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Google Files Amicus Brief in Hotfile Case; MPAA Requests It Be Rejected
An anonymous reader writes "Google has once again stood up in court for the rights of users and services online, this time defending Hotfile from copyright infringement accusations. [Quoting the article]: 'Google takes a sort of hard-line approach via the DMCA, telling the court that however the MPAA may try to mislead them, Hotfile is in fact protected under safe harbor provisions. And furthermore, Google suggests that the MPAA's approach is contrary to the language in and precedents surrounding the DMCA. The onus is on copyright holders to alert a service to the nature and location of an infringement, and the service's responsibility is to alert the user if possible and remove the material within a reasonable period of time.'"
The full brief has been uploaded to Scribd. The MPAA, naturally, has requested that the amicus brief be rejected by the court: "Google's proposed brief appears to be part of a systematic effort by Google, itself a defendant in ongoing copyright infringement cases, to influence the development of the law to Google's own advantage — as well as an effort by Hotfile (whose counsel also represent Google) to circumvent its page limits. Google is acting as a partisan advocate for Hotfile, making arguments that Hotfile has or could have made in its own opposition to summary judgment. The parties here are well-represented and have the incentive and wherewithal to make all the arguments the court will need. Although Google purports not to take a position regarding summary judgment here, Google unmistakably seeks a ruling against plaintiffs. Google's motion should be denied"
[citation needed]
This whole thread is already overrun with AC's, all posting bad stuff about google in sync and their are only 19 posts at present. Please do not respond to them, it is a waste of time and if they had any real interest in posting here they would set up an account and make constructive contributions.
I dont read
Because when I think "Google," I think "Oh, hey, golly, THERE's a corporation that's looking out for my rights, yes-sir-ree-bob!"
Your point is valid, unfortunately, when it comes to privacy rights (essentially nonexistent in the US).
I say "unfortunately" because it seems that on most other measures Google is probably the least evil of the large corporations (most are incomparably worse), and tries occasionally to do something we can cheer them for.
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
Perhaps their efforts are fueled by a more private agenda, but I still see Google as the least evil in the crowd.
In fact, the Google Amicus brief is quite candid about Google's interest in the case. It's clearly explained in the very first section, right after the tables of contents and authorities, and before any of the brief's arguments.
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
I'd love to agree, except sadly, by the law, they seem to be people.
Mind, this also makes them immortals. They're basically Highlanders, really - only way to kill them is decapitation. Upon which, if you're a fellow corporation/immortal, you steal their power.
And when they aggregate that information and sell it to a background checking company who manages to establish a near-monopoly that flags you as a high-risk employee because a photo that's identified as you that you can't get taken down includes a gun and a liter of vodka?
You know that new privacy policy they have that everyone has been complaining about? It says they can't do anything like that.