RIAA Fires Two More Rounds at Internet Piracy
On September 29, 2005, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced a new round of copyright infringement lawsuits against 757 individuals engaged in Internet theft, including computer network users at 17 different colleges.
These “John Doe” lawsuits cite individuals for illegally distributing copyrighted music on the Internet via unauthorized peer-to-peer services such as eDonkey, Grokster, Kazaa and LimeWire. In addition, lawsuits filed in this round against university network users target students using the file-sharing application i2hub to download and distribute music on the advanced network infrastructure of Internet2. The litigation marks the third time the music industry has taken action to combat theft on Internet2’s specialized, high-speed university computer network, for a total of 560 lawsuits at 39 campuses this year.
Included in this most recent round of litigation were lawsuits against individuals at the following schools: Boston University, Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, Drexel University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University, Princeton University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of California – Berkeley, University of California – Los Angeles, University of California – San Diego, University of Massachusetts – Amherst, University of Pennsylvania and University of Pittsburgh.
Less than a month earlier, on August 31, 2005, the RIAA on behalf of its member companies, announced a round of copyright infringement lawsuits against 754 alleged file-sharers. Those lawsuits were filed in federal district courts in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia.
The two rounds of lawsuits are part of an ongoing effort to hold individuals who download songs without permission accountable for copyright infringement.
RIAA.com, September 29, 2005
Read the press release: http://www.riaa.com/news/newsletter/092905.asp
RIAA.com, August 31, 2005
Read the press release: http://www.riaa.com/news/newsletter/083105.asp
Internet Thief Pleads Guilty
On August 26, 2005, the operator of an Internet hub that allegedly facilitated on-line pilfering of copyrighted films, television shows, music and games pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit grand theft.
In the first criminal Internet file-sharing case brought in California, Jed Frederick Kobles, 34, pleaded guilty to the single felony count before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Horwitz. Kobles pleaded the same day he was charged. The case charged the defendant with one count of conspiracy to commit grand theft between November 21, 2004, and February 25, 2005. In the overt acts listed in the complaint, it was alleged that Kobles, under the screen name Raging8, operated an Internet file-sharing hub called UTB Smokinghouse.
In January 2005, an undercover investigator from the Southern California High Tech Task Force joined the illegal file-sharing hub. During a four day period, the investigator was able to download more than 14 movies, television shows and music videos. The films included “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,” “National Treasure,” and “A Beautiful Mind.” The music videos were all by MADONNA and the television show was one from the series “The Simpsons.”
The undercover investigation led to a search warrant being served on Kolbes’ residence in Los Angeles on February 25. As they served the warrant, McGrath said, Kobles was in the process of downloading the XBOX game, “Leisure Suit Larry.”
Los Angeles District Attorney, Steve Cooley, said that the Southern California High Tech Task Force was formed to battle this latest crime front because of huge advancement in the use of sophisticated electronics and the Internet. He added, “These are difficult cases that require a great deal of expertise to investigate and prosecute.”
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, August 26, 2005
http://da.co.la.ca.us/mr/082605b.htm
Israel Named U.S. Intellectual Property Czar
On July 22, 2005, President Bush announced that Chris Israel would fill the newly created intellectual property czar position in the cabinet. Israel now heads the international work of the National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordination Council (NIPLECC) and coordinates and supervises international intellectual property protection plans among other agencies as well.
Since 2004, Israel had served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Secretary of Commerce. Prior to becoming Deputy Chief of Staff, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary for U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez. Israel’s main responsibilities at the Department of Commerce were in the field of intellectual property protection. Before joining the Commerce Department, Israel was a public policy executive at Time Warner.
I/P Updates, July 25, 2005
http://ip-updates.blogspot.com/2005_07_01_ip-updates_archive.html
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Are NZBs Worse Than P2Ps?
On September 20, 2005, an organization of more than 8,000 authors accused Google of “massive copyright infringement,” claiming the powerful Internet search engine cannot put its books in the public domain for commercial use without permission.
Filed in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, the lawsuit asked the court to block Google from copying the books so the authors would not suffer irreparable harm by being deprived of the right to control reproduction of their works. It sought class-action status on behalf of anyone or any entity with a copyright to a literary work at the University of Michigan library.
The Author's Guild, a New York-based nonprofit organization, said its primary purpose as the nation's largest organization of book authors was to advocate for and support the copyright and contractual interests of published writers. “By reproducing for itself a copy of those works that are not in the public domain, Google is engaging in massive copyright infringement. It has infringed, and continues to infringe, the electronic rights of the copyright holders of those works.”
British book publishers are also considering legal action against Google after learning of the search engine company’s plans to create a virtual library by digitizing millions of books held in public libraries and universities.
Google has said it offers protections to copyright holders by limiting users of books covered by copyrights to bibliographic information and a few sentences of text. The company also has said it will direct readers who want more to booksellers and libraries.
Computer Crime Research Center, September 23, 2005 (Elizabeth Judge)
http://www.crime-research.org/news/23.09.2005/1509/
Wired News, September 20, 2005 (Associated Press)
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,68928,00.html
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Quick Bits and Bytes
New Technology Used in Copyright
The record industry has long been targeting online music sharing , but now it has undertaken a new war against “casual piracy.” Sony BMG and EMI has incorporated new technology that limits the number of copies you can make of any compact disc to three. Additionally, consumers will not be able to transfer songs from affected CDs to Apple iPod players unless they request a workaround from Sony. The new tactic, along with other recent developments in copyright protection are part of a continued effort by the record companies to shut down piracy on all fronts.
Sony BMG's copy-protected CDs incorporate First 4 Internet's XCP2 (extended copy protection) technology. The company is the first major label to offer XCP2-protected CDs to consumers, although they have already incorporated MediaMax copy protection from SunnComm in the past. The latest effort uses upgraded technology, allowing consumers a limited ability to copy. By the end of 2005, Sony BMG projects that most of its CDs sold in the United States will incorporate at least one of these technologies.
EMI has also incorporated a similar strategy with its CDs, using technology from Macrovision that also allows only three copies. The first titles using this technology have already hit record shops nationwide.
PC World Magazine, September 2005 (Laurianne McLaughlin)
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,121949,00.asp
Microsoft's Program to Close Down Fake Windows
Microsoft Corporation has launched a new program aimed at severely reducing the ways people using pirated copies of its Windows operating system can get software updates. When a computer user starts to download updates, the new program, called Windows Genuine Advantage, will scan the machine to see if it's running an authentic version of Windows. If the program detects a counterfeit copy, it will offer two options: Customers who fill out a piracy report, provide proof of purchase and send in the counterfeit CDs will get a free copy of Windows Home Edition, which retails for $199, or Windows Professional, which sells for $299. Those who simply submit a piracy report -- giving details of when, where and from whom the operating system was purchased -- and send in the counterfeit copy will get either version of Windows at half price.
After prompting customers that their operating systems need to be authenticated, the program will scan the computer, detecting the product number and automatically determine if it is a counterfeit copy. The authentication process was optional until July 25, 2005, however, it is now required for all Microsoft software updates aside from security patches.
The Detroit News, July 28, 2005 (Associated Press)
http://www.detnews.com/2005/technology/0507/26/01tec-259539.htm
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