The RIAA Attacks Usenet - GoFuckYourself.com

Aussie Rebel · 10-16-2007, 07:27 PM

The RIAA Attacks Usenet

Basking in glory after orchestrating a record punishment for a petty file-sharer in the US, the RIAA takes its legal campaign to the next level. Many may want newsgroups to stay under the radar but it?s too late - major labels have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Usenet.com and it won?t be going away.

In an ideal world, people would not talk about Usenet. In an ideal world there would be no such things as copyright infringement lawsuits. Sadly, we do not live in an ideal world.

Today we simply have to talk about Usenet and we have to talk about lawsuits.

Major record labels - Arista, Atlantic, BMG, Capitol, Caroline, Elektra, Interscope, LaFace, Maverick, Sony BMG, UMG, Virgin, Warner Bros. and Zomba have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Usenet.com.

According to Billboard, the complaint filed in the District Court in New York states that Usenet.com provides access to millions of copyright infringing files and, with a nod towards the Grokster Decision, apparently ?touts its service as a haven for those seeking pirated content.?

During the Grokster court case, it was ruled that even if a service or tool has substantial non-infringing uses, its owners would be liable for the infringing activities of its customers, should it be deemed that they encouraged their customers to commit copyright infringement. The complaint says that Usenet.com encourages its customers to commit copyright infringement and furthermore, facilitates such actions with its infrastructure.

Therefore it?s no surprise that the lawsuit seems to hang on statements allegedly made by Usenet.com to their customers, claiming that they told them their service is ?the best way to get ?free? music now that ?file sharing websites are getting shut down.?

Usenet.com does state that it?s possible to get increased levels of privacy by using their extra ?anonymous? service: ?Shh? Quiet! We believe it?s no one?s business but your own what you do on the Internet or in Usenet! We don?t log your activity. We don?t track your downloads, and neither can your ISP when you use Secure-Tunnel.com privacy package.? However, helping to ensure the privacy of your customers does not equal encouragement to commit copyright infringement and right at this moment, there doesn?t appear to be any other text on the site that would make Usenet.com fall foul of the Grokster Decision. More details should follow in due course.

The lawsuit states that despite repeated requests by the labels for Usenet.com to remove infringing content, Usenet.com continued to fill its servers with infringing material from the Usenet network and then charges its users for access. It?s claimed that many of the groups offered by Usenet.com have no other use other than to disseminate copyright works and are ?explicitly dedicated to copyright infringement.?

The labels want Usenet.com to admit they are committing copyright infringement with a view to obtaining an injunction and damages. To date, Usenet.com has refused to remove content or discontinue offering certain newsgroups.

It will be interesting to see if other Usenet providers come out in support of Usenet.com.

Further updates to follow.
http://torrentfreak.com/the-riaa-attacks-usenet-071016/

tony286 · 10-16-2007, 07:29 PM

A change is gonna come, the net is getting civilized.

TeenCat · 10-16-2007, 07:29 PM

another drop in the cyberwars ocean ;)

Steve Awesome · 10-16-2007, 07:31 PM

A tiny drop. Welcome to 1992.

BoyAlley · 10-16-2007, 07:36 PM

Maybe the RIAA should just sue to have teh internets turned off indefinitely?

MattO · 10-16-2007, 07:39 PM

This here

Quote:

...it was ruled that even if a service or tool has substantial non-infringing uses, its owners would be liable for the infringing activities of its customers, should it be deemed that they encouraged their customers to commit copyright infringement.

sounds like could be used against torrent sites.

VeriSexy · 10-16-2007, 08:02 PM

No one can take down usenet

Arkantiger · 10-16-2007, 08:09 PM

another one going to hit the dust

siccmade · 10-16-2007, 08:28 PM

I like the old internet better.

minusonebit · 10-16-2007, 08:30 PM

hehe, this is all such a joke. When they shut down the torrents, something will take their place. When they shut down usenet, something will take its place. There will always be a black market for things in demand.

Vitasoy · 10-16-2007, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arkantiger

another one going to hit the dust

Just don't hold your breath

Matt 26z · 10-16-2007, 08:33 PM

Seems to me that if they are going to sue a Usenet provider for allowing access to copyrighted materials, then ISP's will be next for allowing their customers to access copyright infringing websites.

Dirty F · 10-16-2007, 08:35 PM

I dont encourage sharing copyright stuff but i dont like what im seeing here. The government is totally trying to take over the internet. This is not what he internet is about. The internet should be free. And with freedom also comes nasty stuff but so be it. In 20 years from now you need fucking written permission to visit a site and ever mouseclick will be monitored.

drjones · 10-18-2007, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirty Franck

I dont encourage sharing copyright stuff but i dont like what im seeing here. The government is totally trying to take over the internet. This is not what he internet is about. The internet should be free. And with freedom also comes nasty stuff but so be it. In 20 years from now you need fucking written permission to visit a site and ever mouseclick will be monitored.

Well said.

10-16-2007, 07:27 PM	#1
Aussie Rebel Blow Me U Geeks Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Maximum Security Posts: 5,108	The RIAA Attacks Usenet The RIAA Attacks Usenet Basking in glory after orchestrating a record punishment for a petty file-sharer in the US, the RIAA takes its legal campaign to the next level. Many may want newsgroups to stay under the radar but it?s too late - major labels have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Usenet.com and it won?t be going away. In an ideal world, people would not talk about Usenet. In an ideal world there would be no such things as copyright infringement lawsuits. Sadly, we do not live in an ideal world. Today we simply have to talk about Usenet and we have to talk about lawsuits. Major record labels - Arista, Atlantic, BMG, Capitol, Caroline, Elektra, Interscope, LaFace, Maverick, Sony BMG, UMG, Virgin, Warner Bros. and Zomba have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Usenet.com. According to Billboard, the complaint filed in the District Court in New York states that Usenet.com provides access to millions of copyright infringing files and, with a nod towards the Grokster Decision, apparently ?touts its service as a haven for those seeking pirated content.? During the Grokster court case, it was ruled that even if a service or tool has substantial non-infringing uses, its owners would be liable for the infringing activities of its customers, should it be deemed that they encouraged their customers to commit copyright infringement. The complaint says that Usenet.com encourages its customers to commit copyright infringement and furthermore, facilitates such actions with its infrastructure. Therefore it?s no surprise that the lawsuit seems to hang on statements allegedly made by Usenet.com to their customers, claiming that they told them their service is ?the best way to get ?free? music now that ?file sharing websites are getting shut down.? Usenet.com does state that it?s possible to get increased levels of privacy by using their extra ?anonymous? service: ?Shh? Quiet! We believe it?s no one?s business but your own what you do on the Internet or in Usenet! We don?t log your activity. We don?t track your downloads, and neither can your ISP when you use Secure-Tunnel.com privacy package.? However, helping to ensure the privacy of your customers does not equal encouragement to commit copyright infringement and right at this moment, there doesn?t appear to be any other text on the site that would make Usenet.com fall foul of the Grokster Decision. More details should follow in due course. The lawsuit states that despite repeated requests by the labels for Usenet.com to remove infringing content, Usenet.com continued to fill its servers with infringing material from the Usenet network and then charges its users for access. It?s claimed that many of the groups offered by Usenet.com have no other use other than to disseminate copyright works and are ?explicitly dedicated to copyright infringement.? The labels want Usenet.com to admit they are committing copyright infringement with a view to obtaining an injunction and damages. To date, Usenet.com has refused to remove content or discontinue offering certain newsgroups. It will be interesting to see if other Usenet providers come out in support of Usenet.com. Further updates to follow. http://torrentfreak.com/the-riaa-attacks-usenet-071016/

10-16-2007, 07:29 PM	#3
TeenCat Too lazy to set a koala Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CZ/EU forever! Posts: 16,139	another drop in the cyberwars ocean ;) __________________ 6bot / Coming again very soon! Svit Zlin Radio 24/7!

10-16-2007, 07:31 PM	#4
Steve Awesome Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mid-West! Posts: 1,575	A tiny drop. Welcome to 1992. __________________ *The AbbieCash Porn Network. Billing processing by CCBILL. Join our affiliate program today*. RealDollSex \| AbbieTeen \| GamerChicks \| ModelTexans \| HottieCams Nintendo 3DS Porn Blog \| Steve's Adult Industry Blog \| Abbie Bueller's Porn Blog

10-16-2007, 08:02 PM	#7
VeriSexy Join The Royal Family Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 25,463	No one can take down usenet __________________ Looking for a KICK ASS TEEN SPONSOR? Check out ROYAL CASH - THE KING OF TEEN! Incredible webmaster tools FHGs, Morphing Blog and RSS Feeds, Embedded FLV & WMV Videos. With TOP RATIO Sites like TeenStarsOnly.com - Earn $$ with our New Site & Bonus Payouts!! ATMovs.com \| iTeenVideo.com \| TeenSexMovs.com \| TeenSexMania.com

10-16-2007, 08:09 PM	#8
Arkantiger Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 257	another one going to hit the dust __________________ Want to submit your videos and images with a automatic tube software submission program to 1000+ tube sites? $150 for a licence. 492-804-072

10-16-2007, 07:29 PM	#2
tony286 lurker Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: atlanta Posts: 57,021	A change is gonna come, the net is getting civilized.

10-16-2007, 07:36 PM	#5
BoyAlley So Fucking Gay Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 19,714	Maybe the RIAA should just sue to have teh internets turned off indefinitely?

10-16-2007, 08:28 PM	#9
siccmade Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 1,641	I like the old internet better. __________________ Adult XXX Hits - Adult Traffic Exchange. Get free traffic!

10-16-2007, 08:30 PM	#10
minusonebit So Fucking Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: [email protected] Posts: 7,391	hehe, this is all such a joke. When they shut down the torrents, something will take their place. When they shut down usenet, something will take its place. There will always be a black market for things in demand.

10-16-2007, 08:33 PM	#12
Matt 26z So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: ¤ª"˜¨๑۩۞۩๑¨˜"ª¤ Posts: 18,481	Seems to me that if they are going to sue a Usenet provider for allowing access to copyrighted materials, then ISP's will be next for allowing their customers to access copyright infringing websites.

10-16-2007, 08:35 PM	#13
Dirty F Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 59,204	I dont encourage sharing copyright stuff but i dont like what im seeing here. The government is totally trying to take over the internet. This is not what he internet is about. The internet should be free. And with freedom also comes nasty stuff but so be it. In 20 years from now you need fucking written permission to visit a site and ever mouseclick will be monitored.