfers even if the price is paid with a loan. Banks don't own everything they give a loan on. That's not how it works.
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        mike allen (profile), 4 Apr 2011 @ 9:34am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        you buy a house on a morgsuge who owns the house (the morgauge company) in law the same thing applies with this.
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        vivaelamor (profile), 4 Apr 2011 @ 11:05am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "you buy a house on a morgsuge who owns the house (the morgauge company) in law the same thing applies with this."
        
        A mortgage is a specific type of loan agreement. I've not seen the terms of this agreement, but I wouldn't assume that they are similar.
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        Anonymous Coward, 4 Apr 2011 @ 12:19pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        you buy a house on a morgsuge who owns the house (the morgauge company) in law the same thing applies with this.
        
        That's not how it works. When you mortgage your house, you are the owner. I think there is a common misconception about this.
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- vivaelamor (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 11:41am
  
  Re:
  "Without knowing the dates of the alleged infringements, your article is pure FUD. Have you considered pulling up the filing to see the dates of the alleged infringements?"
  
  Have you? I've read the filing and know that the dates of the alleged infringements range between January and March this year. Rather than FUDing it out, you could actually do some research yourself to see if there's really an issue.
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  - vivaelamor (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 11:47am
    
    Re: Re:
    To correct myself, that's not the original filing, but rather a declaration from three days later.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 12:13pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Have you? I've read the filing and know that the dates of the alleged infringements range between January and March this year. Rather than FUDing it out, you could actually do some research yourself to see if there's really an issue.
    
    Good job finding that. All of the alleged infringements are for before February 21, 2011, except for the very last one listed, which is for February 22, 2011. So 5,864 out of 5,865 of the alleged infringements appear to be during the period when Camelot still owned the rights. So there really is only an issue with one defendant. It's easy enough to dismiss that one defendant, so it's quite simple to fix this problem--if it even is a problem. We do not know for certain that the rights really went back to Incentive. That's just their claim--that's not what the court said. I FUDed nothing out, vivaelamor. Try harder.
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    - vivaelamor (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 1:41pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "All of the alleged infringements are for before February 21, 2011, except for the very last one listed, which is for February 22, 2011"
      
      Scroll through the whole list. If you had bothered to do that instead of scrolling to the bottom and assuming I was wrong then you might have noticed that the list is sorted by ISP before date.
      
      "I FUDed nothing out, vivaelamor. Try harder."
      
      Please, don't try harder; you'll only embarrass yourself more.
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      - Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 1:45pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        If that's the case then I may have made a mistake. My bad. I can't pull up the list on my iPhone to verify.
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    - vivaelamor (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 2:22pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      If the number matters then I believe there are 727 defendants for infringements occurring after February 20th.
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      - Anonymous Coward, 2 Apr 2011 @ 9:27am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        If the number matters then I believe there are 727 defendants for infringements occurring after February 20th.
        
        If that's the case, then those 727 defendants might be off the hook if indeed the rights did transfer back to Incentive on Feb. 21. The other 5K or so defendants are banking on Incentive winning their fraud claim and having the contract rescinded completely. Otherwise, they're still on the hook.
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Rekrul, 1 Apr 2011 @ 9:54am

The harm in this case was to the poor downloaders who were exposed to this tripe. I mean sure, you figure with a title like "Nude Nuns with Big Guns" what could go wrong? How about the fact that the nuns weren't all that attractive? Or that the guns weren't really that big? Or that the budget for the movie was probably about $50. Ok, the penis-blasting scene was pretty good, but the rest of the film pretty much sucked. :)
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Steve R. (profile), 1 Apr 2011 @ 10:53am

Extortion Unleashed
This point is another illustration of the cancerous expansion of the so-called "intellectual property" land grab. Since the courts have not cleanly extinguished the concept that so-called "intellectual property" isn't really property we have ever growing innovative thuggery by those asserting that they somehow have a "piece" of the property.

It seems that a "piece" for laying a claim can be virtually anything. Escaped seeds as infringement. The assertion by some music collection societies that animals listening to music requires a license. Mike even noted: "Belgian Collection Society SABAM Caught Taking Cash For Made Up Bands It Didn't Represent". Then there are the bulk broadcast pre-settlement offers that are just mailed out to see what sticks.

Unfortunately, if one becomes a victim of these extortionary actions they could be bankrupted. For the accuser found making a false claim. "Sorry about that. And by the way, no refund on your legal fees for defending yourself against our bullying."

If extortion is considered a legitimate business plan, the "intellectual property" crowd is setting a very bad example should they want people to respect their so-called "Intellectual Property" rights.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2011 @ 12:10pm

The disclaimer at the bottom of the Wired page is hilariously ironic:

Disclaimer: Results of Wired.com�s IP Detective tool (above) are not conclusive. If a match is found, this does not mean your computer was used to download the file in question, nor that you are a target of the lawsuit. IP addresses can change from time to time. If you didn�t personally use BitTorrent to download the named film on the day and time listed, it�s likely your computer has simply inherited the IP address of someone who did.

An online magazine holds itself to higher standards than the US justice system. How low the mighty have fallen...
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Apr 2011 @ 7:04am

Now Camelot sell the court case to original IP owners.
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Richard Kim, 12 Jul 2011 @ 3:34am

We have a scenario that will changing the world of film history.
The World Best Scenario

I am a Korean.
We have a scenario that will changing the world of film history.
Everybody has good imagination, but this one is more than that.
Whatever you expect, I can give you more.
You will never be disappointed.
kimskyload@naver.com
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Aleksandar, 21 Jan 2012 @ 3:42am

This is really great disaster what was happened, but, by the way, I will present one another disaster story.....

I have all evidences for my legal reasonable doubt :
- that two mayor US film companies : 20-th CENTURY FOX and UNIVERSAL PICTURES (together with 7 other US film companies) have done pure copyright infringement and plagiarism of my registerd script MAGMA TOWN, and shot in the year 1996/1997 two movies : VOLCANO and DANTE'S PEAK, and released them in Spring 1997 and grossed till today about $520 million.
- that based my registered script MAGMA TOWN from 1994., based of which script, Jerome Armstrong wrote his script VOLCANO, and sold it for US$500,000 to FOX 2000 PICTURES (Laura Ziskin) together with Neal H. Moritz like prospective Producer, in November 1995.
- that screenwriter Leslie Bohem has made pure plagiarism of my registered script MAGMA TOWN, and sold his script DANTE'S PEAK to UNIVERSAL PICTURES for US $1,200,000 and also, that for me unknown screenwriter plagiated also my registered script MAGMA TOWN, and sold his script RING OF FIRE to WALT DISNEY PICTURES for US $800,000, all in Autumn of 1995. .
I have sued all those 9 US film companies by the proper court here in my country Serbia in the year 2000., and the court case is ongoing.
You can open 3 different websites below : from FACEBOOK, 4-th place on the list counted from the end backward, with notices about plagiarism of many high budget American films, that are shot on the basis of carried out of plagiarism right by where you can find that I am the only one writer who is two times on the lists on those websites and that > Rank 15. VOLCANO and Rank 17. DANTE'S PEAK, which were shot on the basis of my original and registered script MAGMA TOWN, on what basis plagiators/companies have grossed in my view possible about US$520 million from 1997. till today. Open websites :
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=402105162641
from FACEBOOK, 4-th place on the list counted from the end backwards, movies : VOLCANO. 1997 Mick Jackson / DANTE'S PEAK. 1997 Roger Donaldson, - MagmaTown (Aleksandar Skocajic script, 1994)

http://www.mahiram.com/sufia/blog/181/

http://www.infotoday.com/IT/nov03/poynder2.shtml
If you are interested for this story, you can contact me by email, post address or phone, - all located at the end of the email below. If you are not interested for this copyright infringement story, please inform someone who might be interested.
Aleksandar PHONE NUMBER : 011-381-11-2836-304
Best calling about 1,00 P.M. L. A. time
E-mail address : axxskocajic@elitesecurity.org
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