Record Labels Release Software To Combat Piracy

mrsalty writes "CNET reports that IFPI representatives are pushing a new piece of software to delete filesharing programs. It will also 'search computers for music and movies and remove any illegal copies'." From the article: "Digital File Check is easy to use and can help people prevent their employees, children and others from illegally downloading and swapping movies ... It could be especially useful for parents who want to encourage their children to enjoy music responsibly on the Internet ... It is free, voluntary and for private use only and does not tip off any antipiracy organizations."

Comments

Re:Remove illegal copies???

[It doesn't come easy]

Except that it also has a tabbed view of all media files found on your computer and allows you to manually check and delete the found files. This program does not know anything about legally ripped vs. illegally downloaded files. It simply finds and lists media files and provides a way for paranoid parents to delete said files enmass.

This is not a intelligent tool, this is just the next step in the music and video industry's plan to brainwash uninformed people.

As Slashdot posters loves to say, "Nothing to see here, move along..."

Pure crap

[kinglink]

Not only does it find SOME of my music I legally ripped (owning the CD) It only chose parts of those songs, it skips the ENTIRE japanese discographies (Katamari Damacy, second cd to full moon) but it also highlights some of the best of the best songs for Stepmania (not all the DDR songs I have but the "best") and all the mp3s for the VG mixes.

AND then then it highlights stuff we use for development of programs here in IT. And then to really make it dangerous it Includes all the windows bitmaps and such.

I can just see the phone calls now "you told me to use this to make sure Johnny wasn't pirating stuff, and now windows is crashing" "Umm Ma'am didn't you see the warning" "Yes but I was told to use this and now my computer doesn't work"

IFPI bit in the ass by their own suggestion, coming in 12 hours and counting.

Some Numbers

[databyss]

I rip at 256 kbps cause that's how I am.

256 kbps => 256/8 = 32 Bps.

20GB ~ 20,000,000 Bytes => 20,000,000 / 32 = 625,000 seconds

625,000 / 60 => 10,416.6 minutes

Average CD = roughtly 55 minutes (my no calculation estimate)

10,416.6 / 55 = 189.39 CD's

That's not entirely impossible although it is huge for me, it's probably small for a DJ.

Lets add some more fun:

189.39 CD's * $15 a pop = $2,840.91

That is a lot of loot.

Re:OH MY GOSH!

[MCraigW]

I'd like to know how it differentiates between a legal file and an illegal file.

It doesn't. The EULA says that it doesn't and that you have to make that determination yourself. It only deletes what you tell it to delete. The EULA also says it may not find everything.

Re:Oh, the liability!

[kingj02]

I wonder how long it'll be before they start getting sued by people and companies when the software misidentifies something legitimate and winds up disabling computers...

For the EULA: "Software is thus provided 'AS IS' and 'WITH ALL FAULTS'."

Re:No automatic deletion, apparently

[Braxton_the_Covenant]

I wonder if there will be localized versions of this program for countries like Canada or France with private copying taxation schemes that allow you to legally copy music well beyond what one's fair use rights would normally be.

But heck, I wonder if the US-localized build which will probably be the only build will even remember that the US already has somewhat similar private copying laws on the books.

http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap10.html#100 8