Canadian Record Industry Presses ISPs in Court

An anonymous reader writes "'Internet service providers have neither an obligation nor, in some cases, the technical means to help the recording industry identify 29 alleged music pirates, a federal judge heard yesterday.' The article continues, 'Shaw Cable, the most defiant company among the pack, poked holes in CRIA's case and accused the music industry of planning an extended fishing expedition for the purpose of forcing individuals into costly settlements before cases ever get to trial. This is the same strategy used by sister organization the Recording Industry Association of America, lawyers argued.'"

Comments

An (almost) happy Shaw customer

[m0nkyman]

Makes me almost happy to put up with Shaw's mediocre mail servers.
GO SHAW!

Re:An (almost) happy Shaw customer

[Intocabile]

Real pirates use shaws amazing Usenet server. Arrr.

Ouch

[Rick Zeman]

Shaw lawyer Charles Scott, of Lax O'Sullivan Scott, said the cable company has a duty to protect the privacy of its customers, not to become a "private investigator" for the music industry by being forced, at its own expense, to analyze and hand over subscriber information

I can hear the next argument: "Hand all of your data over and we'll analyze it...."

Not a usual pirate activity...

[BlueCodeWarrior]

Well, they're obviously wrong.

Pirates don't go fishing, they go pillaging.

judge:NEXT!

We all know what happens next, don't we?

[James A. J. Joyce]

ISP: "Look, it's not our job to scour our reams of data just so you can make up some dirt on our customers."
RIAA: "You're right...guess you'd better hand it over to us."
ISP: "No."
Court: "Yes."
ISP: "Fuck."

Re:Small ISP

[detritus`]

Actually being on a small ISP leaves you way more open to harrassment by the various authorities, as your ISP probably doesnt have the legal funds or will to fight off the large well bankrolled organizations such as the CRIA. At least large companies like Shaw, Telus, etc. already have a plethora of lawyers just chomping at the bit to fight any legal challenges

Wierd.

[BrainInAJar]

My ISP is actually defending my rights?

What's going on here?.
I figgured that when the lawsuits start flying north of 49, Shaw would be the first to belly up and hand over my name, based on their records so far (I had a few billing issues).

wrong

[dsanfte]

From the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, passed in 1982:

Fundamental freedoms

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

a) freedom of conscience and religion;
b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
d) freedom of association.

So yes, we do indeed have freedom of speech, and it is protected.

Re:wrong

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, since Google is apparently too difficult for you to use, allow me to enlighten you.

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is our constitution. It was signed into law by King Pierre in 1982, shortly before he was assassinated by Joe Clarke. Clarke enjoyed a breif stint as PM (kinda like a president, only with complete power), until he was dethroned by Brian the Black. Brian tried his best to destroy the will of the Canadian people, and he was deposed in a bloody coup lead by Jean Cretien. (Brian actually escaped the coup with his life, by setting up Kim Campbell as a puppet PM, just before the revolution.)

Used CD stores the next to go?

[spyrochaete]

I haven't bought a new album from a retail record store in years and years. Whenever I desire a peice of plastic (which is frequent enough) I'll pick it up at a used store, earning the artist and label no money anyway. How long until second hand shops are shut down by CRIA?

Anyone who thinks Canada is freer than the States is full of crap. We are simply 1 or 2 years behind our big fat brother downstairs. We'll adopt every law they enact (file swapping) and maintain every nonsensical law they uphold (marijuana posession) until the end of time. Why? Because we don't want Dubya to drop a W-bomb on our various beaver hatcheries.

All hail America Jr., land of the slightly freer (until 1 year later).

In the mean time, keep doing what you do. Make a statement by defying the law. Protect yourself while you do it. Use PeerGuardian 2.

Re:note to mods, parent is funny

[xsbellx]

I would but the parent's facts are a little off.

King Pierre first obtained power in 1968 after a bloody internal power stuggle within the palace. This reign was interupted by a short period (June 1979 through March 1980) of insurrection led by Joe Clarke. King Pierre was then able to muster the proper forces and return to power until March of 1984. At this time, an squable within the royal family led to a distant cousin, John Turner, briefly (June 1984 through Spetember 1984) seized power.

Turner was violently overthrown in September 1984 by Brian Mulroney (some said he was Ronnald Reagan's bastard brother). Mulroney held power until June 1993 at which time tensions within the country had reached a boiling point. Mulroney, realizing his days were numbered, installed Kim Campbell as puppet leader.

Lady Kim was able to hold power for a remarkable 4 months until deposed in November of 1993 by Prince Jean Chretien, a close cousin of the former King Pierre.

Prince Jean was able to rule with an iron fist until December 2003 when he was deposed by Duke Paul Martin in a bloody internal power struggle whose waves are still agitating the normally placid Canadian politcal waters.

For details, please see this site.