OptimumOnline Bans uploads to P2P networks

An anonymous reader writes "In disturbing news this week Cablevision's high speed broadband unit OptimumOnline has sent letters to subscribers warning that uploading to P2P networks will no longer be tolerated. Obviously bowing to record and movie industry pressure the letter includes a link to a page that gives directions on how to disable file trading on 18 P2P services from KaZaa to Xolox. If you don't comply, they will cut the cord. I remember not to long ago where OptimumOnline ran TV ads touting the ability to grab music from the Net. The story on this can also be read here."

Comments

DMCA Violations

[papasui]

At my present job, we recieve DMCA violation tickets sent to us, which include the ip address of the customer that was sharing files. We then track down the customer based on the ARP logs and issue them a letter notifying them that they are in violation of our Acceptable Use Policy which prohibits the usage of servers on a residential service, as well as our clauses that allow us to terminate a customers service. If we recieve 3 DCMA tickets from a particular customer we permanetly terminate their service. On a side note, due to the asynchrous nature of most cable modem service, as well as the fact that a node is essentially a LAN, I can certainly understand the concern about people constantly uploading files. Saturating the forward path can cause problems with download traffic as TCP requires ACK packets to be sent stating that a packet has reached it's destination, if the ACK packet is not recieved the packet needs to be re-transmited. So the next time you think your not causing any problems for anyone when you spent the last 2 weeks on Kazaa allowing people to leech files think again.

Re:DMCA Violations

[radish]

And of course you do all this because someone TOLD you that there were copyrighted files being shared yes? I don't see the step where you verify the truthfulness (or otherwise) of the complaint you recieve?

Jerk.

Re:well, it is illegal

[saskboy]

stuff they're uploading is probably copyrighted

You just shot your logic in the foot with the "probably".

The law does not work on Probably, and Maybe. It either is unlawful or it isn't. Sharing copyrighted files is illegal in many places, but networks that *can* share copyrighted problems are not.
Guns are bad in many cases and should be restricted, but they are not illegal. They can be used for good or bad. Perhaps P2P needs some restrictions, but not outright prohibition.