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MPAA Releases Software For Parents
SnowWolf2003 writes "The MPAA have released their Parent File Scan tool, which 'helps consumers check whether their computers have peer-to-peer software and potentially infringing copies of motion pictures and other copyrighted material'. According to the MPAA, the software does not report any data back to the MPAA. However, users have noted that the software is not accurate; 'tagging' virtually every audio or video file it finds based on file extensions."
As one law professor points out (only half-seriously), the MPAA may need to worry about contributory copyright infringement.
So this means that public schools in the US permit every shady business to slip in its personal agenda to the official curriculum, provide they bribe enough politicos.
This is a fucking scandal and a disgrace for the US school system. Since I'm a foreigner there's nothing I can do, besides urging you to act on this outrage.
The full post can be found here
ich bin der musikant
mit taschenrechner in der hand
kraftwerk
so if you don't fancy getting sued when using P2P, simply rename your downloaded files and use this handy tool to find out if the rename was effective or not.
The MPAA isn't quite that dumb but it is a nice idea. What will eventually happen is that some bright spark will release private P2P software that will allow only certain people to participate (think, your immediate group of friends, their friends, family, etc). It will be just like back in the old BBS days of "elite" access - you had to know someone who knew someone who knew someone who could vouch for you.
Once it goes private, there's no stopping it without Congress and hardware. And it will still be difficult at that point.
And while I'm dishing out ideas, can someone create a MythTV implementation that will allow a "community" of PVRs to collaborate and share? Just automate the file transfers using the above "private P2P" techniques.
More
Parent File Scan is brought to you by DtecNet Software ApS. This free program allows you to search your computer for installed P2P applications as well as movie and music files. You will then be given the option to remove the identified applications and delete infringing movie and music files in a few easy steps. The program does not distinguish between legal and illegal copies, as it is up to the user to determine, whether the files found by the program have been acquired legally, or whether the material should be deleted. Information generated by the program will be made available only to the program's user and will not be shared with or reported to DtecNet Software or any other body.
Taken directly from the download page. Bold emphasis mine.
But I can't help but notice that on that site, there's no talkback form. No e-mail address. No way in which to leave feedback on what they are doing.
:\
Funny that.
Karma: Chameleon (mostly due to the fact that you come and go).
the program is sending data out after the scan finishes, I've been running packet sniffs with ethereal, but can't find anything that says what is being sent, but after watching my packet count go up a couple thousand at the end of the scan sounds strange to me, and going from no traffic to a small spike after the scan gives me reason to not trust it at all.
You must have some different version than what I have because I just sniffed packets throughout the whole process and nothing got sent out past my LAN the entire time. I did this on a clean system though, no mp3's or p2p apps, but it did find 3 system files for various OSes that I have loaded on here. Regardless, no information was sent out at all. Maybe that's some other application you have installed...