Confirmation That Record Labels Wanted ISPs To Spy On Users And Report Infringement To RIAA

from the no-surprise dept

This is hardly surprising, given previous statements and actions, but a redaction failure by the UK government in a Freedom of Information document handover resulted in TorrentFreak being able to see how Lucian Grainge (now CEO of Universal Music) explained to Peter Mandelson (whom he was lobbying to create the Digital Economy Act) how they wanted ISPs to report directly to record labels on people who might be file sharing, so the labels could take legal action:
"As ISPs can monitor the amount of power used by specific users and the sites connected to, it is possible for ISPs to pass on any details to owners of particular rights, who could then take legal action."
This, of course, is the dream state for the industry, though they haven't been able to get anyone to really go that far yet. Still, it is interesting to see them directly bringing it up with lawmakers.
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Filed Under: copyright cops, digital economy bill, isps, lucian grainge, peter mandelson, uk


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  1. icon
    The eejit (profile), 3 Aug 2011 @ 3:06pm

    IT's Mandelson, and that's so far beyond idiotic, considering it's against the fucking law to give that information to private entities without a court warrant.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. icon
    Richard (profile), 3 Aug 2011 @ 4:13pm

    Re:

    Mandelson Gone - Vince Cable there now...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 3 Aug 2011 @ 4:19pm

    ISPs can monitor the amount of power used by specific users? Really?

    What if they're really using all that power for their heatlamps to grow weed and *not* download torrents? What then?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 3 Aug 2011 @ 4:19pm

    Keep it up MAFIAA...

    Keep digging that grave of yours. The sooner the better

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. icon
    Jay (profile), 3 Aug 2011 @ 4:27pm

    Can we sue the RIAA for privacy violations should a third party just hand over information?

    We should also sue the ISP, challenging the laws on this (such as the Patriot Act) that force them to retain this data.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. icon
    PlagueSD (profile), 3 Aug 2011 @ 4:52pm

    What if they're really using all that power for their heatlamps to grow weed and *not* download torrents? What then?


    What about me? Right now it's summertime, so I'm using all my power to keep my house cool.


    /sarcasm

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. icon
    A Dan (profile), 3 Aug 2011 @ 4:57pm

    No reference to the song?

    I don't understand how you could not link the old song story when talking about this.
    http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20091130/0445237119.shtml

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. icon
    Hephaestus (profile), 3 Aug 2011 @ 5:09pm

    So mike

    When is techdirt going https???

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. icon
    Jon (profile), 3 Aug 2011 @ 5:32pm

    Re:

    I don't think you can sue the ISP. Not in the US anyway. That was part of the protection they got written into the law for keeping the information in the first place.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. identicon
    fb39ca4, 3 Aug 2011 @ 5:35pm

    ISPs can monitor power usage?

    They can? I thought that was the power company's job. Then again, with smart grids and Internet connected meters, it actually is possible.

    Side note: Who here agrees with me that :r looks like a guy smoking?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. icon
    ken (profile), 3 Aug 2011 @ 5:37pm

    Rock 'n Roll Becomes Authoritarian

    Born of rebellion and anti-establishment, Rock 'n Roll has become authoritarian.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. icon
    Thomas (profile), 3 Aug 2011 @ 7:38pm

    What does "power"

    have to do with it?

    Anyway, all the RIAA or MPAA needs to do is bribe enough Congressmen and the White House and perhaps a few SCOTUS judges with enough money to pass it. Members of congress need the money for re-election campaigns and expensive vacations and hookers and drugs. There are no honest politicians above the very small town levels anyway. If an honest politician somehow gets re-elected they will lose re-election because they didn't have the funds to campaign again.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 3 Aug 2011 @ 7:50pm

    I thought the dream state was going back to around 1985 again.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    abc gum, 3 Aug 2011 @ 8:38pm

    ""As ISPs can monitor the amount of power used by specific users"

    What, they want to cap that too?
    I don't think Lucian Grainge knows what he is talking about.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  15. icon
    The eejit (profile), 3 Aug 2011 @ 11:33pm

    Re: Re:

    At least Cable has principles - Mandelson would sell out the Labour party and the UK Government if he thought it would further hs career.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  16. icon
    Johnsmith999 (profile), 4 Aug 2011 @ 1:31am

    Re: Re:

    Peter Mandelson, was twice kicked out of tony Blairs govenment. once in 1999 (Quote from Wikipedia)" On 16 October 2000 it was reported that Geoffrey Robinson, the Labour MP, "accused Peter Mandelson of lying to the Commons about the home loan affair that cost both of them their Government jobs."[23][24]

    He was then kicked out of the Government in 2001 (Quote from Wikipedia) "On 24 January 2001, Mandelson resigned from the Government for a second time following accusations of using his position to influence a passport application.[26][27]"

    He was instrumental in bringing in the DEA (it has since been discovered through a FOI request that he was "influenced" by Lucian Grainge, CEO of Universal Music Group) against the wishes of the British Public.

    how is it that such a corrupt Politician is able to stay in the House of Lords when it is so obvious that does not deserve to be called a "Lord"

    link to this | view in thread ]

  17. icon
    mike allen (profile), 4 Aug 2011 @ 1:48am

    Re: Keep it up MAFIAA...

    If their grave gets any deeper they will hit oil.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  18. identicon
    jimbo, 4 Aug 2011 @ 2:06am

    i hope the politician/media corruption inquiries go much further than just dealing with the murdoch phone hacking scandal. all corruption involving those that are supposed to be representing the people and their interests should be examined thoroughly and the appropriate action taken when necessary.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  19. identicon
    Prisoner 201, 4 Aug 2011 @ 2:19am

    Re: Re: Re:

    They called Darth Varder "Lord" too.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  20. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 4 Aug 2011 @ 3:17am

    In other news, the United States is in debt.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  21. icon
    Chris-Mouse (profile), 4 Aug 2011 @ 3:45am

    Re: Re: Keep it up MAFIAA...

    If their grave gets any deeper they will hit oil.

    Ar which time tgey will face a massive lawsuit from the oil industry for 'felonius interference with a business model.'

    link to this | view in thread ]

  22. icon
    Any Mouse (profile), 4 Aug 2011 @ 5:26am

    Re:

    What's the date on that news? Late 70's? Early 60's? The US has been in debt my entire life.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  23. identicon
    Daemon_ZOGG, 4 Aug 2011 @ 5:51am

    "... Record Labels Wanted ISPs To Spy On Users And Report Infringement To RIAA"

    .. And we needed confirmation on this?!!!!!! I'm convinced they have sex with VP biden at least 5 days out of each week, just to keep the osama obama administration in check.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  24. icon
    gorehound (profile), 4 Aug 2011 @ 8:37am

    Re: Rock 'n Roll Becomes Authoritarian

    not my music.see
    www.bigmeathammer.com
    I am Jordan founder and leader of Big Meat Hammer the oldest longest going punk band in Maine.We still do GG Allin covers.We are just as scummy as we always were except now we are getting older so more decrepit !!!
    My other bands all were never sell-outs.
    The Transplants
    The GoreHounds
    The Lynn Rebels
    There is a lot of audio you can download from the site or you can use TPB for torrents of my art.
    I have hated big labels since the 70's and will never turn back.I support INDIE only and to hell weith the RIAA and MPAA !!!
    Believe me real Punks Not Dead !!!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  25. icon
    aikiwolfie (profile), 4 Aug 2011 @ 3:38pm

    Re:

    That's the point. They want the law changed.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  26. icon
    aikiwolfie (profile), 4 Aug 2011 @ 3:41pm

    Re:

    You get arrested for supplying a controlled substance. Actually the police use the thermal imaging camera on their helicopters to spot unusually warm houses they can target for raids.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  27. icon
    nasch (profile), 5 Aug 2011 @ 2:44pm

    Re: Re:

    Since World War One I believe.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  28. icon
    Casey Mahoney (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 2:35pm

    ISP

    ISP can tell many things.You can go out get your own proxy server in another are of the country.

    Thanks Casey Mahoney

    link to this | view in thread ]


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