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Fox Subpoenas YouTube Over Content

popo writes "FOX has subpoenaed YouTube for the identity of a user who posted entire episodes of '24' and 'The Simpson's'. It is not yet known whether YouTube has complied with the request. The '24' episodes in question actually appeared on YouTube prior to their primetime January 14 premiere on the Fox broadcast network, which spread four hourlong episodes of the hit drama over two consecutive nights. Fox became aware the episodes were on YouTube on January 8, according to the subpoena."

141 comments

  1. Why result to laywers..... by LordPhantom · · Score: 5, Funny

    ....when they have Jack Bauer? I mean, Chuck Norris prays to the guy before bed.

    1. Re:Why result to laywers..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      BUllSHIT!! Chuck Norris only prays to Chuck Norris...

    2. Re:Why result to laywers..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Blasphemy!

      Heretics such as you shall never see the great Kingdom of Badassery. Chuck Norris will cast you out and turn your soul over to Dolph Lundgren to be tortured with shitty B movies endlessly for his pleasure.

    3. Re:Why result to laywers..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Are you kidding? Chuck Norris is the one who leaked the videos.
      --
      Most linux users don't know this, but the man pages are named after Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris fsck ing hates noobs!

    4. Re:Why result to laywers..... by saskboy · · Score: 2, Funny

      Do you think this Jack Bauer guy would ever try to take down the Teleban? After all the organization devoted to Banning TV, might pose a threat to his career.

      --
      Saskboy's blog is good. 9 out of 10 dentists agree.
    5. Re:Why result to laywers..... by Ghanburigahn · · Score: 2, Funny

      Chuck Norris only needs 1 hour to get done what it takes Jack to do in 24...and 50 minutes of that is travel time.

    6. Re:Why result to laywers..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And that's because he needs to cross the Atlantic.

      On foot.

    7. Re:Why result to laywers..... by elrous0 · · Score: 1
      Chuck Norris doesn't even pray to God. God prays to HIM.

      -Eric

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    8. Re:Why result to laywers..... by sakasune · · Score: 1

      Chuck Norris doesn't need to travel - he's EVERYWHERE!

      --
      "You're arguing for a universe with fewer waffles in it," I said. "I'm prepared to call that cowardice."
  2. he's a star by User+956 · · Score: 4, Funny

    FOX has subpoenaed YouTube for the identity of a user who posted entire episodes of '24' and 'The Simpson's'.

    Yeah, they're looking for him so he can star in an upcoming show on CourtTV.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
    1. Re:he's a star by master_kaos · · Score: 1

      If the person is smart, they wouldn't of used any of their real life details anyways (I know I sure don't when I register for any online stuff that doesn't require a credit card) So how would getting the "identity" help them at all? At most they might get a free hotmail account, then go bug hotmail to release the identity for that email address (which is probably fake info to)

    2. Re:he's a star by User+956 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      At most they might get a free hotmail account, then go bug hotmail to release the identity for that email address (which is probably fake info to)

      Yeah, and even if they track it back to an IP address, the guy probably did it from an open wireless access point. At least, if he was smart he did.

      --
      The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
    3. Re:he's a star by Profane+MuthaFucka · · Score: 3, Funny

      He's uploading episodes of "24". That means he hid his tracks by uploading from his Mom's house.

      --
      Fascism trolls keeping me up every night. When I starts a preachin', he HITS ME WITH HIS REICH!
    4. Re:he's a star by russ1337 · · Score: 2, Funny

      If he was really smart, then he pwn's Rupert Murdoch's home computer and did it all remotely from there.

    5. Re:he's a star by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 1

      Nope! I did it from the Cyber Cafe next door to my house. How cool am I?

    6. Re:he's a star by finkployd · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Which probably means a major million dollar lawsuit in a civil court will be filed against some unsuspecting family with a linksys router running default settings. Aim the lawyers, prepare to devastate lives.

      Finkployd

  3. Why Worry? by eno2001 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This isn't about your typical copyright infringement. This is about an inside job since that's the only way those files would have made it to YouTube. I have a feeling that if found, the person responsible will first be fired, then sued out the whazoo and sent to debtor's prison.

    --
    -"...bad old ideas look confusingly fresh when they are packaged as technology" - Jaron Lanier (Digital Maoism on Edge.o
    1. Re:Why Worry? by User+956 · · Score: 5, Funny

      I have a feeling that if found, the person responsible will first be fired, then sued out the whazoo and sent to debtor's prison.

      I can understand firing him and suing him, but don't you think sending him to live in Detroit is a bit harsh?

      --
      The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
    2. Re:Why Worry? by Cylix · · Score: 4, Informative

      Inside job?

      Often times, an episode or pilot will be sent out on dvd to be distributed to potential clients. These are presented as general sales tools and sometimes carry little restriction. ie, copy and burn to distribute to those you deem necessary. While the episode may not contain all of computer graphics of the final show... it can very much be the whole thing.

      I'm surprised it actually took this long for someone to do this. However, it wouldn't have to be an employee of a Fox affiliate and could just be some random soul who was given a copy for preview.

      These things have always been a bit sloppy in my opinion and it will be interesting to see if they tighten up on these internal releases.

      --
      "You should always go to other people's funerals; otherwise, they won't come to yours." -- Yogi Berra
    3. Re:Why Worry? by Jordan+Catalano · · Score: 5, Informative

      The full DVD of the first four episodes was ALL OVER Usenet on the 7th.

      Thousands of people DLed that, and one guy encoded it for submission to YouTube.

      No insider job here.

    4. Re:Why Worry? by dknight · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I know a lot of the "TV Groups" get shows long before they air.
      How? Well, one in particular that I know of used to pull them out of the air. It seems that Fox would send out the completed episodes about a week before they were supposed to air, via satellite, to assorted groups (I dont know who, but I assume their affiliates). These "pirates" would pull the complete shows right out of the air (yes, I know, its much more complicated and involved than I'm making it sound, but I'm simplifying here people), encode them, and release them, well before the actual airing.

      No inside job needed, and noone handing out things they werent supposed to.

    5. Re:Why Worry? by gstoddart · · Score: 2, Informative
      Often times, an episode or pilot will be sent out on dvd to be distributed to potential clients. These are presented as general sales tools and sometimes carry little restriction. ie, copy and burn to distribute to those you deem necessary

      Often times, yes. But, I don't get the impression this is one of them.

      The show '24' is hardly being shopped around at this point for potential clients -- every single Fox affiliate is playing it now. It's exceedingly well known at this point.

      And, TFA indicates these were the 'entire' episodes. This sounds much more like the full, ready to air, version of the episodes were released before there were aired. I can't imagine that these weren't copies intended for use by the networks for broadcast.

      Cheers
      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    6. Re:Why Worry? by aeryn_sunn · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I have a er..."friend" who is a member of the Academy and gets to vote on the Oscars. One really cool thing about going to her house is that she gets tons of movies from various studios that are vying for nominations for every category... why cool? because she has movies that are still in the theaters, or ones that we never get to see, such as foreign released films, shorts, documentaries, and stuff that is not yet on DVD (yes, usually there is a weekend marathon of movies)

      Anyway, the Academy used to send them on regular DVD but one of the restrictions was that members are forbidden from sharing the movies, i.e., letting others borrow them, else they lose their membership and probably get tossed in a cell with a drunk Mel Gibson and Gary Busey... now, they have the movies on a special DVD that only works on special players that are distributed to most members (I think some members still get regular DVDs, although I cannot vouch for this)...

      I wonder if Fox just gives out regular DVDs to special people to view? I know a guy I worked for one time used to the president years ago of whatever group gives out the Emmys, but as a member of the..."Emmy group"?...he still gets tons of DVDs of various episodes of all the TV shows on broadcast and cable. As far as I know, they were regular DVDs. (I used to sneak a few out at work and watch them on my computer...during lunch and breaks of course).

      It seems if Fox or other networks thought that such episodes were so important,they would not allow unresticted DVDs out into the wild. Hell, it could have been one of Fox's VP's kids that got a hold of 24's premiere and unleashed that baby into the tubes of the interwebs...

    7. Re:Why Worry? by TubeSteak · · Score: 4, Informative
      These "pirates" would pull the complete shows right out of the air (yes, I know, its much more complicated and involved than I'm making it sound, but I'm simplifying here people)
      Actually, it is pretty much that simple.

      The big networks don't always use an encrypted feed when they're sending the shows (over satellite) to the affiliate stations.

      Anyone with a big dish can point it at the satellite and grab the episodes.

      There's a lot of free/random stuff floating around on satellite TV if you point your dish around.
      --
      [Fuck Beta]
      o0t!
    8. Re:Why Worry? by lonechicken · · Score: 4, Funny

      There's a lot of free/random stuff floating around on satellite TV if you point your dish around. Is this an appropriate point to insert a "Single Female Lawyer" joke/reference? Oh well.

      Single Female Lawyer
      Fighting for her client!
      Wearing sexy miniskirts
      And being self-reliant...

      Single Female Lawyer
      Having lots of sex.
    9. Re:Why Worry? by Tim+C · · Score: 1

      noone handing out things they werent supposed to

      I think copyright law might disagree with you there. Ok, so distribution isn't literally "handing out", but they're still not supposed to be doing it...

    10. Re:Why Worry? by GR8_GRM_RPR · · Score: 0

      Possible corporate mistake. If it happens again.... First time is an accident, Second time is coincidence, third time is enemy action. I guess bit torrent is armagedon for the distributers and creators of the worlds most mass reproduced art. The musicians have placed a premium on live perfomances over conventional recordings. The Rolling Stones haven't gone bankrupt from this new model. If technology catches up with content creation and the price of producing a new show decreases by orders of magnitude. The rendering done by your spare GPU cycles could be linked to 'off hollywood' renderfarms to create a huge mind numbing number of shows. Existing producers have decades of functional dialog in the soap operas. All they need to do is reuse and recyle. It might be possible one day to take all of the dialog of every soap opera ever produced. The closed caption logs creating 3D animations of famous shows. Albert Einstien as Mister Wizard. The Bill Nye the science guy reporting from Mars base, etc... The Young and the Restless meets Star Trek. I think if we really are stimulated by Youtube it is because we crave something new. Most of us reuse the same 500 words a day. If we are lucky we find a new word every day. What words have you found repulsive in the extreme? Rewrite Mainframe, Virus, Brangelina, BSOD, Department of Stratergy.

      --
      Have Tardis, will travel.
    11. Re:Why Worry? by RoTNCoRE · · Score: 1

      Fox is selling the first 4 episodes on DVD (Amazon) so depending how this was distributed it could even be a retailer. If you are going to be that quick to market the DVD after airing the episodes, these DVDs have been sitting somewhere for a while now, or out for pressing. If you are in DVD production before the initial airing...Fox didn't ask for it, but wouldn't have needed a crystal ball to predict it either. Fox is trying to get the cat back in the bag.

    12. Re:Why Worry? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have a, er.. "friend" that has usenet and gets pretty much the same things.

    13. Re:Why Worry? by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Seeing as the episodes in question were the ones made available on DVD the following Tuesday, I'd think the most logical leak would be somewhere in the chain responsible for getting the DVDs made and to the stores in time.

      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
    14. Re:Why Worry? by gstoddart · · Score: 0
      Seeing as the episodes in question were the ones made available on DVD the following Tuesday, I'd think the most logical leak would be somewhere in the chain responsible for getting the DVDs made and to the stores in time.

      I'm not sure the above statement is true. From TFA, we see this:

      The "24" episodes in question actually appeared on YouTube prior to their primetime January 14 premiere on the Fox broadcast network

      I can't imagine that the episode which premiered on TV in primetime on January 14th was released on DVD the following Tuesday. Everything about this article is saying that is was a fully-prepped episode, not yet aired on TV, and not a tester or in post production.

      This, to me, doesn't seem to have anything to do with the DVD supply chain. It really does have to do with unaired episodes. Not ones which have already been broadcast.

      Cheers
      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    15. Re:Why Worry? by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 1

      Do you have any good websites giving a DIY on how to do this? I've always been interested in these since I knew they were available. Most of the "free satellite" searches come back with how to crack DSS. I plan on canceling cable (I don't watch enough) but if I could get some used equipment and scan the sky I'd love to.

    16. Re:Why Worry? by lostatredrock · · Score: 1

      In most cases maybe, but this season in an attempt to stop people from downloading shows from BT Fox released the first four episodes on DVD the Tuesday after they aired. As often happens some people got their hands on these DVDs and the shows were available more than a week before they aired.

      I think Fox just feels spited because the whole point of releasing them early was to combat BT distribution and all it actually did was make BT a more attractive method of getting the shows because they were there early.

    17. Re:Why Worry? by hansonc · · Score: 1

      They released the DVD of the first (couple?) episodes the day after it aired. Of course they leaked from the DVD supply chain. You don't seriously think they aired the episode, and then pressed a million DVDs and had them on the shelves the next day do you?

    18. Re:Why Worry? by gkhan1 · · Score: 1

      All four episodes were available on bittorrent networks long before they aired on tv (lets just say I can personally attest to that fact ;). Fox had sent out screeners to every critic they could think of, so naturally they made it onto the web.

    19. Re:Why Worry? by GoodbyeBlueSky1 · · Score: 3, Informative

      I can't imagine that the episode which premiered on TV in primetime on January 14th was released on DVD the following Tuesday. Everything about this article is saying that is was a fully-prepped episode, not yet aired on TV, and not a tester or in post production. What the hell's wrong with you? The GP makes an insightful post that probably hits the nail on the head and you say it's wrong because you can't imagine something that happened happened?

      From Wikipedia: "FOX released a Season 6 Premiere DVD on January 16. This DVD contains the first 4 episodes of 24 season 6, and a preview of episode 5. The DVD leaked on Saturday, January 6, eight days before the season premiere, to BitTorrent and other P2P networks. Come on, don't refute someone's argument with a "hunch".
      --
      why? forty-two.
    20. Re:Why Worry? by krotkruton · · Score: 1

      Obviously they didn't press and ship a million DVDs in a day, but that doesn't mean that the leak came from the supply chain. They could have been snatched out of the airwaves since a lot of networks send their shows to their affiliates early so that local commercials can be added in before airing.

    21. Re:Why Worry? by asills · · Score: 3, Interesting

      A coworker of mine had the DVD the week before 24 aired. His girlfriend works at Blockbuster and they had gotten their shipment of the DVDs three or four days before it aired. The Blockbuster manager allows employees to "rent" anything before it goes on shelves so she got them and he watched them that weekend.

      --
      -- What did Spock find in Kirk's toilet? The captain's log.
    22. Re:Why Worry? by krotkruton · · Score: 1

      The other logical leak would be during transmission to stations, if that is still what FOX does. There is a post in another thread about how this happens, but the basically the studio (or another middle man after the studio who holds the finished episode) sends the episode out to all of the affiliates before the show airs. This episode doesn't contain any commercials (although some contain a few global commercials) so that the affiliates can fill the episode with local or regional commercials. This is why I see commercials for O'Brian's Auto Park in Champaign and my cousin sees an add for Hooters in Miami. If the leaked episodes didn't contain any commercials, then they almost definitely weren't leaked from an affiliate, so they were probably leaked on the DVD chain or in transmission to an affiliate. The problem with the transmission interception scenario is that from what I understand, most studios send the episodes out the day before or within a few days of airing, not a week in advance (which would have to be the case since FOX found out about the video 6 days before it aired). Anyway, I'd agree with you that a leak on the DVD chain is the most likely scenario.

    23. Re:Why Worry? by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yep, it's turtles all the way down...

      --
      If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
    24. Re:Why Worry? by RareButSeriousSideEf · · Score: 1

      I can't imagine that the episode which premiered on TV in primetime on January 14th was released on DVD the following Tuesday. This will probably be redundant by the time I can hit 'submit', but yes, they really did release the 1st two episodes on the Tuesday after the second one aired. Perhaps FOX has decided to "compete with free," as it were.
    25. Re:Why Worry? by DarthBart · · Score: 3, Informative

      search for "Free to air" or "FTA" satellite. That will get you the equipment you need for the unencrypted digital feeds. However, for the unencrypted analog feeds, search for "C-Band/Ku-Band TVRO".

      C-Band TVRO requires one of those Big Ugly Dishes, so you may have a problem there.

      Lyngsat.com gives you a list of transponders per satellite and what's on them. The ones marked "feeds" are the ones used to transmit programs to affiliates or backhaul remote news/sports trucks back to the studios. The feeds are raw, so you'll probably catch some reporter scratching his ass or picking his nose.

    26. Re:Why Worry? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think it is probably Fox legal looking for a way to be able to whine about how big and bad Google is so that Fox can get compliant legislators to pass laws in their favor. In other words, Fox put up the video on its own. It also gives Fox some nice press, early advert for its show (only a fucking moron believes "piracy" does not help media sales), and a nice crowbar into Google's video operations.

      Btw, there is no difference between a show that has already aired being up on the web and one that has not already aired. Either way, the DMCA is the same. Fox does not have a foot to stand on for forcing Google to do anything other than take down the show once Google is notified. Fox is just using this as an excuse to claim they need more legal powers at their disposal. No, sorry, Fox you are not an arm of the law and I think it is pretty damn clear the people do not want you snooping into our business or investigating our online lives. Copying is not, should not, and never should have been a criminal matter. Fox can go do to itself what its does to the truth every night on its newscasts.

    27. Re:Why Worry? by sleigher · · Score: 1

      a good place to start is http://www.lyngsat.com/

      then maybe http://happysat.org/

      --
      All points of time and space are connected.
    28. Re:Why Worry? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    29. Re:Why Worry? by BryanL · · Score: 1

      How did it get to usenet? This could still be an inside job.

    30. Re:Why Worry? by devoss · · Score: 1

      Super secret special DVD players!?? wow, they'll never crack those.

      I mean, unless they hook the DVD player up to a computer instead of a TV and record it. Man, I hope they thought of that! I'd hate to think hollywood was making less money.

    31. Re:Why Worry? by BurningPi · · Score: 0

      I mean, unless they hook the DVD player up to a computer instead of a TV and record it. Man, I hope they thought of that! I'd hate to think hollywood was making less money. nah, just send a few images to the DeCSS guys so they can reverse engineer the SSSDVDCSS (Super Secret Special Digital Video Disk Content Scrambling System). The MPAA will try to ban the resulting DeSSSCSS code, but will make a typo and add/remove an 'S'.
    32. Re:Why Worry? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      No it wasn't. This was a rip of a commercial DVD of the season pilot which according to rumors from unnamed sources had already been shipped for Mass Market sale before the airing of the episodes.

      This was about as inside as someone in shipping at Best Buy deciding to swipe one before they hit the shelves (which was allegedly happening shortly, if not already). Do you think they wait for a show to air before pressing the DVDs? It was not a screener copy as those usually have serial numbers in the corner. Official scene (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scene) releases have those blurred and these episodes had no blurring.

      Yes, I know the blurring can now be reversed, but that's beside the point.

    33. Re:Why Worry? by Cylix · · Score: 1

      Just out of curiosity... who isn't using encryption these days? As far as the larger networks go.

      Now, occasionally there will be an unencrypted backup feed, but as far a I know most of the large networks are using DVB type setups with encryption.

      Lyngsat seems to be nearly always out of date, but it is still a great source of information. There are some better wild feed listers, but I haven't paid attention to those in years.

      --
      "You should always go to other people's funerals; otherwise, they won't come to yours." -- Yogi Berra
    34. Re:Why Worry? by Cylix · · Score: 1

      I have a brand new DVD sitting on my desk made for affiliate use and I had mine a week earlier then the show release. (Full box art as well) I would rather not site the specific network affiliation because I do not speak for them.

      My copy was also late...

      I was speaking in very general terms here trying to convey a message.

      However, it is entirely possible that a full blown release was available to anyone within any given stations reach a week before the episodes public release.

      If I recall correctly, they were siting only one release was a week earlier.

      Another poster mentioned the DVD chain release as well.

      There are simply far too many leaks for it to be an absolute inside job.

      --
      "You should always go to other people's funerals; otherwise, they won't come to yours." -- Yogi Berra
    35. Re:Why Worry? by shreevatsa · · Score: 2, Interesting

      now, they have the movies on a special DVD that only works on special players that are distributed to most members
      And it is something that has cost them dearly:

      In 2004, a company named Cinea spent $5 million distributing custom DVD players to Academy and BAFTA members with very mixed results. Lately, it seems the new strategy is to stop trying. Maybe the industry is finally realizing that the best way to get recognized is for people to see your movie, despite the risk of piracy. For example, Munich was very likely snubbed for a British Oscar nomination in 2005 because the screeners were late and defective. The best case study is Lionsgate's promotion of Crash vs Disney's Cinea-encrypted screeners:

      In a way, Lionsgate's strategy was the opposite of Disney's. While the indie sent its film to as many voters as possible, upping the odds copies could be pirated, the Mouse House focused on minimizing piracy, with the result that at least 26% of Oscar voters didn't watch its screeners.
      The outcome: Crash shocked the world by winning Best Picture over the favored Brokeback Mountain, while Disney only got Best Makeup for The Chronicles of Narnia.
    36. Re:Why Worry? by deblau · · Score: 1

      The full DVD of the first four episodes was ALL OVER Usenet on the 7th... No insider job here.
      Um, where did the full DVD come from?
      --
      This post expresses my opinion, not that of my employer. And yes, IAAL.
  4. I guess this means by bky1701 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Kiefer Sutherland learned how to use the internet, and took the "post your own videos!" thing a bit overboard.

  5. 24 Season 6 Preview was on YouTube by Dr+Kool,+PhD · · Score: 1

    The producers of the television show 24 have a great DVD marketing strategy -- show some new footage that takes place just before the yet-to-be-aired season and package it on the DVDs of the previous season as a bonus. Unfortunately someone on YouTube screwed that strategy over and probably cost Fox a grip in DVD sales. They are out for blood.

    1. Re:24 Season 6 Preview was on YouTube by Fulg · · Score: 1
      The producers of the television show 24 have a great DVD marketing strategy -- show some new footage that takes place just before the yet-to-be-aired season and package it on the DVDs of the previous season as a bonus
      For season 6 they pushed it a bit overboard I think - on the morning following the "4-hour premiere" broadcast, you could buy a DVD with those 4 episodes, and the bonus footage (the "bait") was scenes from the following week's episode...
      --
      gcc: no input sig
  6. YouTube's Council by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 1, Funny

    Lionel Hutz will crush their subpoenas like a paper cup.

    1. Re:YouTube's Council by Maltheus · · Score: 1

      Dude, too soon, he's dead.

    2. Re:YouTube's Council by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 0

      Dude, too soon, he's dead. So is James Brown, but he's still working.
  7. 4th Amendment in contest by AnnuitCoeptis · · Score: 1

    I think this case may due a precedent for these video sharing sites.

    1. Re:4th Amendment in contest by A+Name+Similar+to+Di · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Sorry, I read your comment but I'm not quite sure I'm following. I popped open the Wikipedia entry on the subject and it noted that "it does not guarantee to people the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures conducted by private citizens or organizations" but only those from the government.

      Further, IANAL, but doesn't the search seem specific (we want the information for this _one_ fellow here) and contain probable cause (his name uploaded copyrighted material)?

      Sorry, I'm interested in the issue, but I'm not quite sure I see how this ties in to the 4th amendment, would you mind clarifying what you meant?

    2. Re:4th Amendment in contest by cryfreedomlove · · Score: 1

      How is this a 4th amendment issue? Its freely evident in the public space that YouTube possesses stolen property. Youtube may fight the subpoena but I do not see anything unreasonable here about Fox's actions.

    3. Re:4th Amendment in contest by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not stolen. Nothing has been removed from possession of its owner.
      Infringing.

    4. Re:4th Amendment in contest by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      I would have thought unreasonable searches and seizures by private organisations would be called breaking and entering and/or burglary and/or outright theft. Since when do corporates have any rights to trespass and steal? And why do you think it's okay if they do?

    5. Re:4th Amendment in contest by A+Name+Similar+to+Di · · Score: 1

      I would have thought unreasonable searches and seizures by private organisations would be called breaking and entering and/or burglary and/or outright theft. Since when do corporates have any rights to trespass and steal? And why do you think it's okay if they do?

      Wow, I'm not quite sure how I gave you that impression, but let me try and clarify. I started by including the line that the 4th amendment applies only to the government and not private organizations as (as I mentioned) IANAL and the exact legal mechanism by which Fox obtains information from YouTube isn't something I keenly understand. Breaking and entering might be one way to characterize behavior, but what about a case where Fox requested the names of all registered YouTube users? That might have serious privacy implications, however the fourth amendment wouldn't apply (at least, as I read it).

      Next, I don't believe I ever stated that corporations have any rights to trespass and steal, but note also that trespassing and stealing are not covered by the fourth amendment.

      Finally, I no where even remotely stated that I thought trespassing and stealing was okay. Stating it the way you did makes most of your post sound like flamebait.

      Again, I was simply curious how the parent saw this as a 4th amendment issue. He might be seeing this in a different light than I am or know more about the law.

    6. Re:4th Amendment in contest by Atlantis-Rising · · Score: 1

      Not to be pedantic, but there is a difference between 'unreasonable search and seizure' and 'unlawful search and seizure'. In many cases, the government is held to the higher standard of 'unreasonable', but to my knowledge, citizens are only held to 'unlawful'. For example, in Catz (I think), the government wasn't allowed to use evidence they had gained from eavsdropping- that was 'unreasonable'. It certainly, however, wasn't illegal.

      --
      "It is possible to commit no errors and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." -Peak Performance
    7. Re:4th Amendment in contest by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Under US legal code, unauthorized copies of copyrighted works are classified as stolen property. Waah mommy.

    8. Re:4th Amendment in contest by paeanblack · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Not stolen. Nothing has been removed from possession of its owner.
      Infringing.


      Actually, "stealing" is correct term.

      You infringe the copyright of a published work.
      You steal an unpublished work.

      If you haven't published something, you still own it entirely, with all rights of ownership...not just the rights of copy and distribution. If someone makes a copy of your unpublished manuscript, you have lost something real and valuable: the right of introduction. You can no longer monetize the debut of your work, for that right was stolen.

    9. Re:4th Amendment in contest by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      Surely Fox have to have a reason backed by some sort of legality before they can just demand other people's information or property?

  8. Bauer Will Find Them by eldavojohn · · Score: 2, Funny
    The uploaded material could cause Fox "irreparable harm," Sunderland said, but it was not immediately clear if the episodes in question still were posted on the site or perhaps had been removed.
    Well, his/her account has been suspended but you can still view some of their videos for some reason.

    That's beside the point, though. Once Jack finds out that there is some person somewhere acting unlawfully against him, all civil laws and the Geneva Conventions will be ignored in his quest to find them. With in the first hour of Bauer's angerment, he will see the news and say "damn it!" then proceed to use his ties with Rupert Murdoch to gain access to Larry Page's dog, Foo-Foo. Using CTU personnel that are risking their own jobs to do it, he will find Larry's home address. 20 minutes into the episode, Bauer will have interrogated Foo-Foo and have the dog's head in a basket and be in route to Larry's home.

    Meanwhile, the terorrist ECOTotal will be sitting on the couch munching on Dorritos laughing at a family on Geraldo.

    At the half way point, Jack knocks on Larry's door as an innocuous deliveray boy carrying a sidearm and a basket dripping with blood. When Larry opens the door, Jack throws the poodle's head at him and pushes him inside with a gun to Larry's head. Interrogation and dialogue of the lowest calibre ensues. Larry Page is left unable to father children.

    Meanwhile, ECOTotal is looking on eBay for their new SLR lens.

    Jack interrogates Larry to a bloody pulp and finds out that ECOTotal is really a 16 year old high school student dabbling in photography and computer video processing.

    The clock is ticking but by the end of the episode the Muslim terrorist ECOTotal is dead and the Chinese government is involved for some reason ... um, because we hate them, that's why.

    --

    Does anyone else see this over the top action as becoming laughable as Walker, Texas Ranger? I mean, the last tag line I heard on a Fox commercial was "All hail the power of Bauer!" What the hell?
    --
    My work here is dung.
    1. Re:Bauer Will Find Them by dema · · Score: 0, Troll

      I accidently watched 24 once. I thought it was some over-the-top MadTV parody or something...

    2. Re:Bauer Will Find Them by synx · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I think 24 is a profoundly disturbing show. I think in this 'terrorism is war' mentality, whre people think anything goes, and anything works, 24 has convinced america that torture can work.

      Lets just put it this way, Mossad gave up on torture. If they can't make it work, no one can.

    3. Re:Bauer Will Find Them by Radon360 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The show, in too many different ways, albeit technological, chronological, sociological, etc. has parted ways with the bounds of reality so much that the show has become uninteresting to watch because it lacks any plausibility any more.

      The artistic license given to Hollywood (and now, New York) is so vast that I've stopped watching CSI regularly for similar reasons. I mean, these guys can pull a good DNA sample off of dog poop and trace it back through the Miami-Dade Humane Society's database on any canine that's passed through a vetrinary's office within a 100 mile radius. Or, my favorite, reading and enhancing the license plate off a car, at night, parked almost perpendicular to the camera view, from an ATM camera recording.

      Anyway, it's obvious that the offender had inside access to the shows, as commented on many times previously. A copyright issue? Likely. But it's more like an issue of confidential insider information leaked before it was supposed to go public. The information in this case, was the episodes.

    4. Re:Bauer Will Find Them by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      The show ... has parted ways with the bounds of reality ...
      No, that's an understatement. I think this show unlawfully entered reality's home, forcefully raped reality and dropped a five dollar bill on the bed instructing reality to "go clean yourself up" before the show left.
    5. Re:Bauer Will Find Them by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! 24 is a wonderful show. It gives us a good idea of what the government should be doing to protect the American people, rather than being the weak, worthless, politically-correct pacifists they are. It shows what life could be like if we took the fight to the terrorists, rather than letting them bring it to us.

    6. Re:Bauer Will Find Them by geekoid · · Score: 1

      "Jack interrogates Larry to a bloody pulp "

      I love that line..I so am going to use it in my next game.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  9. Interesting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    DVD Screeners of the first four episodes of 24 were out quite a bit before January 8 on both USENET and all the major TV torrent lists. I'm not surprised the person who will be made an example of will be little joey in his grandparents basement.

  10. DVD leaked by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I thought the 24 premiere DVD was leaked long before the actual broadcast? If so, this is far from an 'inside job'.

  11. It's not the darned "Simpson's" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Simpsons. Simpsons.

  12. Have Fox got.... by 8127972 · · Score: 1

    ..... Lionel Hutz as an attorney?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Hutz

    --
    This is my opinion. To make sure you don't steal it, it's covered by the DMCA.
    1. Re:Have Fox got.... by asiansteev · · Score: 1

      Hutz: I didn't win. Here's your pizza.
      Fox: But we did win.
      Hutz: That's okay. The box is empty.

    2. Re:Have Fox got.... by truthsearch · · Score: 1

      It's a thorny legal issue, all right. I'll need to refer to the case of Finders v. Keepers.

  13. The DVD is out... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wow it would be nice if some of the commentors at least knew what they were talking about...go to Amazon or Netflix right now and you'll see they're already selling the DVD for the first 4 episodes of season 6 (the ones that leaked). So the only reason they leaked in the first place was because Fox decided to try to cash in and sell the first 4 episodes on DVD immediately after they aired. (Who would buy that DVD anyway?)

    This is nothing more than a "standard" leak from the DVD pressing factory and in no way indicates an inside job from Fox.

  14. Not a simple "inside job" case by WebCowboy · · Score: 5, Informative

    This is about an inside job since that's the only way those files would have made it to YouTube.

    You don't have to be an insider to pull this stunt--you only need equipment that is no longer commonly available. TV programming is sent from network HQ to affiliate stations electronically via satellite, sometimes hours to several days before scheduled broadcast. You do not need to be an employee of either the station or the network to receive a satellite signal. I used to regularly watch episodes of Star Trek DS9 up to three days before they aired on "real" TV.

    Wild feeds, or "occasional video transponders" are still commonly sent in unencrypted form so anyone can get them. However nobody knows when they are broadcasting or what the content is unless you are an employee. Sometimes if you watch the feeds you can pick out a pattern that seems like a regular schedule, but sometimes it shifts around. Also, episodes may be broadcast in wild feeds out of sequence. Furthermore, they are not broadcast in the same way as the most commonplace digital satellite systems--they are typically analogue and in a different frequency band--in the US they are on C band satellites. Most people who want satellite TV want the little dish hanging off the eaves, not a ten-foot C-band dish that obscures half of your yard (and you'd have to be in a rural setting for it to even be permitted). Wild feeds in Canada are commonly in Ku band as well, which permits a slightly smaller dish but still not appealing to anyone but enthusiasts.

    Fox has a larger hunt on their hands and it IS a typical copyright violation case. Hence, the subpoena of Google/YouTube.

    Stupid of broadcasters to still broadcast in the clear like that, but there is some technological inertia in every industry...

    1. Re:Not a simple "inside job" case by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'm not sure how relevant this is in the era of HD feeds, maybe they send them by HD/4DTV.

      There is plenty of C band equipment to be had. I was practically given my 10ft dish. Some folks let you take theirs if you'll take it out of their yard. The setup's a little hard but it's paid for now.

      They are very popular in rural areas and the service plans are still cheap. I like the fact that I can just buy the channels that I want for a very low annual fee - I get all the channels I want for less than a single month's cable fee.

      I really don't think it's worth hunting them down, there are so many satellites to check and so many channels on each. I've never found anything worthwhile by doing random checks.

    2. Re:Not a simple "inside job" case by TubeSteak · · Score: 1
      I really don't think it's worth hunting them down, there are so many satellites to check and so many channels on each. I've never found anything worthwhile by doing random checks.
      Which is why having a 10ft dish & being willing to spend time searching/recording the right feeds is a quick way to get into a release group.
      --
      [Fuck Beta]
      o0t!
  15. Alternate Site? by madsheep · · Score: 2, Funny

    I look forward to www.0daytube.com.

  16. If he posted the commercials ... by jsnipy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If he posted the commercials, would they still care?

    --
    -- if you mod me down, I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine
    1. Re:If he posted the commercials ... by popo · · Score: 1

      Mod parent up. That's a great question.

      --
      ------ The best brain training is now totally free : )
    2. Re:If he posted the commercials ... by LunaticTippy · · Score: 1

      Yes. Some commercials are localized, and you'll end up having some car dealer from Cucamonga being watched in Kalamazoo. Also you'll have time sensitive ads watched too late.

      --
      Man, you really need that seminar!
    3. Re:If he posted the commercials ... by ip_vjl · · Score: 4, Insightful
      If he posted the commercials, would they still care?


      Likely, yes they would. Commercial time is valued based on the audience size (and demographic). The commercials were already sold based on the (projected) television viewership. Just because more people will now watch online doesn't mean they can go back to the advertisers and ask them for more money.
    4. Re:If he posted the commercials ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, if everyone could just view/download the movies online, there wouldn't be as much reason for some people to buy the DVDs. Higher quality, I know, but some people don't care. Commercials or not, some people would just go download instead of buying the DVDs.

    5. Re:If he posted the commercials ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And them if less people watch because of it, the advertisers can't go back and say they want to pay less money.

      So what's the problem?

    6. Re:If he posted the commercials ... by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      A smart uploader including commercials would still exclude localized commercials as they could be used to determine location, or replace them with local ads from another locality to give a wrong impression.

      Of course, by releasing before airtime, that would mean there'd be no local commercials (from broadcaster or cable company) inserted. If intact, the national commercials the locals replace would be intact or something else to mark the local ad break.

      Interesting though that YouTube has a cap of 10 minutes for regular uploads, allowing longer videos only for people who prove they run a business that produces videos (even if just for software demo videos). And even then, individual videos still can't exceed 100 MB in size.

      So Fox is getting upset over very low (sub-VHS) quality copying. Without commercials, that's under 3 hours for 4 episodes at a filesize under 400 MB. That would be worse than VCD quality!

      At a 10-minute cap, probably splitting at each break, that's a more reasonable 2 GB for four episodes. But still, if people will go to the trouble of watching twenty clips to see four episodes (I doubt they'd tolerate 36 clips with commercials), perhaps Fox should consider doing repeat airings on FX again. But no, they won't do that; it would piss off their affiliates wanting their piece of the local ad revenue.

      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
    7. Re:If he posted the commercials ... by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 1

      Would that mean they'd care if he posted only the commercials?

      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
    8. Re:If he posted the commercials ... by gfreeman · · Score: 1

      But I've already "not watched" the episodes in question, so given that I cannot go back in time and have my viewing of the episodes counted, then from an advertising income perspective whether I watch it later or whether I not watch it at all is moot, isn't it?

      --
      Ceci n'est pas un sig.
  17. Sadly, no by spun · · Score: 1

    He's dead. There's a lesson to be learned here: don't marry a drugged-up alchoholic nutbag. Or if you do, don't buy her a fricken' revolver, fer chrissake!

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  18. They also appeared by Robber+Baron · · Score: 1

    The '24' episodes in question actually appeared on YouTube prior to their primetime January 14 premiere They also appeared on bittoreent and that other file distribution entity that we're not supposed to name, at least a week prior to their premiere. Of course they never made it on to my hard drive! No sir!
    --

    You're using her as bait, Master!

    1. Re:They also appeared by LordPhantom · · Score: 1

      that other file distribution entity that we're not supposed to name

      Now you've piqued my curiosity.

    2. Re:They also appeared by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The web?

    3. Re:They also appeared by Overzeetop · · Score: 3, Funny

      The first rule of usenet is that you don't talk about usenet.

      Oh, shit.

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    4. Re:They also appeared by Peyna · · Score: 1

      Sneakernet. I've said too much.

      --
      What?
  19. Bit Torrent by Aqua+OS+X · · Score: 4, Informative

    FYI, it has also been reported that this episode appeared on Bit Torrent prior to it's appearance on YouTube. Odds are this guy was just a moron / 3rd rate P2P pirate. Hassling him probably won't highlight the source of the leak.

    --
    "Things are more moderner than before- bigger, and yet smaller- it's computers-- San Dimas High School football RULES!"
    1. Re:Bit Torrent by moore.dustin · · Score: 1

      You are correct. It was available via nbz/torrent first and then trickled onto the public trackers and then YouTube.

    2. Re:Bit Torrent by stud9920 · · Score: 1
      Odds are this guy was just a moron /
      This is at least the second time in days content pirates are called morons. Yesterday it was about WGA pirates being morons.

      We are anything but morons: in the end, YOU paid for our copy of windows which only cost us the dollar a day our broadband connection cost us and which we needed anyway for our porn.

      Same for this video (which as a Western European won't be able to watch in original version for another two years when they release the DVD) : I was able to see it days after it was aired in the US.

      Call the pirates evil, this is an acceptable way to qualify someone who does not pay for contents, but puhlease, don't call the people for whom you paid the contents morons, YOU are. And we are glad you did: it made the production break even so more episodes/updates will be made.
    3. Re:Bit Torrent by SlayerofGods · · Score: 1

      Just being pedantic, but something can not 'appeared on Bit Torrent' as bit torrent is not a single network.
      Properly something can 'appear on the internet for download via bit torrent'. And really you don't even need to say anything about the bit torrent method of downloading as it isn't anymore important then saying 'for download via internet explorer' or whatever you browser of choice might be.
      So really it simply 'appeared on the internet for download'

      --

      Technology, the cause of and solution to all of life's problems.
    4. Re:Bit Torrent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Go take your Aspberger's-inflicted personality elsewhere, nobody thinks you're smart or witty with your nit-picky nerd semantics; not even Slashdot (surprise!).

    5. Re:Bit Torrent by Aqua+OS+X · · Score: 1

      Ugh. YouTube has been under the magnifying glass eye of studios for months, and this idiot uploaded an unseen episode of 24 to their site. Yes, that makes him a giant moron.

      Moreover, you don't strike me as the sharpest tack either. You can't seem to wrap your head around why uploading unreleased content to YouTube would bring about a studio-backed shit-storm upon the uploader. And, might I add, you're berating a guy with "OS X" in his screen name for purchasing Windows.

      Moron.

      --
      "Things are more moderner than before- bigger, and yet smaller- it's computers-- San Dimas High School football RULES!"
    6. Re:Bit Torrent by mark-t · · Score: 1

      Of course... a variant of the old "I'm rubber, you're glue" line...

      Being able to get away with not paying for something that by law one is supposed to be paying for does not preclude one from being a moron... it just means that the ability to enforce the law has not actually caught up with the ability to ignore it. The evidence for any alleged brilliance on the part of people that can manage to successfully evade the law in the case of copyright infringement is largely circumstantial, and cannot reasonably be argued as being due to any genuine intelligence on their part.

    7. Re:Bit Torrent by Lost+Engineer · · Score: 1

      As a first rate P2P pirate let me also express my disdain for this noob.

  20. It's happened many times before by danespen · · Score: 1

    I've seen Lost and Prison Break episodes on torrent sites at least a week before airing...

    1. Re:It's happened many times before by Tim+C · · Score: 1

      I've seen Lost and Prison Break episodes on torrent sites at least a week before airing...

      Before airing where? I don't know about Lost of Prison Break, and it's certainly not the case for the latest series, but I seem to remember that the UK got the first series of the new Battlestar Galactica before the US did.

    2. Re:It's happened many times before by danespen · · Score: 1

      Beforing airing everywhere, according to tv.com etc I don't know where it came from, but it wasn't in the right perspective + you sometimes could see the microphone in the top of the picture + there was some timer running in one of the upper corners, with three decimals

  21. How is this really ''your rights online''? by nweaver · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is a slam dunk subpoena of an individual who grossly violated copyright laws, and probably (once his identity is confirmed) trade secret laws.

    Dollars to Doughnuts says that Google's laywers took one look at the subpoena and went "Here you go"

    --
    Test your net with Netalyzr
  22. Please to be explained this phrase? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    then sued out the whazoo

    I am to be thinking, that which comes out the whazoo is not something to be suing to be having, yes?

  23. You've been served. by StikyPad · · Score: 1

    I misread the headline, but strangely I didn't find the idea of serving a subpoena via YouTube to be surprising in the least. In fact, my initial thought was "Wow, YouTube's toning down their content."

  24. They should find this guy, throttle him... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...and make him post early episodes of Battlestar!

  25. Elisa Cuthbert is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    is super, super, ultra, mega, HOT, HOT, HOT!

    1. Re:Elisa Cuthbert is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Too bad she's not on the show anymore. Personally, I am a Chloe fan. If you haven't seen the episode a few seasons back where she blows some terrorist away with an assault rifle then you haven't truly lived.

  26. DMCA? by raddan · · Score: 1

    The article mentions that the subpoena was "[f]iled on the basis of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act". I was under the impression that the DMCA dealt with circumvention of copy-protection measures. If this was recorded off of 'the air', i.e., an antenna or cable, how does the DMCA apply? AFAIK there are no copy-protection measures on these analog services.

    1. Re:DMCA? by squiggleslash · · Score: 1

      The DMCA covers a wide range of copyright issues, only one of which is the circumvention of Access Control Mechanisms.

      As one example, it establishes a procedure by which third parties (ISPs, etc) whose services are used to distribute pirated content can escape liability if they immediately take down infringing content on being notified. That's what's going on here.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
  27. Who's Rights Online? by Orig_Club_Soda · · Score: 0

    The rights of the owners of IP? Because posting entire episodes of tv is a crime and also disallowed by YouTube policy.

  28. At least they're on the ball. by Adambomb · · Score: 1

    "It's the process available under the Digital Copypright Act," Clark said Brilliance.
    --
    Ice Cream has no bones.
  29. As is typically with 24... by Maltheus · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...there is always a mole. Fox will no doubt be surprised when the last four episodes reveal him to be Rupert Murdoch himself. But they'll only find that out through torturing this poor kid first.

  30. No one "lives" in detroit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We all live "around" detroit in the "burbs" and it's really quite nice and upscale so having him "live" here wouldn't be punishment. ;)

    1. Re:No one "lives" in detroit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean no white people live in Detroit.

  31. FOX is doing the right thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm against copyrights period. However, FOX is here following the purest spirit of copyright laws and going after the criminal instead of trying to shut down youtube. If youtube can't lead FOX to the culprit, youtube itself could (or should) be considered an accomplice.

  32. Television thief! by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 1
    I can't imagine that the episode which premiered on TV in primetime on January 14th was released on DVD the following Tuesday.

    Oh ho ho, sounds like somebody watched the episode without the commercials! Television thief!

    "Because of the ad skips.... It's theft. Your contract with the network when you get the show is you're going to watch the spots. Otherwise you couldn't get the show on an ad-supported basis. Any time you skip a commercial or watch the button you're actually stealing the programming." -- Jamie Kellner, then chairman and chief executive officer of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a division of Time Warner, April 29, 2002

    (Yeah, and people who wear protective body armor are stealing ammunition.)

    I could upload a copy of the ad for the DVD that aired during episode 4 to YouTube to prove it to you, but even that might make Fox irrationally upset. (Personally, I think it would be fair use. And further, a work which would itself expire to an unrecoverable state before the expiration of its copyright unconstitutionally enjoys indefinite copyright protection duration.)
    --
    Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
  33. Re:I fucked my sister and she loved it! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Forget to tick the "Post Anonymously" box, did we? I hate when that happens.

  34. There's no time! by professorfalcon · · Score: 1

    Do you think they'll incorporate his interrogation into Day 7?

  35. Real ID? by Telepathetic+Man · · Score: 1

    Who uses there real identity on the internet these days anyway? The only time my real name gets used is where finances are concerned. Nothing more, nothing less.

    --
    Just because you can, does not mean you should.
  36. back at them by goga_russian · · Score: 0

    let FOX get subpoenaed for ITs content ~

    --
    Dont Judge The situation by the Misfortunate. Goga.
  37. Re:I fucked my sister and she loved it! by Don+Giovanni · · Score: 0
    D'oh! DAMMIT --
    P2P Anonymous Distributed Web Search: http://www.yacy.net/
    --
    P2P Anonymous Distributed Web Search: http://www.yacy.net/
  38. That's dumb... by yoyhed · · Score: 1

    I watched those on peekvid this week to catch up on this season before this week's episode. I wouldn't have watched 24 now and for the rest of the season or seen all their advertisements on Monday if I hadn't been able to catch up...

    --
    WHO NEEDS SHIFT WHEN YOU HAVE CAPSLOCK/ DAMN1
  39. Why resort to dictionaries... by volpe · · Score: 1

    ... when you can simply use bad grammar and word usage in your slashdot-post subject lines?

    1. Re:Why resort to dictionaries... by LordPhantom · · Score: 1

      Troll Scorecard! Using spelling/grammar mistakes: +5 User ID under 100,000: -2 Posting days after the topic is over a day old: -10 Making OP feel good that you're karma-bitter over a non-preview post: -10 Using a "... / ..." transition: +5 Feigning innocence about understanding something obvious: +5 Total Score: -7. You've failed. Crawl back under your bridge and cry.

  40. Correct about the inside job by Posnerposer · · Score: 1

    Actually you are most likely correct. About two weeks before the premiere, Fox sent DVD's to all of its affiliates with the finished versions of the first four hours. Each copy was supposed to have a trace code so that if one got released Fox could trace it to the affiliate that received it. These DVDs were then given by the affiliates to their radio affiliates. I actually got to watch the DVD a week and a half before the shows premiered. The release on youtube coincides with when the DVD's were released to the stations. So, there is a very real possibility that Fox is trying to find their inside leaker. And yes they will be sued, but no, there is no debtor's prison. One of the things that improved after our severing from England. But having all your possessions taken and feeling like a poor pauper can feel like prison, most likely.