BitTorrent Pirate Loses His Last Appeal

Vix666 writes with a link to a ZDNet article on the final chapter of a story we've discussed before: the first user convicted of piracy for using BitTorrent to download a movie has really, finally, lost his case. Chan Nai-ming was sentenced in November of 2005, lost an appeal in December of last year, and appears to have once again failed to convince a judge to let him out. "The Hong Kong government welcomed the judgment, saying it clarified the law regarding Internet piracy. 'This judgment has confirmed that it commits a crime and violates copyright laws for the act of using (BitTorrent) software to upload and distribute,' said customs official Tam Yiu-keung in a written statement. He added the judgment would have a deterrent effect, a view endorsed by industry watchdogs such as the Hong Kong branch of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry."

Comments

Uploading copyrighted works without permission

[Anonymous Coward]

the first user convicted of piracy for using BitTorrent to download a movie has really, finally, lost his case.

No, he could have used any other protocol. He was not convicted for using Bittorrent to do anything. He was convicted for uploading a movie without having a license to do so.

Re:wtf

[Turn-X Alphonse]

The story is about a guy in HONG KONG. Hiding behind the US Consitituion does you no favours in this debate.

Will Americans PLEASE get it into their heads that NATIONAL LAWS ARE NOT INTERNATIONAL.