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Report From RIAA v. Verizon Case

LawGeek writes "Adam Kessel has provided Greplaw with exclusive coverage of today's RIAA v. Verizon hearing, in which the RIAA is attempting to force Verizon to produce information about a user who allegedly shared files using P2P technology. It sounds as though the judge had a good grasp of the technology, and has promised to rule quickly. Slashdot has previously covered Verizon's stance on this and other P2P issues."

5 of 151 comments (clear)

  1. But the RIAA goes after both... by SiMac · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The RIAA goes after everyone. The software makers, users, ISPs and everyone in between have the potential of being sued.

    Some geeks have a problem with one, some geeks have a problem with another.

    And some geeks have a problem with all of it. Is there really any reason why the shouldn't? Sure, the copyright is being violated, but so are user's liberties.

  2. Politics-Shmolitics by dubiousmike · · Score: 3, Interesting

    You know, there are always those who argue that when someone like Saddam starts fscking with others, that instead of starting some large military campaign, why not just hire (or send) some commando types in and assasinate them.

    For God's sake, when will someone digitally take out the RIAA? DoS, hack 'em, upload trojans, something! If there were ANYONE on earth that could do so without getting caught, they'd be found here on /.

    I realize that I am being awfully generalistic (did I just make up a word?) but seriously, I am sick of these organizations messing with us.

    Sure, let's do it the legal way, you say. Just like I can write my congressman with a 10000 signatures and he'll vote the way we want. Bullshit.

    Sorry to rant. But someone had to suggest it.

    Thank goodness no one can mod me as "raving lunitic"!

  3. Re:Expected discourse. by Alex+Belits · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Goodbye any hopes for common carrier status then.
    Right now ISPs at least can argue that they are common carrier, but the second when they assume any control over user that depends on the content he is transferring, they can't, and will be forced to share the responsibility for whatever user is doing.

    That would be e^(this "subpoena" situation) amount of trouble for Verizon.

    --
    Contrary to the popular belief, there indeed is no God.
  4. Re:In brief... by Eric+Seppanen · · Score: 5, Interesting
    • The DMCA requires Verizon expeditiously to produce the information in the Subpoena.
    • None of the arguments raised by Verizon justifies refusing to comply with a subpoena validly issued by this court.

    That's not correct. The DMCA requires Verizon to identify the owners of files on Verizon's system, but only if the complaining party can identify the work being infringed. This isn't too terrible in the case of files hosted at Verizon, because Verizon can easily check that there really does appear to be copyright infringement going on.

    But it's not clear that section 512(h) applies to situations where files aren't hosted at the ISP. The reasons why it shouldn't are obvious: the ISP has no way to judge the truthfulness of the claim, and what would result would be immediate power for any copyright holder to demand the identity of an internet user at any time, with zero requirement of a legitimate claim against that user. Such a system would be ripe for abuse and harassment of users.

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    314-15-9265
  5. The RIAA isn't the REAL problem... by theLOUDroom · · Score: 4, Interesting

    it's member companies are.
    If you completely obliterated RIAA headquarters tomorrow, Sony, Universal, EMI, Warner Brothers and BMG would just create another RIAA type organization.
    It works really well for them the RIAA gets all the bad press and the public doesn't even (usually) realize who is behind something like the DMCA.

    --
    Life is too short to proofread.