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Aussie Music Industry Sues ISP Over Filesharing

Posted by timothy on from the such-a-negligent-babysitter dept.

An anonymous reader writes "In what is believed to be the first case of its kind in the world, the Australian music industry has listed an Internet service provider (ISP) as a respondent in a court case involving music piracy. The ISP is being sued for 'profiting' (by hosting it) from a site which distributes copyright-infringing material."

3 of 202 comments (clear)

  1. Common Carrier Status by Pendersempai · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The ISP is being sued for 'profiting' (by hosting it) from a site which distributes copyright-infringing material.

    Auto manufacturers profit when their cars are bought by drug dealers for the purpose of smuggling drugs. Handgun makers profit when someone buys their gun and uses it in a murder. Gardening stores profit when a customer buys large quantities of fertilizer, makes a bomb, and blows up large federal buildings in Oklahoma City.

    Should the auto manufacturer, handgun maker, and gardening store be legally liable for the crimes of their customers? Should they even be responsible for following their customers around to make sure they do nothing illegal?

    1. Re:Common Carrier Status by jhunsake · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It depends if they have any knowledge of the intended use of their product. Of course the article isn't available, so I don't know if the ISP was given notice to remove the stuff or not.

  2. How far can it go? by Fishd · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I once bought a pirated CD in a pub, can the landlord be sued?

    Actually, thinking further... if I didn't work then I couldn't afford to buy the pirate CD so surely my employer is ultimately responsible, after all they gave me the money to commit this foul act... I'm going to sue my employer for making me a criminal!!!

    Or, should I quit my job, become unemployed, claim state benefits, buy a pirate CD and then sue the government?!?!?

    When will people learn, the internet is neither inherently good nor evil... it's just a new medium... if kids weren't inside on their PC's pirating CD's they'd be out in the playground trading CDR's stuffed full of music... you gonna sue the school at that point?