Slashdot Mirror
Entertainment Software Association Following RIAA?
cavis writes "My organization just received an e-mail from the Intellectual Property enforcement division of the Entertainment Software Association. It accuses one particular IP address with 'infringing the copyright rights of one or more ESA members by copying and distributing unauthorized copies of game products (through peer-to-peer or similar software/services).' It goes on to name the filename and the application: Limewire. Has anyone had any contact with this group? Are they following the RIAA's lead and pursuing litigation for peer-to-peer piracy? I'm just trying to evaluate what I am in for as I try to battle P2P within my network."
Read on for more details.
The letter reads in part (with my redactions):
The Entertainment Software Association ("ESA") is a US trade association that represents the intellectual property interests of numerous companies that publish interactive games for video game consoles, personal computers, handheld devices and the Internet(hereinafter collectively referred to as "ESA members"). ESA is authorized to act on behalf of ESA members whose copyright and other intellectual property rights it believes to be infringed as described herein.
Based on the information at its disposal on 24 Nov 2008 01:09:08 GMT, ESA has a good faith belief that the subscriber using the IP address [IP address] infringing the copyright rights of one or more ESA members by copying and distributing unauthorized copies of game products (through peer-to-peer or similar software/services), in violation of applicable copyright laws, through internet access that [agency name] provides directly to the [IP address] or through a downstream provider that purchases this access for [IP address].
The Entertainment Software Association ("ESA") is a US trade association that represents the intellectual property interests of numerous companies that publish interactive games for video game consoles, personal computers, handheld devices and the Internet(hereinafter collectively referred to as "ESA members"). ESA is authorized to act on behalf of ESA members whose copyright and other intellectual property rights it believes to be infringed as described herein.
Based on the information at its disposal on 24 Nov 2008 01:09:08 GMT, ESA has a good faith belief that the subscriber using the IP address [IP address] infringing the copyright rights of one or more ESA members by copying and distributing unauthorized copies of game products (through peer-to-peer or similar software/services), in violation of applicable copyright laws, through internet access that [agency name] provides directly to the [IP address] or through a downstream provider that purchases this access for [IP address].
No: the ESA was doing this twenty years ago, whereas the RIAA has only been at it for a few years. The ESA also only goes after people when they have good, solid proof, and they win most of their cases. The ESA aren't thugs, they're just protecting their members from pirates.
Yo ho ho, and a barrel of you got caught red handed.
StoneCypher is Full of BS
> The RIAA are one of the most despised groups in North America now (I want to say the world, but don't know how true that would be),
Indeed the RIAA _is_ one of the most despised organisations in the world.
Another is the government of the USA, and another is the MPAA.
Why is it that the top three most-despised organisations are all USian organisations?
A few reasons.
1. American corps have a history of being greedy and unscrupulous, employing strong-arm tactics to get their way
2. The US Government has been the laughing stock of the world since WWII (at least that's the extend of my knowledge). Just a long string of imbecilic presidents, and that one slightly better guy who forgot to choke his hooker after he had finished.
3. It's just plain trendy to hate the USA, because the USA hates everyone else. It's the only thing the world has in common.
-Billco, Fnarg.com