Music Industry Raids Offices of Kazaa

[pacmania_2001]

Full article here: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040206/ap_on_hi_te/file_sharing_raid_1

SYDNEY, Australia - Investigators from the Australian recording industry raided the Sydney offices of Internet file-swapping network Kazaa on Friday in search of evidence to support allegations of copyright infringements.

The raid was conducted under a rarely used law, known as Anton Pillar, which allows litigants in civil copyright cases to gather evidence.

The Federal Court gave major Australian record labels permission to raid 12 premises in three states to collect evidence against Kazaa, said Michael Speck, general manager of Music Industry Piracy Investigations. The group is owned by Universal, Festival Mushroom Records, EMI Music, Sony Music, Warner Music Australia and BMG Australia.

The raided sites included the office of Kazaa owner Sharman Networks, the homes of two of the company's executives, three Australian universities and Internet service providers.

Comments?

[Tommyknocker]

It still won't increase sales.

[MrMungus]

SYDNEY, Australia - Investigators from the Australian recording industry

They have their own police???

[Tommyknocker]

Yes, they also raided a bootleg salesman's corner stand over in Hollywood.

[painkiller]

Reinforcement on a global scale.

I can't help but notice the words - - -

The Federal Court gave major Australian record labels permission to raid 12 premises in three states to collect evidence

So, anybody can be the police?

All you need is to convince the courts that you can do the job?

Very interesting.

[Moloko_Plus]

"This sends a very clear signal to Internet pirates in Australia that the game is up," he said.

I dont see how that's applicable. Sounds like some people just have too much time on their hands.

[MOVIEGEEK]

I guess we in the US don't have a monopoly on the "Goon Squad",it's really sad that they(music industry) can act as policemen.

[indolikaa]

Amazing.

Not the 4th Amendment we know here in the States...

[Tommyknocker]

I believe the reason they are doing this is they feel their sales are so slow it must be the pirates' fault. If the truth of the matter is the price does not match the quality, they refuse to believe and enforce their dogma all the more. "Slower sales? It must be the pirates! It cannot be the price is too high! Raid someone else, quickly, before we have to report our next quarter profits!"

[painkiller]

Apparently, the music industry can't read ......

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article.asp?section_id=1&article_id=453&page_number=1

[Moloko_Plus]

Yep, something goes wrong: blame the pirates. Oh the incredible hulk was a really bad movie that no one liked? hell, lets just blame it on piracy. Oh shitney spears didn't make an extra 3 million as she did last year? Well, thats a no-brainer, its obvious that the pirates are keeping her out of a job and will be homeless in 8 months from now.

Poor poor unfortunate greedy companies, *sigh* well that does it, from this day forward im going to not contribute to piracy any more, and you better to, or you're a Criminal. They'll send their goons to your house, put all of your cds in the microwave to destroy them, raid your fridge for all the "incriminating evidence" (mostly ham and swiss cheese..Hey, even soulless greedy corrupt companies need to eat..too bad they still have a pulse), take your computer, and kick your cat on the way out.

Please proceed to the RIAA's "Yes I am a sinner and did not follow the flock of sheep" Amnesty page and confess all. Following that, a paddywagon will be at your house shortly to make sure you're not infringing still.

boo hoo.

[painkiller]

... and let's not forget Oneida and other manufacturers of fine cutlery everywhere.
Im' sure we all have our kitchens stocked full of knives, forks and spoons.

Heaven forbid I go for my Ginsu knife - I might use it for something other than preparing my food.

[Moloko_Plus]

Those better be Official Oneida silverware, or the national spoon and fork and spork association will be knocking on your door next: "Hi, we're with the NSAFASA, we understand you have silverware in your house, we also represent the interests of oneida to be sure every single american only buys oneida cutlery. You do have oneida right?" "No, actually i bought some forks at wal-mart last.." "GET HIM, HES AN INFRINGER!!" (kicks the door down, slams hand cuffs on you) "Perhaps you didn't understand, WE own the fork, spoon and spork design. Every other brand is infringing and illegal to own. From now on, you only buy from US, got it?" "yessir, can you loosen the cuffs, theyre cutting off my bloodflow" "Ohh a wise ass, eh? That does it, youre going to jail!"

[painkiller]

So why is it that we are the only ones who understand?

[Jukka]

So what are they going to do next - raid the offices of Xerox because the produce machines that can photocopy paper music? Raid the offices of Sony, etc. because they produce cassette recorders (does anyone remember them?)? Raid the offices of BIC because a biro can be used to manually copy copyright works? Raid my home because I sung a copyright song in my garden (i.e. broadcasting!)??

These guys need to get real, its not Kazaa thats the problem, its the people who copy AND share copyright stuff!!!

If they sold us what we wanted at a decent price piracy would diminish (it will never disappear

[duhmez]

It'd be a cold day in hell before I letany citizen to raid MY HOUSE. nobody comes into my house without my permission. Excepting of course official police with a warrant signed by a judge, not just "They stole mym music let me break into their house"

[The village idiot]

and let's not forget Oneida and other manufacturers of fine cutlery everywhere.

Those damn online flatware pirates have put Oneida out of business, or at least close enough to out of business.


knock, knock, knock Excuse me Sir, I'm here to inspect your flatware. We have information that leads us to beleave that you have been distributing illegal flatware via the KaKaa network. If found to be guilty, you will be executed...

[Chuffster]

Those damn online flatware pirates have put Oneida out of business, or at least close enough to out of business.

Stealing cutlery is just plain wrong. Though I must admit, when I was in my teens, to taking cutlery and pint glasses from pubs and restaurants. It was alcohol induced kleptomania. But some of my friends at the time were far worse. Taking a whole 8 foot high bus shelter requires large amounts of courage and stupidity in equal measure.

[redwudz]

chuffster: I still have ashtrays from bars I swear I never went to. I don't steal music, because much of it isn't worth stealing. If the majority of the profit from music went to the artists, it wouldn't be such a problem. $15-20US for a CD seems a lot to me. I listen to the radio.

[Moloko_Plus]

(Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life "Hello! Can we have your liver?"

[MikieV]

Comments?

The part that reallygot my attention was:

"The raided sites included the office of Kazaa owner Sharman Networks, the homes of two of the company's executives, three Australian universities and Internet service providers."

What kind of "probable cause" do you need to obtain such a warrant??

Maybe that "Anton Pillar" ruling is rarely used, for a very good reason.

Mike

[Zal42]

[snark]This story has proved that it's pretty hard to dredge up any sympathy from me for an outfit as nasty as Kazaa.[/snark]

They have their own police???

So does the software industry. Ever heard of the BSA? I had the joy of suffering through one of their raids at a place I worked at. Extremely frightening. Nothing was found, either. They did a whole raid, complete with firearms, shouting, etc., because a disgruntled ex-employee phoned in a fake tip.

Not the 4th Amendment we know here in the States...

Actually, it's exactly like this in the US. Perhaps not what the fourth amendment intended...

[lordsmurf]

The day we let RIAA and MPAA raids people's homes and legitimate businesses is the day we should just burn the Constitution and call it quits.

If one of these non-law-enforcement raiders got shot or killed while trespassing, I'd have no sympathy.

[painkiller]

Actually, Lordsmurf, it is my contention that they (RIAA and MPAA as well as others) have "broken" the Constitution already.

At this point, I have a question.

Just how does a law abiding citizen protect themselves from such a raid?

Mistake or not, you might (at the most) be killed or, at the least, suffer all forms of indignation and financial heartaches - on the heels of these folks that are looking for contraband.

And if they realize their mistake(s), it is likely too late and they must follow through at that time.

So. Again, just how do people like us prepare for a....... idiots like these?

[lordsmurf]

On this topic, the RIAA reminds me of Nazis from WWII. Seriously and I'm not exaggerating at all. This is how the Nazis operated.

[painkiller]

Unfortunately, I happen to agree.

All this is terribly going wrong.

And for anyone else thinking this is no big deal, I remind us all that Congress extended the copyright duration on the behest of Disney (corporation). Also, the Chairman of the Judicial Committee in Congress (Orrin Hatch) is on record as saying the copyright stealers deserve what's coming to them (essentially). But, with that, it affects us all.

The problem is, no one, in Congress, is taking the view that businesses have to abide by current laws. But we do (the citizens, aka sheep).

My only answer to this is to vote out all incumbents.

To me, it's the only way to get their attention.

[DKruskie]

Of course noone that works for the RIAA or MPAA realizes that the economy here in the US in the SH!TTER might account for a drop in sales.





David

[Tommyknocker]

Of course noone that works for the RIAA or MPAA realizes that the economy here in the US in the SH!TTER might account for a drop in sales.





David

My own personal theory is that music and videos are overpriced the entertainment value they possess. I believe the RIAA and MPAA create their predicament when they give pirates a chance to make a profit by stealing and undercutting them in the market.

I wouldn't even bother making a backup of any movie I own if I can replace it for ten dollars or less.

[MikieV]

Of course noone that works for the RIAA or MPAA realizes that the economy here in the US in the SH!TTER might account for a drop in sales

They keep trying to correlate it to the rise in file-sharing, and ignore the plummet in US employment.

Seems a more likely cause-and-effect between less money to spend and less music bought.!

But then, once you've tried the free stuff - why buy a cow, when milk is free!

Mike

[fslove]

The RIAA needs to quit blaming pirates for all their woes and look inwards and realize the reason for decling sales is the vast majority of music put out these days is pure crap! Start putting out better product and the profits will flow back! I have bought only one CD (Beatles One) in the last 8 years and there is nothing out there I have the slightest interest in that I don't already own. In fact my money spent on music goes totally to Music DVD's where you get the music in surround sound and video to boot! And when the video is Anamorphic widescreen I am in heaven watching om my widescreen HDTV!