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Paramount Sues Ohio Man For $100,000

ematic writes "A hapless tech-novice finds himself in a US$100,000 lawsuit with Paramount Pictures for allegedly uploading the movie, Coach Carter, to eDonkey. Paramount had the police seize his four computers, but nothing was found. The tech-novice maintains his innocence, and contends that he is a victim of a drive-by upload. According to the ChannelCincinnati story, the victim 'is either a slick film pirate or an unwitting victim of someone who fits that description.'"

20 of 724 comments (clear)

  1. Slick Film Pirate... by Cruithne · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... what, like Johnny Dep?

  2. Re:Tech Novice? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    A tech novice with 4 computers?

    Er... someone just broke in and left them here. What are those things anyway? I thought they were modern art.

  3. Next Door by Tinn-Can · · Score: 2, Funny

    That is why you use the next door neighbor's wi-fi... maybe being in jail will keep him from blasting the TV all night... secure your wireless, or have the MPAA come after you...

  4. Re:Tech Novice? by blanktek · · Score: 5, Funny

    One computer and three coffee holders...

  5. Ignorance of the law is not innocence by eno2001 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Even if this man did not know what was done on his machines, he's still responsible. That is the law that the law givers made. The punishment must be death by mahi mahi. Feigning ignorance of the law by claiming that he did not know what was done is a white herring designed to try and make people think otherwise. This displeases the law givers. He will feel their wrath for his ignorance as they beat him.

    -Grobo, Son of Chinea in the Tenth Dynasty of Koll

    --
    -"...bad old ideas look confusingly fresh when they are packaged as technology" - Jaron Lanier (Digital Maoism on Edge.o
  6. Marketing Ploy by VonSkippy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Only way that dog of a movie could make $100K is to sue someone - that and all the chump change picked up from the PR resulting in curiosity sales. //no body = no conviction, but this is the RIAA so don't count on logic figuring into the case.

  7. What did he expect? by dirtsurfer · · Score: 3, Funny

    If he didn't want to draw attention to himself, he shouldn't have been going by the name "Ohio Man" in the first place.

  8. Re:type? by fishbowl · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Usually none. If the police execute a search and seizer, it is under the color of their official duty. To be held liable, it has to be shown as a clear abuse, not just a major screw-up."

    Still, it can't be a good point for the plaintiff.

    "Your honor, we stand before you with our dicks in our hands, since we found no evidence. We move for a change of venue."

    --
    -fb Everything not expressly forbidden is now mandatory.
  9. Coach Carter by mattwarden · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hadn't heard of this movie until this story. Further proof that piracy helps the movie industry.

  10. Re:Tech Novice? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    That old line about Innocent until proven guilty went out with 9/11. The guy is OBIVIOUSLY a terrorist!*

    (*Editors note : The proceeding was a joke.)

  11. unemployed pirates by pintomp3 · · Score: 2, Funny

    it's all capital one's fault. all these pirates have nothing else to do so they upload movies. (please don't mod me offtopic just because you don't watch tv).

  12. Re:Tech Novice? by Pofy · · Score: 2, Funny

    >A tech novice with 4 computers?

    No, no, no! He just had a very fast processor. That would then be the *equivalency* of 4 computers. You must learn the correct mathematics.

  13. Re:Tech Novice? by rk · · Score: 4, Funny

    They found a file with "12345" in it, which is the combination to the President' luggage. So, he's busted.

  14. Re:Some people just waste money by Sheriff+Fatman · · Score: 5, Funny

    > "What's the right term for someone who uses computers, but knows basically nothing about them?"

    Don't know about you, but round here we call them 'managers'...

    --
    -- Open Source: It's mad, but you don't have to work here to help.
  15. Re:2 things: by thePfhitz · · Score: 2, Funny
    I get the idea of a deterent but man.

    Wouldn't "a deterent but man" be the goatse guy? That unfortunately makes me wonder what things would be like if they replaced the FBI warnings with his picture... I'm sure nobody would be wanting to copy movies then!

  16. Re:Tech Novice? by Bin_jammin · · Score: 3, Funny

    Brother, you ain't kidding. I just got paid with a kitten. It has extra toes.

  17. Re:Some people just waste money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Graphic Designer?

  18. Re:Motive? by dodobh · · Score: 2, Funny

    EMPs can do the trick.

    --
    I can throw myself at the ground, and miss.
  19. Re:Plausible deniability by cpt+kangarooski · · Score: 2, Funny

    Heroine, eh? Well, I would certainly be surprised to find a heroine in anyone's luggage, especially since you don't really see people with luggage large enough for your average-sized heroine these days. Carryons are quite popular.

    --
    -- This and all my posts are in the public domain. I am a lawyer. I am not your lawyer, and this is not legal advice.
  20. Re:Piece of cake ... by torokun · · Score: 2, Funny

    I would suggest:

    probably -> prolly
    probable -> prol
    probability -> prolity