Slashdot Mirror


Spanish Judges Liken File Sharing To Lending Books

Dan Fuhry writes "A three-judge panel in the Provincial Court of Madrid has closed a case that has been running since 2005, ruling that the accused are not guilty of any copyright infringement on the grounds that their BitTorrent tracker did not distribute any copyrighted material, and they did not generate any profit from their site: '[t]he judges noted that all this takes places between many users all at once without any of them receiving any financial reward.' This implies that the judges are sympathetic to file sharers. The ruling essentially says that file sharing is the digital equivalent of lending or sharing books or other media. Maybe it's time for all them rowdy pirates to move to Spain."

15 of 352 comments (clear)

  1. But, but, but,,, by ls671 · · Score: 3, Funny

    But, but, but,,, this really goes against American principles and the way we live here. Therefore, it has to be wrong ! ;-)

    --
    Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
    1. Re:But, but, but,,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      (...) a few greens in the correct pockets (...)

      A few purples . 500€ notes are purple (and the basis of the submerged economy in Spain).

    2. Re:But, but, but,,, by Opportunist · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'm color blind, you insensitive clod!

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    3. Re:But, but, but,,, by wtfamidoinghere · · Score: 2, Funny

      Welcome to the sad, sad reality of these days, my dear next-door neighbour :)

      (Hint: I live next door, to the Atlantic side)

    4. Re:But, but, but,,, by MaskedSlacker · · Score: 2, Funny

      You live in Maine?

    5. Re:But, but, but,,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Copyright is theft.

      Just a play on your mistake. I guess you meant "copyright infringement is theft".

    6. Re:But, but, but,,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Actually, they're ignoring the laws on the books and international treaties to which Spain is a signatory and doing whatever the fuck they want. But, this is Slashdot, you must be right.

    7. Re:But, but, but,,, by kevinNCSU · · Score: 2, Funny

      Clearly the electronic versions have zero value. Have you ever tried to wipe your ass with a .pdf?

  2. Re:And that, friends..... by Opportunist · · Score: 2, Funny

    The music biz saw the light. Fight it from the start before it becomes commonplace and everyone considers it normal, if not even a right to... oh... erh...

    Can you get back to me later, I have to redo that speech.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  3. Move aside Canada by Namarrgon · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's straight to the top of the "priority watch list" for you, Spain.

    --
    Why would anyone engrave "Elbereth"?
    1. Re:Move aside Canada by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Oh no you don't! Canada has that spot and we're not giving it up without a fight!

  4. Re:The Pirate Bay trial by Opportunist · · Score: 2, Funny

    Call it "Port Freedom". Nobody would wanna tangle with that, or are you against Freedom?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  5. Re:Your post is an example of why starting the bod by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Well, I've got to admit, that when I'm fucking, I don't have much brain capacity and dexterity left over for writing because I do tend to devote all my attention to the task at hand. I suppose it's different for conservatives because a lot of the time either a) the woman has to lie back and think of England or b) the guy is lying back and enjoying the blowjob he demanded (which she she decided to give because she's looking for a lifetime meal ticket). I prefer the liberal approach, but to each his own. My writing skills, outside of periods of sexual intercourse, are quite satisfactory and were thus even before attending university.

  6. Re:Space analogy by Mystery00 · · Score: 2, Funny

    What about OSS? When people like a certain open-source application, they donate money to keep it alive.

    --
    "we've got trenchcoats and bad attitudes" - John Constantine, HellBlazer
  7. Oh yeah ! Move to Spain !! by unity100 · · Score: 2, Funny

    heat, tourism, and angry women. and computers. and filesharing. great combination !