Are You One of 23,000 Defendants in the US' Biggest Illegal Download Lawsuit?

reply to post by Xcathdra

I am positive if you and other created something that cost millions of dollars, and others decide to steal it and distribute it, forcing you to lose out on the fruits of your creation, you would be upset as well.

If I created something, I would put it on the internet for free, my sales would sky rocket.

Its the nature of the internet.

Last thought. Even if they concluded it was my IP that downloaded copyright material then also must VERIFY its on my computer.

Now, they can't force anyone to incriminate themselves by giving up their password. I may be doing something else illegal that doesn't involve downloading music or videos. So if your computer is password protected then they can't even access your hard drive to even know if the material is on your computer.

I guess they can access it if Microsoft has a backdoor password that overrides your password.

That's why I use encryption software separate of Microsoft.

Originally posted by edog11

Are You One of 23,000 Defendants in the US' Biggest Illegal Download Lawsuit?

techland.time.com

Did you illegally download a copy of The Expendables, Sylvester Stallone's old-school macho get-together fight-fest from last year? If so, watch your inbox: You're likely one of the more than 23,000 file sharers being sued for doing so by the US Copyright Group in what is now the largest BitTorrent downloading case in US legal history.

(visit the link for the full news article)


Related News Links:
www.wired.com
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I can't help not to notice the use of EYES in many avatars as of latelly. I guess in your avatar the theme is VERY prominent.
Is there some kind of "anything" associated with that? I don't know.. something like an ID system perhaps?

To make it more clearly is this another HSARPA bait thread Mr.Eyes?

reply to post by LosLobos


I know what you mean.... I been encrypting everything ever since some prick robbed me and stole my external hard drives when I had a party at my house... If anyone ever gets their hands on one of my machines, they are nothing more than fancy looking paperwieghts to them

Originally posted by 0zzymand0s
reply to post by NuclearMitochondria

 

Sell out? *chuckle*

Look -- in 97 I went to work for the biggest telecommunications company in the world. I gave them 7 years and was a top transport tech, After my team put NYC back together (in the 4ESS and 5ESS sense) I was laid off in 2003 (low seniority.) I went to work for BearingPoint, won kudos and accolades for my work on their employee secure ID program. But they decided to close up shop and send my work overseas to India. They even talked me into training the Indians, and I did it cheerfully, in exchange for a wonderful letter of recommendation. That got me a job with Microsoft, which lasted 6 months until they too outsourced my work.

Since then, I've gone back to school and worked tech support for various companies for less and less pay each year. What can I say? Our records are all on vinyl with a free download coupon, and we charge about 12 bucks for those, new. I make less doing this than a most fast food assistant managers.

I still deserve to get paid. Your mileage may vary.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/86b8e7a3c51e.gif[/atsimg]

Wow, the ignorance in this post is almost shameful.

I feel I am more than qualified to correct your ridiculous remarks and reasoning as a significant portion of my income is royalties from movies, music, and software.

Originally posted by oaf21
The thing is, with file sharing, it is NOT stealing.

Yes it IS stealing. Every time you do not buy something that I had a hand in creating, you are taking money away from me. You are getting enjoyment and use of something for free, while I don't get paid. That's stealing, there is no other way to justify it. Sorry.

It's copying.

For free. If I got my small royalty out of it and you wanted to make a backup copy for your OWN use, then I would not mind. However, not paying me for my work is not "copying".

Stealing implies that one party took something that belongs to another party and the victim is no longer in possession of said belonging.

So, with that logic, then is it perfectly okay to walk in to an amusement park and ride all the rides without paying? You're not taking the rides with you, leaving the park in possession of them.

You see, one can steal a service. Which is what you're doing when you steal from me.

In fact, I'd let everyone come over and copy what few belongings I have, should they so please. That's the best way to share the wealth, if you ask me.

So using your logic, there would only need to be one of anything ever made, and we could just all make copies of what we wanted, and you think that would work out good? LOL. Guess none of us would ever need to work again...

The only thing that's 'lost' out of all of this is profit... that's it.

And profit is what pays the bills. Without profit, I don't get paid. No one goes into business to fail or break even.

I also don't buy this BS that they're trying to throw around that the happy little sound-lady is going to lose her job because a movie was downloaded. She's always going to have a job unless they decide to stop making movies altogether (which will never happen). She's not exactly paid by the royalties that come in once the movie's released. No.. she's already lost her job once the movie's released because her work is done, so she seeks out another project to work on.

And I don't buy your BS that you pretend to understand how the movie business works. It's obvious you don't have a clue. You are simply talking about the film crew, which is a tiny portion of what makes an actual film. In major studios there are hundreds of support, technical and creative staff who work full time, many whom DO get portions of their income from royalties, like myself.

I'd have pity on these studios if they were actually suffering hard 'losses' because of all this.... and by losses I don't just mean "less profits".

You're equating the studios with all the profit. You obviously do no realize this gets pooled and shared among large amount of the non-executive, non celebrity staff. "Less profits" means less money for my kids education and future, and I'm simply shocked my so many of the ignorant replies on this thread.

Maybe if it happened to your job you wouldn't like it so much.

I won't ever shed a tear for them.

And I won't shed a tear for those who get sued over stealing money that belongs to me and my co-workers.

reply to post by edog11


Because when you download a torrent there are things called trackers and you can view everyone that is downloading its ip...I have a powerful firewall that blocks trackers and amongst other things you guys wouldnt believe how many computers connect to yours when you download a torrent, they come up on a big list on the firewall from all around the world...the expendables...oops lol

Uhmmm.. stop posting people, the PTB is angry at you that you don't tow the line.
Never argue the establishment. You are advised to limit your exposure on enemy combatants discussions over the internets. Obey, consume and look elsewhere. Nothing to see here citizens...

reply to post by Soloist

Yes it IS stealing. Every time you do not buy something that I had a hand in creating, you are taking money away from me. You are getting enjoyment and use of something for free, while I don't get paid. That's stealing, there is no other way to justify it. Sorry.

That's rich.... So I guess you think people that lend out/borrow games and books etc are thiefs then by that standard.

You must really hate library's and netflicks eh?

Originally posted by TKDRL
reply to post by Soloist

 

For free. If I got my small royalty out of it and you wanted to make a backup copy for your OWN use, then I would not mind. However, not paying me for my work is not "copying".

That's rich.... So I guess you think people that lend out/borrow games and books etc are thiefs then by that standard.

Another ignorant post.

Please read the entire post and at least make an attempt at understanding.

reply to post by Soloist


What's the difference? It is different means, to the same end. I download a crap CD or movie, or whatever digital, it sucks so I delete it. Of course I am not going to reward anyone that made a piece of crap. What is the difference wether I find out it is crap and don't go out and buy through borrowing it, or by downloading it?

Sure there are people that always download and never buy. But you know what? Equating that with lost income is BS. If they couldn't download it, they wouldn't be rushing out to buy all that stuff.... They would simply go without it!

Originally posted by TKDRL
reply to post by Soloist

 

What's the difference? It is different means, to the same end. I download a crap CD or movie, or whatever digital, it sucks so I delete it. Of course I am not going to reward anyone that made a piece of crap. What is the difference wether I find out it is crap and don't go out and buy through borrowing it, or by downloading it?

Sure there are people that always download and never buy. But you know what? Equating that with lost income is BS. If they couldn't download it, they wouldn't be rushing out to buy all that stuff.... They would simply go without it!

edit on Wed, 11 May 2011 16:19:34 -0500 by TKDRL because: (no reason given)

Keep trying to justify your illegal activities. By your logic maybe I should come into the Subway where you work, take a sandwich, eat it, call it crap, and walk out the door without paying you for it.

Stealing is stealing.

reply to post by Soloist



Actually I chose construction as an occupation, because I am smart and chose a job that people actually need for a living. As opposed to someone that chooses to make something that is a luxury for a living. Nice try at the personal stab BTW.

reply to post by Soloist


Oh yeah, and I should point out again, just because something is against federal law in the US, does not make it illegal everywhere else. Federal US laws do not apply to me, I am not breaking the law, sorry.

Originally posted by TKDRL
reply to post by Soloist

 

Actually I chose construction as an occupation, because I am smart and chose a job that people actually need for a living. As opposed to someone that chooses to make something that is a luxury for a living. Nice try at the personal stab BTW.

Hmm, I'm having a hard time equating the words smart and construction together, but ok...

So let me customize it for your chosen occupation:

You have a contract to construct the most awesome pencil sharpener mount your super-smart brain can concoct. And you get out your router and make the edges nice and ornate, heck you even hand finish it by giving it a nice french polish. And when you're done it looks like a work of art, and it took you several hours of french polishing just to get it perfect, .... you've done the best job you could with what you were given. Heck looking at it would almost make you feel smarter, if you weren't already so darn smart!

Now, you were already paid for the materials, but the person who contracted you for it hates it... rips it off the wall and throws it out in the street while telling you what a huge piece of crap it was, and then refuses to pay you for your work.

Guess what? You just got ripped off.

And that's exactly what happens to those of us who make "luxuries" for a living when you don't pay for the stuff we make for you.

Funny how it's only a "luxury" when you have to pay for it, huh? Yet millions of law abiding people don't seem to have a problem.

Originally posted by TKDRL
reply to post by Soloist

 

Oh yeah, and I should point out again, just because something is against federal law in the US, does not make it illegal everywhere else. Federal US laws do not apply to me, I am not breaking the law, sorry.

edit on Wed, 11 May 2011 16:33:45 -0500 by TKDRL because: (no reason given)

I don't really give a flying hoot if it's illegal or not where you are.

Wrong is wrong, and stealing is stealing since before laws existed. So, stop trying to justify being a thief.

I just have to say this after going through 6 pages of this.

If I stole fuel out of your vehicle, and put it into a vehicle that I paid for, but never sold it. Would it be considered theft?

Now let's rewrite that into a digital form.

If I stole your song, burnt it to a disc that I paid for, but never sold it. Would it be considered theft?

I would also like to add this: Back in the day, there was no authorized digital forms of music. Mp3's was this crazy new format where you could rip cds from your collection into your computer, without it taking up very much space, to play skip free for however long your computer lasted. The only law back then was, if you didn't own the CD, you couldn't download it, like if you accidently deleted it off your hard drive, and the CD was cracked or something and you couldn't rip it again.

reply to post by TKDRL


It's a good thing you don't live in the US. Construction work was hit hard by the recent recession / collapse of the housing bubble. I know more out of work framers then any other profession out there, save possibly real estate professionals. It's a fairly sad reality. There are more laborers then there are jobs.

I don't know if I *chose* being an artist or not. My mom says I was making "albums" back in the 70's, when I was 8 years old (no music, just covers, art, linear notes, and so on). Choice is a funny thing. I have never been particularly happy or fulfilled in anything that I have done, outside of creative pursuits. Some of us are just wired that way, I guess.

Of course, money isn't the reason I do any of it, and I'd rather be heard then be sold, so it's a mixed bag at best.

Welcome to the entitlement generation. They feel that someone owes them free copies of everything. They steal stuff, make excuses why it's okay, and then blame everyone but themselves when caught. QQ sue away. I won't lose any sleep over it.