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Kazaa Betamax Defense, Reports From The Courtroom

Posted by timothy on from the medium-is-the-offense dept.

The Hobo writes "CBC is reporting that Kazaa, mentioned in a previous Slashdot story has mounted the 'Betamax defence.' The prosecution claims Sharman Networks does not enforce their agreement which stipulates users cannot share copyrighted material." Also following the case, Dan Warne writes "Australia's APC magazine is publishing a daily blog from the Kazaa trial proceedings in Sydney's Federal Court. It has some details not reported elsewhere, like the music industry piracy investigation chief apparently losing a $100 bet on the first day of the trial. More seriously, blogging journalist Garth Montgomery says the court heard evidence that Kazaa's software already had the ability to block copyrighted tracks built in, despite Sharman's protestations to the contrary."

14 of 328 comments (clear)

  1. And if that doesn't work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Then it's on to plan B... The Chewbacca Defense.

    1. Re:And if that doesn't work by Three+Headed+Man · · Score: 2, Funny

      But that doesn't make sense...

      Oh. Nevermind.

      --
      I'm probably at the karma cap. Mod up a funny troll instead, it lightens the mood :)
    2. Re:And if that doesn't work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      it makes sense.

      Chewbacca is a pediphile. and well, Ewoks... i don't think i should draw a clearer picture...

    3. Re:And if that doesn't work by BabyDave · · Score: 5, Funny

      Ladies and gentlemen, this is Betamax. Betamax is a high quality video format from Sony, but the consumers chose VHS. Now think about that. That does not make sense. Why would consumers - intelligent consumers - want to live with an inferior video format? That does not make sense!

      Alternatively ...

      Ladies and gentlemen, this is the music industry. The music industry is a price-fixing behemoth, but consumers chose to get their music for free from Kazaa. Now think about that. That ... er, does make sense.

  2. It might not even go straight to DVD! by garcia · · Score: 5, Funny

    But Speck's hundo was the smallest coin exchanged on this day. With 5 legal teams in total, the amount being spent is inconceivable. Some QCs are on as much as $10000 a day and Dispatch hears that Bannon alone is on $6000 a day, but his performance is said to be worth it.

    If only the MPAA would realize how worthwhile this could be for them! They could take these "actors" who are charging such low rates as $6000 a day and use a prewritten, sensationalist script already available in electronic form, and go ahead and produce this "movie" for everyone to see.

    It's already funny, full of fictionalized reality, and cheap! They can take it right now off of the Internet and reproduce it for their own personal use! People might actually go and see this remake. It would certainly be better than the recent remake of Walking Tall with The Rock. I'm sure he charges more than $6000 a day to carry around a huge cedar 4x6 in the bed of a pickup truck.

    Just a thought.

  3. Betamax defense? by DrStrangeLug · · Score: 5, Funny

    You mean they're claiming that it doesn't matter 'cos they'll lose the format war to an inferior product?

  4. Re:yes, but lets not forget that... by bugbeak · · Score: 2, Funny

    No.

    Only old people USE betamax.

  5. The Betamax Player defense by oexeo · · Score: 3, Funny

    I prefer the Betamax Player defense; it involves indefinitely hitting the *AA over their arrogant heads with an industrial Betamax Player

  6. Re:yes, but lets not forget that... by Jucius+Maximus · · Score: 3, Funny
    "Only old people USE betamax."

    ... must ... resist ... urge to make an "In Korea" joke ...

  7. Re:oooooookay..... by saintp · · Score: 2, Funny
    if (!copyrightBit) {
    return songName;
    } else {
    return COPYRIGHT_ERROR;
    }
    The copyright bit is set right next to the evil bit. Duh.
    --
    Another one bites the dust
  8. Does anyone speak Australian? by JonToycrafter · · Score: 2, Funny

    Babelfish link anyone? I can't figure out what a "spiv" is, QC versus SC (something counsel?), etc. The only Australian I know I learned from Foster's commercials...

  9. by that logic... by gosand · · Score: 4, Funny
    The enemy of my enemy is still a piece of shit.


    Aren't you the enemy of your enemy?

    --

    My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.

  10. Re:oooooookay..... by thepoch · · Score: 2, Funny

    Really. I thought it was illegal to lie in court. Perjury I think its called.

    You must be new here. Haven't you ever read a SCO article?

  11. Re:What are you talking about? by theboyhope · · Score: 2, Funny

    Silly geek. People buy Ferraris so they can score with chicks. Sod the bloody speed limits!