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Legal Issues

by Mike Masnick

Mon, May 18th 2009 2:55am




Filed Under:
brein, ftd, netherlands, usenet


Usenet Community Sues Anti-Piracy Group For Calling It Criminal

from the if-you-don't-pay-for-it... dept

Anti-piracy groups often have a way with massively stretching the truth when it comes to copyright law and anyone they dislike. The Dutch anti-piracy group BREIN apparently put out a wholly misleading article entitled: "You do not pay for it, it's unlawful." This line was taken from MPAA propaganda that has been sent around to public schools -- but, of course, it is wrong. There are tons of things that you don't pay for that are perfect lawful. To make matters worse, the article then accused a Dutch Usenet community called FTD of being "criminal." Knowing that it is not criminal, the group is now suing BREIN for falsely smearing its image by saying that it is criminal and for falsely portraying copyright law in the Netherlands.

9 Comments | Leave a Comment

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  •  
    identicon
    Blatant Coward, May 18th, 2009 @ 3:29am

    "You do not pay for it, it's unlawful."

    Who do I need to pay for the jibbering lawyer show I've been watching with much amusement?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

    •  
      identicon
      Anonymous Poster, May 18th, 2009 @ 3:46am

      Re: "You do not pay for it, it's unlawful."

      Anyone but the employees of the MPAA, RIAA, and their foreign counterparts.

      I suggest 3D Realms; I hear they can use the money.

       

      [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
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    John Duncan Yoyo, May 18th, 2009 @ 4:37am

    I wonder if they can go after Cuomo? He smeared usenet and usenetters with a similar brush.

    Yes it can be used to deliver illicit images but so can ftp and a host of other things. You don't shoot the messenger.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    John Duncan Yoyo, May 18th, 2009 @ 4:37am

    I wonder if they can go after Cuomo? He smeared usenet and usenetters with a similar brush.

    Yes it can be used to deliver illicit images but so can ftp and a host of other things. You don't shoot the messenger.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
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    Anonymous Coward, May 18th, 2009 @ 5:16am

    usenet is a cesspool of kiddy porn and crap.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, May 18th, 2009 @ 10:29am

    Anti-piracy groups often have a way with massively stretching the truth when it comes to copyright law and anyone they dislike.

    You think its limited to anti-piracy groups?

    Wait for it, here it comes

    "just because you work for the RIAA..."

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, May 18th, 2009 @ 5:04pm

    Damn, my OS is unlawful. Should I send a check to Canonical?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]


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