Man Arrested For Linking To Online Videos

SonicSpike writes "In a case against a New York website owner, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is claiming that merely linking to copyrighted material is a crime. DHS, along with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), seized Brian McCarthy's domain, channelsurfing.net, in late January. The site has now been replaced with a government warning: 'This domain has been seized by ICE — Homeland Security Investigations, Special Agent in Charge, New York Office.' The advocacy group Demand Progress has claimed that McCarthy never reproduced copyrighted material, and that his website simply linked to other sites. A criminal complaint obtained by the group seems to acknowledge that agents knew that McCarthy was running a 'linking website.' While the criminal complaint alleges that McCarthy did engage in the 'reproduction and distribution' of copyrighted material, it is never clear that he actually reproduced any of the specified broadcasts." McCarthy was arrested last week. Relatedly, TorrentFreak has posted a list of reasons why these domain name seizures are unconstitutional.

Comments

I didn't know that

[Anonymous Coward]

The DHS has a mission, to protect the riches of corporations.

Re:I didn't know that

[Anonymous Coward]

Is this the same mission that includes "touching the private parts of every human being?"

Re:One of the big steps in the progression

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't think it's that simple. The article says channelsurfing.net was linking to copyright infringing websites. So if I link to this Lady Gaga video, that's OK because it was uploaded by the copyright holder. But if I link to this version of the same song then apparently I'm breaking the law because it wasn't uploaded by the copyright holder.