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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."
Now we have a tool that lists all the filenames the MPAA are looking for, 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. Thanks MPAA!
Does it work on linux?
Illegal? Samir, This is America.
It really tags *any* media file, including soundtracks etc. of games, iTunes songs and just about everything else.
quidquid latine dictum sit altum videtur.
Found [1] file(s):
C:\WINDOWS\UPDATE\AUTODOWNLOAD\TEMP\39FWI25\FOO\ DOWNWITHBIGBROTHER.MP3
Notify Ministry of Peace? (Y/y):
Obliteracy: Words with explosions
As one law professor points out (only half-seriously), the MPAA may need to worry about contributory copyright infringement.
If a parent is not active enough in their child's life or like my parents, not technical enough to understand what files are what, this tool does very little.
Parent Not Active - The parent either doesn't care what their child does on the computer/internet or at least does not monitor it. Indeed, that parent might not see this as doing something wrong and in fact do it themselves.
Non-technical Parent - My parents know about movie pirating and that it can be be done on the computer. However, I could also leave a new copy of a main stream movie on the desktop with little worry.
Personally, I think this is a sneaky (abeit overt) way of allowing the MPAA's software to take a peak in your drawers. Parents, if you feel like this is information you can't optain by talking to your kids, than them having some movies on their computer really isn't the problem.
-Teiresias
"Son?"
"Yeah, Dad?"
"I got that tool from the MPAA, and I found some stuff on your computer."
"Dad, I can explain."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"But I--"
"Didn't I teach you to share? Now come on, let's find some good Doobie Brothers..."
I can just see it now...
Mother - "Johnny! I'm going to use this new tool from 'the Man' to see if you've been doing anything illegal on here!"
Kid - "Oh no!"
Father - "Whoa you've been a busy little pirate haven't you?"
Kid "ARRRRR...."
Mother - "Go get the popcorn! I just found the new Johnny Depp movie!"
Father - "Wow! This is awesome, you can download these things for free? SWEEET!"
I hear that they are working on ver 2 of this software. It checks for any tax returns and/or money management programs on your pc, calculates your net worth to see if you are worth sueing, generates some infractions on your pc, and signs you up for a law suit.
In God we trust, all others require data.
original post: that the software is not accurate; 'tagging' virtually every audio or video file it finds based on file extensions.
mpaa tracking software successfully reverse engineered!
find . -name "*p*" > ./.mpaa && mail spooks@mpaa.com ./.mpaa
2 1337 4 u!
For example, their ratings system does a graet job of giving "Billy Elliott" and "Waiting for Guffman" R ratings, because goodness knows no 13-year-old has ever hear bad language or encountered tacitly gay characters. Violence like Daredevil's "paperclips stabbing your throat until you choke to death" gets a PG-13 -- and so does a fantastic family movie like "Whale Rider" -- because there was apparently a bong in the background in one scene.
We're ever so eager to hear their parenting advice in other areas.
"Fundamentalism" isn't about divine morality. It's about human authority.
Woah, you're not kidding about the find all media. I ran the damn thing and it even wanted to delete the system audio files in c:\windows\media.
Copyright detector. Bahahahaha.
ACs are modded -6. I don't read you, I don't mod you, I don't see you. Don't like it? Don't be a coward.
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.