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Cloud Firm MediaFire Flags Malware Samples For DMCA Violation, Bans Researcher
chicksdaddy writes "A malicious software researcher finds herself in company with First Lady Michelle Obama and science fiction author Neil Gaiman: booted from the Web by hard-headed copyright protection algorithms, according to the Naked Security blog. Mila Parkour, a researcher who operates the Contagio malware blog, said on Thursday that she was kicked off the cloud based hosting service Mediafire, after three files she hosted there were flagged for copyright violations and ordered removed under the terms of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The files included two compressed and encrypted malicious PDF files linked to Contagio blog posts from 2010. The firm responsible for filing the DMCA take down notice was Paris-based LeakID, which describes itself as a 'digital agency ...founded by experts from the world of radio, television and Internet.' LeakID markets 'Leaksearch,' an 'ownership tool that will alert you within seconds if your content...is being pirated.' According to Parkour, Mediafire received a notice from LeakID claiming that it was 'acting on behalf of the copyright owners,' though the owners and presumed copyrighted content weren't named."
Malware authors are content creators too. Don't they deserve the recognition and profits for their hard work?
"I use a Mac because I'm just better than you are."
There is a reason these takedown companies are all moving off shore. This way they avoid the perjury penalty for filing false reports. Who has time to fly to Paris to file perjury claims against this company on their home turf, in a French Court.
In the absence of any real penalty in the laws for filing false takedown notices, it seems to me that everyone should simply start filing takedown notices on every single thing they find on the net anywhere until the hosting companies realize that it is a total mess, and start demanding more than an automated statement, something like proof, a statement of the work it is supposed to actually violate, etc.
Clearly if these files were compressed and encrypted, any hash or content match was random, and virtually any executable code or encrypted file might trigger a match with whatever engine these take-down artists were using.
Perhaps there is a business opportunity to set up a company in East Timor or some such place that would automatically file a counter notices (putback), which then requires the takedown artists to file suit, or shut up. This puts the cost burden back on them, and at worst case, an improperly accused person has a ten day interruption of availability.
As long as the hollywood darlings are in office I see no chance of this ever being corrected via legislation. The best bet is to get it to topple over of its own weight.
Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
Charge these organizations a nuisance fee for false positives. Problem solved.
How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
LeakID (and/or their client) just claimed copyright over malware. Not just any malware, but targeted malware against a corporation for the intent of theft of intellectual property and unauthorized access of computer systems.
IANAL, but LeakID should then be held liable and responsible for their "copyrighted works".
Shouldn't this be considered a third strike for the whole concept of automated DMCA takedowns?
One takedown at a time.
Next Licensing, tickets and penalties
I hope that is Paris, Texas, since a company in Paris, France has fuck all to do with the United States' DMCA laws.
soon anti spyware apps can be banded under DMCA
This is a masterfully crafted electrum spyware app. All craftsdwarfship is of the highest quality. It is finely colored with dimple dye. It menaces with spikes of cat and is banded with rings of copper.
She was kicked off...
No worries, she will grab on to the horizontal bar, swing 360 degrees around it then flip, somersault and land with a graceful roll.
...file suit against the malware authors and then subpoena LeakID's records to identify them.
Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
The files included two compressed and encrypted malicious PDF files linked to Contagio blog posts from 2010.
So, how did LeakID determine these were copyright violations? They'd have to be breaking encryption on servers' contents and that would be a DMCA violation as well.
Have gnu, will travel.