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Comcast Warns Infringing Customers Of Abuse
tm writes "Comcast recently sent out letters to DMCA-infringing customers, informing them of their illegal downloading transgressions. The notice clearly states that Comcast has been asked by the copyright owner, MGM, to notify the individual of their actions and demand that the downloaded file(s) be immediately removed. In addition, the individual must write a return letter, which consists of an explanation and an apology. It appears that if a valid explanation is given, such as 'I don't know how to secure my access point and my neighbors run wild on my connection,' then both Comcast and MGM will be happy. If the explanation is not satisfactory however, they may proceed with fines, termination of service, ect. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and if this will influence other ISPs to go after customers at Hollywood's request."
That's what I do.
The Tools Of Ignorance wanna be a tool?
Dir Corporate Whores,
I apologize for being such a cheap bastard but I just can't see myself paying 9 dollars for a movie ticket, 5 dollars for a popcorn, and 4 dollars for a pop.
I also apologize for not being willing to wait 6-8 months for a movie to be released to video and dvd as I am such a lazy fool that I do not want to spend the time or money involved in walking or driving to the video store.
Most of all... I am quite sorry for getting caught, I promise you that that will not happen again.
Sincerely,
A. Nonymous
P.S. I do not agree with or support any of what I just wrote in this hypothetical and mythical letter.
Help Brendan pay off his student loans
Getting a letter from your isp telling you have no privacy, or being accused of downloading "Walking Tall"? Geesh, if you are going to pirate movies, choose good ones. No one, but a fool breaks into a jewlery store and steals the cubic zirconium.
Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
Dear Comcast and MGM,
Chewbacca defense!
Norman Cook's Ode to Sl
This is a much more sane response than just filing a lawsuit. It at least gives the users the chance to do the right thing rather than bring the hammer down on their head like the RIAA has been doing.
;-)
Traitor. Don't you realize that violating copyrights is an inaliable human right? RIAA, MGM, they're ALL evil no matter what!!
Once more I apologize for my ruthless actions on the internet, and beg your forgiveness, ________________.
Sincerely,
Joe Schmoe, Downloader
BTW I really, really, really, really hate the lameness filter.
ECT!?! I can't believe they can arbitrarily pursue punishments of this magnitude. How can they use ECT without a trial or a hearing at the least. Yet more proof that the US justice system has been perveted by our corporations.
Hell, governments can't use ECT on convicts in most first-world countries and we'll let fscking cable companies do it.
yeah, the law is taking care of serious problems, indeed. by the people for the people.
Dear Comcast, Thank you for your letter. The file that you mention as infringing were collected off your NNTP server at netnews.comcast.net, and not via a p2p program. Your broadband sales information touts "watch moving on the internet" and other such features, I believed that your news server, and its content were part of these features. My appoligies, and I will miss the Comcast NNTP server when your shut it down.
Well, one could put a prominent copyright notice in your letter and licence it under the GDMCANPRLL (General DMCA Non Public Response Letter Licence) which restricts its (the letter's) publication and display only for the use of responding to the plaintiff and that it does not necessarily reflect the actual historic or current state of your computer, blah, blah, blah ;^)
Great minds think alike; fools seldom differ.
"I ran out of gas. I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake, a terrible flood, locusts! It wasn't my fault, I swear to God!"
- 'Joliet' Jake Blues, The Blues Brothers
The government's moral compass is controlled by GPS.
In times of crises, they alter it to suit their needs.
I have no recollection of those events...
Works for Presidents, should work for anybody.
Excessive forking causes un-wanted children.
Or maybe God is doing the same, building up a case for your eternal salvation?
I guess it depends on how you view the whole issue of downloading copyrightable material. Last I checked, "Thou shalt not download copyrighted material" wasn't in the bible. Maybe that's why people try to equate downloading with stealing? To make a biblical case against it?
What would Jesus think?
That was the first thing I thought of, because we here all remember the DMCA as the 'anti-hacking' bill. Then I RTFA and was reminded that DMCA is the Digital Millenium Copyright Act - which also includes some circumvention provisions but mainly deals with ... copyrights on digital stuff from this millenium, if I had to guess.
Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer
Dear MGM,
I am sorry that I wasted 4 hours downloading and watching Gigli.
Dear MGM and Comcast,
I am profoundly sorry for downloading bad backups of the movies I already own as per fair use.Also sorry I pay so much for my bandwidth choked account.I am sorry that Comcast has to invade my privacy for the protection of MGM, a poor mom and pop shop founded by a heroin dealer.
I'm sorry MGM works so hard and spends so much to bring us so little and uses their overpriced movies to attack the world.
oops,my mistake,I'm not sorry comcrap and MGM are sorry.
*Repent!Quit Your Job!Slack Off!The World Ends Tomorrow and You May Die!
So instead of using the tried and true Wookie Defense you can now use the access point is wide open defense. That does not make sense.
Look at the monkey!
No, the moral of the story is that if I'm pirating media online, I should use YOUR access point. What's your MAC address again?
Tell it to the judge
If you cant remember, then you cant be compelled to say anything 'incriminating'.
"sorry sir, but i can not seem to recall that incident".
Hey, it works for the thieves in congress...
---- Booth was a patriot ----
Dear Mr. Falser,
Judging by your post and the information we got from "slash"-"dot" and your ISP, you look like you have pirated our intellectual property over the Internet. As you know stealing our copyrighted material is wrong and you could be subject to lawsuits, large fines of up to $250,000 per violation, and even jail time.
However, we, at MGM, decided to give you a chance this time, and instead demand a letter of explanation from you. Please write us back and explain your intimate knowledge of the movie piracy online, what movies you have downloaded or shared, that you have deleted the files (destroyed CDs and DVDs), and don't forget to say "Uncle!" many times in between.
Failure on your part to write back will result in all out assault on you by our legal department.
So, after we receive your letter, we will evaluate your response and decide whether you fit our profile for the people that we'd like to sue, and make an example out of. For your sake, we hope you put the "right words" in your letter, so we wish you good luck.
Sincerely,
MGM
Cc: Jack Valenti
WARNING: Urinating in your friend's cornflakes is not actually legal. Please do not try this at home.