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Copyright Trolls Order Wordpress To Disclose Critics' IP Addresses
TrueSatan writes "Notorious copyright troll Prenda Law has sent a subpoena to WordPress attempting to force the disclosure of all IP addresses related to two WordPress-hosted sites that specialize in monitoring and encouraging action against copyright trolling. The sites in question are fightcopyrighttrolls.com and dietrolldie.com. These sites state their aims as: 'To keep the public and fellow victims informed and to ensure that through activism, trolls make as little money as possible.' These are goals which almost anyone (bar a copyright troll, or lawyer acting for one) might well applaud. Prenda Law's demand is not for a subset of addresses that might have posted in a manner that could be construed as legally defamatory but for all IP addresses that have accessed these sites, irrespective of the use made of them. Prenda Law has filed three defamation lawsuits already against the individuals who run Fightcopyrighttrolls, and one has been dismissed (PDF). Dietrolldie released the following warning: 'As there is a possibility that a release could occur, the public IP address (date/time stamp) could fall into the hands of Prenda. I would expect that they would then try to cross-reference the IP address with their list of alleged BitTorrent infringement IP addresses ... If you have ever gone to this site or Fightcopyrighttrolls.com since 1 January 2011, you may want to contact WordPress. Tell them you want them to refuse this overly broad request and at least wait until the issue of the case being moved to the Federal court is answered before releasing any information.'"
...even if you've never visited those sites, contact WordPress and tell them you want them to refuse.
They're mutant vampire aliens sent from Xenu to do the Devil's bidding.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_to_quash
If you refuse the subpoena, the judge may decide that Wordpress is committing contempt of court. A better alternative would be to have their own lawyer request a motion to quash the subpoena.
Of course, the best thing Wordpress can do is to listen to corporate counsel and pay attention, but I'm no lawyer, so don't listen to me. :)
... could you force them to sue themselves?
Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
Does that include the IP addresses of the 20 million visitors they will get over the next 48 hours for appearing on the Slashdot FP?
They want to intimidate.
"Here Lies Philip J. Fry, named for his uncle, to carry on his spirit"
Enjoy some afternoon reading, and piss in Prenda's sought-after goods:
FightCopyrightTrolls.com
Dietrolldie.com
...Prenda just wants proof that lots and lots of unique visitors have viewed the allegedly-defaming content as justification for seeking a giant-size judgement.
It's pretty clear from the summary what they want.
They want the IP Addresses then will cross check then against their list of IP Addresses of people who have pirated stuff then go after those guys.
Sure the cases may be dismissed, but some will pay and others will hire a lawyer out of their own pocket to fight it. Either way he pirates who visited the site will pay.
Popehat (a great legal blog - I have no affiliation, just a fan) has a great and hilarious summary of the case including why Prenda's lawyers could be facing jail on March 11:
http://www.popehat.com/2013/03/05/prenda-law-researches-streisand-effect-says-i-gotta-get-me-some-of-that/
and
http://www.popehat.com/2013/03/06/what-prenda-law-is-facing-in-los-angeles/
One octet per sheet of paper With each IP put a code at the bottom of the page that match each octet. Then mix up all the papers before you send them over so they have to match the code at the bottom of the page. :)
Hey, just sayin
One octet per sheet of paper
With each IP put a code at the bottom of the page that match each octet.
Hashed and salted.
What? Did the subpoena specify what format the IP addresses had to be in?
*evil grin*
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
Wordpress replied that "the blog owner has already informed us that the subpoena will be challenged. Per our policies, we will not turn over any information (including on commentors) until that challenge has been decided by the courts."
davecb@spamcop.net
And then fax it to them via an email to fax service taking care to invert the colours first.
"Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
If you've read any of the posts at those blogs you'll note that this particular law firm operates without determining who actually pirated something. For example, when a court asked how they determined that the defendant was the perpetrator, they claimed that their research indicated he lived alone and thus was the sole user of the IP address. Of course a brief consultation with his lawyer ensued who quickly spoke up and indicated that the defendant has been married and living with his wife of many years now.
So the problem isn't necessarily that those who pirate will pay; but that those who are accused of pirating will pay irregardless of their innocence or guilt.
Patience is a virtue, but haste is my life.
That's not a valid IPv6 address. Remember, an address does have to be hex.
But here are my IP addresses - 192.168.10.106 for IPv4, or fe80::1c98:3703:3f57:f595%16 for IPv6. Have fun!
I'm surprised they can't get these cases moved to SLAPP status... The same corp filing 3 cases in 3 courts over "defamation" sounds like they are using the courts to shut up people they don't want to hear from. These sites are naming names and events, so they might get them on technicalities... But then FOX news got a pass that FABRICATIONS were still not defamation... So the only possible purpose of the suits is to collect information to harass the readers later.
Part of the problem revolves around court culture. Lawyers are used to going to court and calling defendants, plaintiffs all kinds of names, making grand requests for judgements that are hundreds of thousands of dollars... Then packing their briefcases and going out to lunch with the other lawyers.
Judges don't like reporters going after the LAWYERS in a case because "it's just business". Except in these cases, the lawyers ARE the ones causing the problems .. Courts don't really censor what lawyers say in court... But then what they say HAS to be taken as intent to keep these threats...
It takes time for the judges to pick up that these guys are running the same thing in every town... The legal PROCESS can't keep up rules to prevent this stuff.
The idea of online anonymity dates back to the days when September was not the only month online. The Penet remailer was created in 1993 just to prove the point that people could send and receive email without using their real names if they wanted to do so. Many of the designs concepts in modern systems like Tor can be traced back to Penet.
Palm trees and 8
That's not a valid IPv6 address. Remember, an address does have to be hex.
But here are my IP addresses - 192.168.10.106 for IPv4, or fe80::1c98:3703:3f57:f595%16 for IPv6. Have fun!
Okay fine, I'll hex it. beef::cafe:fa65:1410:face
Directed at Prenda, not you, kind sir. :)
Now if every slashdotter clicked on those to links, and forwarded it to all their friends, or put those links in as auto loads in some of their blogs, ...
sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
to order a drone strike on Prenda Law and drop a couple of Hellfires. Do it when the owner and key lackeys are present.
I'm against drone strikes in general but I'll make an exception in this case.