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German Prosecutors Won't Help RIAA Counterpart

Posted by Zonk on from the will-never-happen-here dept.

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "A German court decision ruled that the European counterpart to the RIAA cannot invoke criminal proceedings over petty file sharing incidents. The goal was to to find out from ISPs the identity of alleged file-sharing subscribers; the requests have been refused as the judge saw the the proceedings as not in the 'public interest', and little or no economic damage was shown to have been caused to the record companies. Offering a few copyright-protected music tracks via a P2P network client was 'a petty offense,' the court declared. Within days, German prosecutors have now indicated that they will no longer permit the use of 'criminal proceedings' to procure subscriber information."

12 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. sounds like they learned a lesson by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I guess after the whole Hitler debacle, the German people have learned how dangerous a fascist governemnt can be.

    Kudos!

    1. Re:sounds like they learned a lesson by Ngarrang · · Score: 2, Funny

      I guess after the whole Hitler debacle, the German people have learned how dangerous a fascist governemnt can be.

      Kudos! I'm not certain, but I think you are just Godwin'd this news post...
      --
      Bearded Dragon
  2. Think of the children! by schwit1 · · Score: 2, Funny

    How long before the RIAA's bought politicians in the US start threatening the German government for supporting terrorism?

  3. Deutschland Uber Alles! by tjstork · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hooray for Germany! Is it still bad to say this?

    --
    This is my sig.
    1. Re:Deutschland Uber Alles! by whopub · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hooray for Germany! Is it still bad to say this? Sorry, you still can't say that. Atrocities like the fact that David Hasselhoff's records sold well in Germany are still fresh in our collective memory!
  4. American news release... by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Bombing of Berlin will start in 24 hours. Dick Cheny and President Bush decided that the German government is not in the best interests of the USA and must be stopped.

    "we are bringing freedom to all of the euopean continent" Dick cheny said after he bit the head off a chicken and sucked the blood out.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:American news release... by spungo · · Score: 4, Funny

      Mod parent up!! Is it me, or does your average /. moderator have absolutely no discernable sense of humour? WTF is wrong with these people?? You know -- it's humourless bozos like these that give us geeks a bad name.

    2. Re:American news release... by Artifakt · · Score: 2, Funny

      Sometimes I think we need a "+!, prior mod has Asperger's Syndrome" mod.

      --
      Who is John Cabal?
  5. Wait a minute! Did you..... by iknownuttin · · Score: 2, Funny
    It's ironic that the RIAA's storm-trooper tactics are supported by American courts, while Germany is the country standing up for individual rights.

    Wait a minute. Did you just sneak in Godwin's Rule? You didn't mention NAZIs, but then again you implied it. Arrrrrgh! I can't tell! My brain hurts!

    --
    I prefer Flambe as apposed flamebait.
  6. Re:If only... by monkeyboythom · · Score: 3, Funny

    "golf clap for our .DE brethren"

    Does this mean there will be a pirate ship anchoring off the coast of Germany any time soon?

  7. Re:History reversed by WK2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    It is interesting that you compare the RIAA to storm troopers. Each are just as likely to hit their target.

    --
    Write your own Choose Your Own Adventure. http://www.freegameengines.org/gamebook-engine/
  8. Re:An old english expression by orgelspieler · · Score: 2, Funny

    Gute Idee! Ich habe den Artikel "plötzlicherausbruchdesgesundenmenschenverstands" ge-tagged.