MPAA Sends Linux Australia Dubious Takedown Notice

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MPAA Sends Linux Australia Dubious Takedown Notice

Posted by timothy on Monday September 20, 2004 @06:01PM from the takedown-is-two-points dept.

L1TH10N writes "News.com has a story on how the MPAA sent a takedown notice to Linux Australia for the movies 'Twisted' and "Grind.' What was actually hosted with Linux Australia is Twisted (being a Python framework) and Valgrind (being a tool for finding memory management problems in programs). An interesting question that the article raises is whether automatic takedown notices based on blind keyword searches constitutes spam."

38 of 520 comments (clear)

You mean... by elasticwings · 2004-09-20 18:05 · Score: 5, Funny

The words Twisted and Grind are used by other people than the MPAA? God knows those are such uncommon trademarked words. Anybody using those words must be pirating the movies.
1. Re:You mean... by packeteer · 2004-09-20 19:10 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I don't know much about computers other than the one we got at my house; my mom put a couple games on there and I play
  
  --
  unzip; strip; touch; finger; mount; fsck; more; yes; unmount; sleep
2. Re:You mean... by TWX · 2004-09-20 19:23 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  "I don't know much about computers other than the one we got at my house; my mom put a couple games on there and I play
  unzip;strip;touch;finger;mount;fsck;more;yes;unmou nt;sleep"
  
  This is why my signature file includes a couple of line breaks...
  
  --
  Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
3. Re:You mean... by wastaz · 2004-09-20 20:48 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  I cant help but wonder how many skateboard sites has gotten that notice on the word "grind"....
Wait a minute by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-20 18:05 · Score: 5, Funny

The MPAA makes mistakes? I am shocked. My entire world is shattered.
1. Re:Wait a minute by Nos. · 2004-09-20 18:10 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  The worst part is, this isn't a mistake. So, make note all, when naming your next OSS application, be sure to search for the title on IMDB first!
2. Re:Wait a minute by gujo-odori · 2004-09-20 18:48 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  And after you find a suitably attractive title in IMDB, be sure to name your OSS project after it. Let them have the fun of sorting the sheep from the goats when there are 500 OSS projects named after movies :-)
3. Re:Wait a minute by Rallion · 2004-09-20 19:26 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  You mean like Firefox?
4. Re:Wait a minute by thempstead · 2004-09-20 20:23 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Nah .... someone should make a film called "index.html" .... and then insist that they scan for it :)
  
  t
5. Re:Wait a minute by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-20 21:19 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Watch out those of you with irobot .txt's!
6. Re:Wait a minute by slaad · 2004-09-21 01:43 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Here's a start:
  
  Terminator: Disk Wiper
  Grease: media player
  ET: SETI client
  Titanic: a poor hashing algorithm (can't avoid collisions...)
  Independence Day: full screen firework fun
  Passion of the Christ: file recovery tool
  Blade: anti-virus
  
  --
  
  ~Warning!~ The above is encrypted using rot676!
That does it! by metlin · 2004-09-20 18:07 · Score: 5, Funny

"Organizations that participate in such behavior should be held accountable and forced to put at least some effort into researching the validity of their keyword searches."

That does it! My next projects are going to be called Lord of the Rings and Matrix Revolutions.

Wonder if RIAA uses similar techniques. Hmm, maybe I could start a pr0n search tool called Britney. On second thoughts...
1. Re:That does it! by BigRedFish · 2004-09-20 18:37 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Lord of the Rings
  
  Here's a video of us exchanging vows in the eyes of the LORD, OF THE RINGS being exchanged... what? We're being summoned?
  
  Matrix Revolutions
  
  Welcome to the website of MATH 362, Advanced Algebra. Click here to see a video of various operations on a MATRIX: REVOLUTIONS, transformations, normalisation... what? We're being summoned?
2. Re:That does it! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-20 18:58 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Make sure your site has clearly posted TOS that the MPAA and RIAA and all associated and employees are prohibited from accessing your site.
  Don't forget to inform visitors that they must delete the things they download within 24 hours!
Re:A few quotes from the article - by elasticwings · 2004-09-20 18:07 · Score: 3, Funny

Maybe Twisted is an upcoming sequel to the blockbuster hit Twister?
Spam Spam Spam!!!! by EEBaum · 2004-09-20 18:07 · Score: 5, Funny

Motion picture industry SPAMS linux Australia regarding a PYTHON framework.

Coincidence?

--
-- I prefer the term "karma escort."
Re:A few quotes from the article - by virtualone · 2004-09-20 18:08 · Score: 2, Funny

Offtopic - what movies were named "Twisted" or "Grind"? Anybody?

propably the meant "twister" and "grinch"

--
Only morons moderate based on a sig.
Wait till my movie comes out... by VidEdit · 2004-09-20 18:09 · Score: 3, Funny

I'm naming my new movie "MPAA." I'm guessing I'll be able to send a lot of takedown notices...

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Re:Duh by elasticwings · 2004-09-20 18:11 · Score: 5, Funny

Wow, looking at those reviews, I can't see why anybody would want to pirate those movies.
Twist and Grind by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-20 18:13 · Score: 5, Funny

I wonder how many lapdancing clubs will be sent a takedown notice?

Indy Media Watch Sticking my head in filled trashcans and telling the world what I find...
My new GNU spreadsheet will be named... by jkrise · 2004-09-20 18:19 · Score: 4, Funny

Matrix! Free to download, of course!!

-

--
If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
1. Re:My new GNU spreadsheet will be named... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-20 18:33 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  And my matrix processor that focuses on rotation of matrixes in real time will be called RevolutionMatrix will also be free for download...
Spam? by tehdaemon · 2004-09-20 18:21 · Score: 2, Funny

I'd say that it is assault with a legal weapon, but IANAL
What am I missing?

--
Laws are horrible moral guides, moral guides make even worse laws.
Re:What it proves by Triumph+The+Insult+C · 2004-09-20 18:27 · Score: 5, Funny

It sure does raise the issue of whether or not the MPAA is trying to be lazy and controling/monopolistic/greedy at the same time.

i dunno about that. i think it'd be safe to say that issue was settled a long time ago ..

--
vodka, straight up, thank you!
Re:Not spam by Loren_Burlingame · 2004-09-20 18:53 · Score: 2, Funny

it should also be the mantra of software naming engineers as well.
hmmm, software naming engineer. Could I move into that field from appliance naming engineer? I want to add a more technical spin to my resume.
If this had been me... by mark-t · 2004-09-20 19:07 · Score: 4, Funny

I would silently and patiently let them force the issue all the way to court... and I wouldn't tell them a thing about their mistake until I got there. If they are going to be so grossly incompetent as to do things like this, they deserve to be stuck with pointless legal costs.

--
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
Re:What it proves by Patrik_AKA_RedX · 2004-09-20 19:10 · Score: 2, Funny

Why wouldn't you at least have real people double checking for false positives?
People? What makes you think the MPAAs employees are people? Hells union doesn't allow offshoring jobs.
Our main weapons are surprise... by leonbrooks · 2004-09-20 19:25 · Score: 4, Funny

...search engines and automated take-down notices.

--
Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
Re:Not spam by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-20 19:30 · Score: 1, Funny

you've-got-mail.rpm
Re:Groundless legal threats by surprise_audit · 2004-09-20 19:40 · Score: 4, Funny

Whether there is or not, they could certainly have some fun with the MPAA. If it were me, I'd write back telling them, in the most insulting but respectable terms possible, that I had no intention of taking down anything whatsoever, and if they didn't like it they could bite me.
At the same time, I'd go visit my ISP and make sure that they were completely aware of the situation, that the content was in no way infringing, and ask them to reject any harassment from the MPAA.
I'm not sure I'd bother telling the MPAA that the content was not theirs to regulate, as the main purpose of the insulting reply would be to goad them into going to court... Shouldn't take more than about 30 seconds in front of any reasonable judge to show that the content wasn't any kind of movie. Then sit back and watch him tear strips off the prosecution...
Hurry Up! by Maljin+Jolt · 2004-09-20 19:43 · Score: 4, Funny

It's time to register "Twisted Grind" as a cool Slashdot nickname!

--
There you are, staring at me again.
1. Re:Hurry Up! by Twisted+Grind · 2004-09-21 01:34 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Wow, 6 hours and no one's thought to take this yet? C'mon people, it's clear this could have been the way to untold riches! 1. Register "Twisted Grind" 2. ???? 3. Profit! Now how hard was that? Now if you need me, I'll be on my yacht...
  
  --
  You know you've lost it when you begin signing physical documents with =^_^=
Re:Spam? Yes! by Zeal17 · 2004-09-20 19:55 · Score: 3, Funny

You are not thinking like a Lawyer. You don't get any money for being spammed. This is harassment, there is a lot of money in harassment.

--

"If it sucks without butter, it still sucks with butter, only creamier." - AC
the face of IP by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-20 20:29 · Score: 1, Funny

Good to know the MPAA is doing their part to portray the good face of Intellection Property.
Re:Duh by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-20 20:47 · Score: 1, Funny

These two movies must be the best argument against movie pirating ever; imaging somebody actually wasting bandwidth on these movies!
Random stupid idea... by Temporal · 2004-09-20 20:55 · Score: 3, Funny

(1) Create some work of art or anything else that you can copyright.
(2) Name it after a file on the MPAA web site.
(3) Send the MPAA a takedown notice.
(4) Profit?

OK, it's probably not a good idea, but I had to suggest it.
Re:A few quotes from the article - by Stephan+Schulz · 2004-09-20 23:04 · Score: 3, Funny

Maybe Twisted is an upcoming sequel to the blockbuster hit Twister?

No, it's a porn movie sponsored by the American Association of Physical Therapists.

--
Stephan
Re:Duh by FictionPimp · 2004-09-21 01:21 · Score: 2, Funny

nah he spent about 23.50 1.00 for the ticket. 22.50 for a small popcorn and soda.