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MGM v. Grokster: Here's Why P2P is Valuable

Briefs defending Grokster's right to exist were filed yesterday in MGM v. Grokster, from Intel, Creative Commons [PDF], and many others. Among them, 17 computer science professors laid out the case for P2P, beginning with principles: "First, the United States' description of the Internet's design is wrong. P2P networks are not new developments in network design, but rather the design on which the Internet itself is based." Pointedly, the EFF compares this case's arguments to those made over 20 years ago in the Betamax case, which established the public's right to use video-copying technology, because of its "substantial non-infringing uses," even though many used videotape to infringe copyright. We'll soon see whether that right will extend to peer-to-peer software: the Supreme Court takes this up on March 29th.

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  1. Re:I'm not confident by ari_j · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Read the rest of this thread. You are in the wrong on the actual holding in that case, and you are furthermore employing nothing but logical fallacies combined with an utter lack of understanding of US law to make a point that is entirely invalid. I'm through conversing with you on the topic, but this needed to be pointed out.