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

Oh, the liability!

[TheSHAD0W]

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...

Interesting

[Julian Morrison]

...how these people use "employees and children" in one sentence. It's as if they think the two are nearly synonymous.

Re:Interesting

[ArsonSmith]

You're obviously not a manager. Employees are children that will sit around and post to slashdot all day if not monitored closely.

BTW I'm not a manager either.

children to enjoy music responsibly!

[fermion]

When was the last time children enjoyed music responsibly. Are we so far back into the conservative era that even our kids are just boring do goodders in a three piece suite listening to how horrible it is to lie? God I hope not. For the past 40 years or so music has been one thing that kids can do irresponsibly without causing massive destruction. Take that away from them and they will have to turn to drugs and such, which will mean the kids will have no money to buy music.

Re:It must use magic!

[CyricZ]

It probably doesn't. After all, these companies don't exactly believe in fair use, even if it is legally mandated. As far as they're concerned, any such file should be treated as an illegal copy, and thus should be deleted. It's quite possible that that's what this software has been designed to assume.

Freedom: 27 - Liberty: 15

[CDMA_Demo]

This is trolling but I can't wait for the day when they declare: Your freedom is a privilege, not a right!!!

Re:Freedom: 27 - Liberty: 15

[moxley]

If only it were trolling...

The thing is - they pretty much are saying that and you barely have to read between the lines to see it - those lines are getting further apart by the second.

What really gets me is all the people who roll over say "Well, they know what's best."

(They: choose Govt or Media or Corporate authority of your choice)

Re:OH MY GOSH!

[harley_frog]

Does anyone have a bittorrent for this?

But seriously, isn't this akin to a computer virus? Who's to say that the RIAA/MPAA/IFPI/(other unknown entitiy) wouldn't/won't use this or similar program to spread a virus that deletes your MP3/Ogg/WMV/etc. files, even the legit ones? I'd file this under "Extremely Bad Ideas".

Re:and the problem is?

[elmegil]

Wow, you mean there's a whole industry dedicated to selling devices that use illegal copies of software, namely iPods and their ilk? Remember, MP3 players predate iTunes and other for pay services by quite a bit, and I don't recall the RIAA going after those manufacturers then or now. Even though you'd think that eliminating one avenue of the demand for these "illegal copies" would be obvious....

how does it know which mp3s are legit!?

[johnrpenner]

> It will also 'search computers for music
> and movies and remove any illegal copies'

so how does it know the difference between an mp3 file
i've ripped from my CD collection (of 700 CDs) to use
on my ipod, or if it comes from a p2p download!?!?

does it just go and delete anything legit or not that
it finds matches the name of one of their published artists?

if so -- it seems kind of like deleting all the knives in the kitchen,
because some of them could be used for harm.

best regards,
j

Re:and the problem is?

[elmegil]

I dunno, seems to me that most of the libertarian leaning folks around here are usually all about personal responsibility. WTF is up with parents buying computers that they can't police? If a parent buys their teenager a firearm and the kid kills himself or a friend or commits a crime with it, is it unrealistic to blame the parent then? If not, why with the computer?

Parents I know, who are concerned about their kids activities online, have simple methods that require no technical expertise whatsoever to police: put the computer in a public room of the house, put a password on it, buy a firewall (like the ones from Linksys) that have parental controls that are easy to use.

You don't leave power tools around for your kids to screw with and hurt themselves, you monitor them to be sure they are using them safely. Why wouldn't you do the same with any other tool?

I can't wait till they get sued...

[someone1234]

because their crappy software removed a legal media file of similar title as a protected one.

Re:OH MY GOSH!

[kfg]

In other words the real function of this program is to create fear, uncertainty and doubt in the minds of parents and employers who aren't savvy enough to run find on mp3s and avis.

It doesn't delete anything, it creates social conflict which is it's function. Only they call it "talking to your kids."

KFG