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MPAA Sues Scour: Will Google Be Next?

Posted by timothy on from the how-about-the-public-library? dept.

BoFiS writes: "Well it seems the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) was feeling left out of all the suing action going on between the RIAA and Napster because News.com reports that they have filed a suit against Scour for aiding in the transfer of illegal/bootleg copies of movies. The article also talks about the DivX format that many movies come in, but not much about the suit itself." Scour may raise privacy concerns, but isn't their service essentially content-agnostic?

2 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. Re:more of slashdot's BS articles by Jeffrey+Baker · · Score: 5
    Actually, it is neutral. You are making the mistake of considering the entertainment industry's argument when the underlying assumption is not valid. That is, the entertainment industry has no inherent right to regulate the transmission of digital music files.

    The fact that you can download the music from within the scour interface is irrelevant. Music files on the internet may be copyrighted by bg labels, or they may not be. The industry has a very large share of the copyrights out there, but that doesn't mean that they should be given control over ALL music distribution.

    People are copying copyrighted music out there and I think that is unethical. However, I do not believe that going after the mode of transmission is justified. The cost, which will be squashing independently recorded music forever, is simply too great.

    In short, don't be trapped by the industry's mind control attempts.

  2. The Actual Complaint by Jim+Tyre · · Score: 5
    For those who like to read such things. the actual Complaint filed is available here, courtesy of our friends at the MPAA.

    Not surprisingly, the Proskauer firm, the same one in the 2600.com case is involved, as is Judge Kaplan's old firm, Paul, Weiss. I am personally disappointed that David Kendall of Williams & Connolly represents some of the Plaintiffs. Most may know him as one of Clinton's lawyers, but I know him (personally) as a longtime and good advocate of First Amendment rights.