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MIT Releases Subpoenaed Student's Info

Posted by timothy on from the stories-are-at-odds dept.

An anonymous reader submits: "MIT has released the name of the alleged infringer whose information was subpoenaed by the RIAA. The student's position? He was (1) not in the country at the time of the infringement, (2) he does not own a computer, and (3) he is not, and has never been, associated with the username in question (crazyface@KaZaA). MIT initially opposed the subpeona, but the RIAA refiled with the proper court."

3 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Perhaps if the RIAA *pays* $2000 by redelm · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Why would the guy settle? The RIAA may need to abandon the case to avoid an adverse ruling. IANAL, in some states they might not be able to simply abandon without Respondant consent.

  2. Re:Er...Dude... by dougmc · · Score: 3, Interesting
    There are hardware devices (personal firewalls) that allow you to CHANGE the broadcasted MAC address on the fly.
    You don't need a personal firewall to do this. You can do it with many (most? all?) ethernet cards as well.

    I would have, theoretically, obtained multiple IP addresses
    Except that the system requires you to `log in' with each new MAC address ...

    Or, better yet, I could just change my broadcasted MAC address to one that I know is already registered.
    That would certainly do it.

    So, are MAC addresses about to become as `sensitive' as social sercurity numbers? (of course, just like your SSN, your MAC address is broadcast with every packet you send out, at least to the first router :) )

  3. A Setup?? by bluesangria · · Score: 3, Interesting

    What happens if the student does win this case? Doesn't that mean that the method the RIAA uses to subpoena users comes into question? Is this something MIT planned (maybe just a little) knowing that courts cannot hold accountable a person who has a solid alibi?? After all, even a civil lawsuit has to show the person was responsible for copyright infringement. Just wondering....