“No-one could imagine how we would survive without Google – most of us use it hundreds of times a day. But it is because they are so effective – and trusted – that Google and other search engines should use their creative energy to help the music industry fight piracy.”
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/02/22/harperson_google_rocket/
The popular YouTube video sharing site alone was responsible for 24% of total broadband traffic (up from 22% in H1).
However, the fastest growing applications were VoIP and Instant Messaging (IM), which grew by 114% (up from 101% in H1). It’s interesting to note that the File Sharing (P2P) growth rate is in decline, gaining 29% compared to a 33% growth rate in the first half of 2011.
Previously:
http://vrritti.com/?s=falkvinge
Only 13 people said they were scared by the recent news and that it made them less likely to break the law, while 42 people said they’re just going elsewhere to find what they want. Twenty-five people admitted that downloading is harder now, and eight people hadn’t heard anything about it.
And yet overwhelmingly, a majority of people said they also pay for music and movies online via services like iTunes and Netflix.
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/02/new-yorkers-not-afraid-of-illegal-file-sharing.html
The Court ruled that hosting sites can’t filter copyrighted content as that would violate the privacy of users and hinder freedom of information.
The unprecedented decision has major implications for all services in Europe that host user uploaded content, not least among cyberlockers such as RapidShare. Also, the verdict would prevent copyright holders ordering BitTorrent sites to filter uploaded files, something that isoHunt already does based on a US injunction.
Rick Falkvinge, founder of the first Pirate Party in Sweden, is happy that the EU Court of Justice has placed the rights of people above those of corporations.
“I think it is quite remarkable, and very promising, that Europe’s highest court says outright that the copyright monopoly and people’s right to privacy of correspondence cannot be protected at the same time – and most importantly, that the latter has unequivocal precedence,” Rick Falkvinge told TorrentFreak.
“This is what we have been saying since 2006, that there is a strong conflict between the copyright monopoly and fundamental rights. It is quite a relief to see that not only confirmed in black and white, but also a verdict that the fundamental rights override the copyright monopoly.”
The entertainment industry on the other hand, will be greatly disappointed, as they are pushing hard for online services to take greater responsibility when it comes to copyright infringement.
Today’s ruling follows a similar European Court of Justice ruling last November which concluded that Belgian Internet provider Scarlet could not be forced to monitor subscriber traffic to detect piracy because that would violate the fundamental rights of both the ISP and its subscribers.
More:
http://torrentfreak.com/eu-court-bans-anti-piracy-filters-on-hosting-services-120216/
Says the foundation is knowingly and intentionally forcing companies to make payments which they know are in conflict with European laws. The foundation is twisting the truth when it says that those companies are to blame for the foundation not being able to distribute funds to artists, authors and composers.
Dutch language news article:
http://webwereld.nl/opinie/109410/stichting-de-thuiskopie-verdraait-de-feiten–opinie-.html
Please, I challenge you to raise some moral support for the general attack on innovation by these lobbyists. Just give me one moral argument that has not already been completely refuted. Those of us who have paid close attention to these issues just can’t spend any more time explaining why file-sharing does not equal theft.
http://torrentfreak.com/the-moral-battle-between-pirates-and-lobbyists-120128/
And therefore, the site should not have been shut down:
“Regardless of ideology, or opinions on the legality or morality of those running Megaupload, actions such as the closure of this service cause huge damage to lawful users of the sites and are unacceptable and disproportionate violations of their rights”
There’s no legal or illegal. There’s just sharing
See also:
Pirate Party of Catalonia wants to sue FBI, in Spain, over Megaupload seizure
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2012/01/pirate-party-of-catalonia-wants-to-sue-fbi-in-spain-over-megaupload-seizure.ars
Alberdingk Thijm believes it is the second option. He also stated that ‘This is the little piece of China, we as The Netherlands want to stay away from’
Dutch language news article:
http://www.nu.nl/muziek/2715146/brein-maakt-zich-hard-downloadverbod.html
Their views are currently based on the articles of Dutch blog Geenstijl.nl, Kuik argues
Dutch language news article:
http://www.nu.nl/muziek/2715146/brein-maakt-zich-hard-downloadverbod.html
Mentions VPNs, Proxies, TOR, a dedicated Pirate Bay API (but notes that that will affect advertising revenue), visiting other torrent sites and it acknowledges that The Pirate Bay is a centralized system with a search engine one cannot do without as well as dedicated BitTorrent trackers. It makes a plea for full decentralization, which would again affect advertising revenues, unless one would build the search functionality and decentralized tracker into the BitTorrent end user application
Dutch language news article:
http://webwereld.nl/analyse/109182/7-gaten-in-de-pirate-bay-blokkade/1.html
Changes ‘notice & take down’ into ‘notice & action’. Wants notice and action to apply to every type of illegal content
Dutch language news article:
http://webwereld.nl/nieuws/109180/ec-stuurt-aan-op-websiteblokkade-zonder-rechter.html
EMI Records filed a lawsuit against the Irish state for not fulfilling its obligations under European law which would otherwise allow for the “blocking, diverting or interrupting of internet communications” which breach copyright law
http://torrentfreak.com/emi-sues-irish-state-for-not-implementing-piracy-blocking-provisions-120112/
The other providers are currently studying the verdict that requires ISPs XS4ALL and ZIGGO to block The Pirate Bay
Dutch language news article:
http://webwereld.nl/nieuws/109164/brein–pirate-bay-snel-helemaal-op-zwart.html
So the fact that some legitimate Dutch downloaders will be negatively affected by the Pirate Bay blockade doesn’t way up against the advantages for rights owners
Dutch language news article:
http://webwereld.nl/nieuws/109160/ziggo-en-xs4all-moeten-the-pirate-bay-blokkeren.html
Internet provider ZIGGO comments on the Pirate Bay site blocking verdict in The Netherlands. Says that hardened pirates can easily circumvent blocking measures and has doubts about the technical feasibility of site blocking
Dutch language news article:
http://www.nu.nl/internet/2712926/xs4all-in-hoger-beroep-blokkade-the-pirate-bay.html
Internet provider XS4ALL comments on the site blocking requirement imposed by a Dutch judge. It will appeal the verdict
Dutch language news article:
http://www.nu.nl/internet/2712926/xs4all-in-hoger-beroep-blokkade-the-pirate-bay.html
As far as we are aware, this is the first case of its type where BitTorrent users are expressly forbidden by a court injunction from sharing specific material. But the big question remains – has it been successful?
http://torrentfreak.com/bittorrent-seeders-harrass-victim-high-court-rules-120511/
We also believe that any legislation must maximize protection of intellectual property rights and consumer safety while minimizing the risk of interfering with the benefits of an open and free Internet.
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