German Publishers File Criminal Complaint Against Two News Sites For Mentioning Name Of Unauthorized Ebook Site
from the really-now? dept
We know that some legacy players who rely too heavily on copyright law seem to react negatively to any discussion of unauthorized distribution of files, but a group of German book publishers have apparently taken this to the next level. As highlighted on TorrentFreak, they’ve resorted to filing criminal complaints against two news websites, Der Tagesspiegel and Zeit.de, for publishing an interview with the creators of a website called Boox.to, which offers up unauthorized downloads of ebooks. Again, this is not the unauthorized site itself they filed the complaint over, but rather news websites for daring to name the site in the interview that was done.
“With the direct and multiple naming of the Internet address the reader is immediately aware of the illicit supply of the website. With regard to objective journalistic reporting there was no need for direct nomination,” the publishers write in their complaint.
“The publication of the Website and its Internet address immediately enabled a broad mass of readers to become aware of the site. The reader is also indirectly encouraged to take advantage of the offer, taking advantage of the illegal site that has been highlighted by the play of the interview.”
Of course, this raises the obvious retort: if publishing an interview helps make a “broad mass” of people more “aware of the site,” what do they think filing a really stupid and ridiculous lawsuit against these websites will do?
Filed Under: copyright, criminal, germany, journalism, publishing
Companies: boox.to
Comments on “German Publishers File Criminal Complaint Against Two News Sites For Mentioning Name Of Unauthorized Ebook Site”
Never heard of TorBoox
Thx – Bookmarked!
By this logic, they should be liable for drawing attention to the interview which draws attention to the site, therefore indirectly encouraging the reader’s of their complaint to infringe copyrights.
Logic rules!
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Whats german for striesand effect?
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DeAckvonstreisandikarbroeffect
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Streisandeffekt
Pronounced Shtraisandeffect
Re: Response to: blaktron on Aug 30th, 2013 @ 1:38pm
Then whoever files the lawsuit against them will be liable for referencing their lawsuit that references the article that references the sites.
Lawception.
Why, I bet they think a lawsuit will chill others!
“what do they think filing a really stupid and ridiculous lawsuit against these websites will do?” — and I’ll further assume that we agree there: I just WONDER why Mike doesn’t supply these obvious answers; gotta be the most secretive blogger around.
Anyhoo, REAL QUESTION is: Why do certain other people WISH to publicize websites listing unauthorized ebooks? Because so long as pirates keep pushing and trying to make it impossible for the creators to be rewarded, there’s going to be PUSHBACK.
Biggest lie in fewest words: “a few pirates”!
Re: Why, I bet they think a lawsuit will chill others!
How in God’s name have you not been banned?!
Re: Re: Why, I bet they think a lawsuit will chill others!
Extremely strong belief in freedom of speech on the part of Techdirt I’d imagine.
Re: Re: Re: Why, I bet they think a lawsuit will chill others!
Well, except for that Rikuo dude.
Re: Why, I bet they think a lawsuit will chill others!
Actually the real question is why don’t content providers give the public what it wants how it wants it. Why do people have to file share at all. We all know that file sharing folks spend the most on media. Certainly more than the trolls in the comments here. Can we answer that question?
No didn’t think so.
Re: Re: Why, I bet they think a lawsuit will chill others!
Yeah, I’d love it if AJ could post proof of how much he spends on entertainment. I’m a pirate, I won’t deny it, but on earlier articles, I’ve posted links to my HUGE Steam library, I’ve got a fair few games on Origin, I’ve got all gaming consoles sans the Wii U and games for each.
Re: Why, I bet they think a lawsuit will chill others!
“I just WONDER why Mike doesn’t supply these obvious answers”
It a rhetorical question whose answers are obvious to anyone with a functioning sentient brain. I’ll supply it for you since you’re clearly an exception to that group – the lawsuits publicise the sites even more than the original articles did. This is a predictable outcome to anyone who used their time to understand the effect described as the “Streisand Effect” rather than wasting their time trying to attack it because they harbour a bizarre obsession with attacking the man who named it.
“Anyhoo, REAL QUESTION is: Why do certain other people WISH to publicize websites listing unauthorized ebooks?”
There’s a large number of real answers to that question that have nothing to do with your beloved fantasies. Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the fact that mentioning something isn’t “publicising” it (unless you think that the US media is actually Al Qaida’s marketing arm – actually, a good case can be made for that!), the fact that there would be a huge violation of rights if people can be prosecuted for merely mentioning a lawbreaker, etc.
But your stupidity and obsession won’t let you address some very obvious points. You have to tilt at those windmills instead.
haha
I wish I knew more about Germany’s history. It’s like they’re a bunch of Nazis when it comes to copyright.
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No, no, it’s just that we really hate books.
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You win. first to work Nazis into the discussion.
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Godwin Loves You.
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Now just wait for people around here to counter with, “There is no Godwin! Godwin doesn’t exist! Godwin is just a fairy tale!”.
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Oh man I have so many awesome comments that I will not post because they’re over the line rofl. Well actually there comments of my Jewish friend, but I just can’t bring myself to do it.
the other thing as well is if the prices were reasonably competitive, people wouldn’t go to other sources in the first place. the reason that happens is the fault of the publishers themselves, but just like the rest of the entertainment industries, particularly those in the US and even more particularly those under the control of former Senator Dodd, a man that still doesn’t know the difference between something that is copied and something that is stolen (give me strength, please!), nothing is ever their fault but everything has to be done to preserve their pathetic way of life and business model!!
About time that ‘linking’ was made illegal in Real Life too.
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http://jimmydean.com/products/fully-cooked-sausage/fully-cooked-original-pork-sausage-links
Germany isn’t exactly known for being a bastion of free speech or thought.
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Blocking free speech is akin to book burning. Germany is well known for that.
Jello Biafra already nailed this one...
For every prohibition you create, you also create an underground.
— Jello Biafra
Copyright is a prohibition…
— Me
Any questions?
If Mike had patented the “Streisand Effect” this would probably be the first case where he’d receive royalties in the “billions of dollars” realm.
Ms Streisand may have pioneered the thing but Germans took it to the next step.
Yo dawg, I heard you hate Streisand effect. So you caused some Streisand effect to complain about some Streisand effect.