MPAA discovers those things called "Newsgroups"

[alklloyd]

http://www.mpaa.org/press_releases/2006_02_23.pdf

I wondered how long it would take. Is there anything else they can do besides take down "pointer" sites? Must frustrate the hell out of them...

Al

[Ridirich]

That figures. What about the people who already own a copy of the movie but want a digital backup in case their CD is scratched, or what about others who baught the movie and it was broken, and the salesperson won't replace it? Both people in this situation paid for the ability to own a copy of the movie. Is it really right to take that 'backup' ability away?

[Deviant Ollam]

Even more valid than any of those arguments is the fact that all of these tools... newsgroups, eDonkey, BitTorrent, etc... their main purpose is the legal exchange of files and information. i think eDonkey and BitTorrent were specifically written for and are used the exchange of huge files like software ISOs, etc etc. i'd bet that almost half of the traffic on those networks is legit. that's way more than you'd need to prove that they have merit.

this, plus the fact that many tracker site ops have takedown policies where copyright holders contact them and specify the particular torrents which are illegal (which the MPAA and others refuse to do out of sheer laziness and the fact that they think they're above such matters) makes the case strong for the P2P networks on this one.

of course, the administration has packed the supreme court with pro-business/pro-corporate fanatics so we'll have to see how high this case goes.

[alklloyd]

Uh, Ok

I realize there are many people on this forum that are Bittorrent advocates and I'm sorry they're trying to shut down these sites.
What's concerns me more is that they're mentioning usenet. Do you think they'll start pressuring US servers?

Al

[Ridirich]

MPAA has no authority overseas.....so I would think, Yes.