How not to get sued by the RIAA for file-sharing

[Jo]

Electronic Foundier Foundation (EFF) has posted information on their website how you can lower the chances that you get sued by the RIAA. The RIAA is currently in process of getting adresses of ISPs and uses software to scan file sharing networks. The EFF predicts that users who are not functioning as supernode on the KaZaA network are in less risk of getting sued.

The RIAA appears to be targeting subpoenas at users who allow their computers to be "Supernodes" on the FastTrack P2P System (used, for instance, by KaZaA and Morpheus). In order to further reduce the risk of having your ISP subpoenaed or of being sued yourself, we recommend that you make sure your computer is not being used as a Supernode. To learn more about Supernodes and how to make sure your computer is not one, look here: http://www.whtvcable.com/fasttrack and http://helpdesk.princeton.edu/kb/display.plx?ID=9245. See also Disabling the Supernode function with KaZaA (PDF 331k).

[Treebeard]

Hey I have an even better idea.

Dont use Kazaa. it sucks anyway, full of fakes & freeloaders.
There are other alternatives that offer better P2P experience.

but here is a question. Why is the RIAA only focusing on the Fastrack network? Maybe they arent but from what I have seen It seems that way.

[housepig]

but here is a question. Why is the RIAA only focusing on the Fastrack network? Maybe they arent but from what I have seen It seems that way.

what are the numbers of users for other services? every time I've logged into KaZaa, I've never seen less than 3.8 MILLION people on at once.

I never got around to using Napster, but a friend who was a heavy user was amazed at the numbers on KaZaa, and said that when he was using Napster he only saw around 1.5-2 million people at a time on average.

I don't know about Morpheus, Grokster, WinMX, etc, but when I tried them, I didn't see the numbers that I saw on KaZaa... (actually my favorite was Audiogalaxy, but they caved under pressure...)

[marvel2020]

Looks like it's back to personal FTP site's for everyone

[psx_pirate]

kazaa relies on people setting there computers to be supernodes in order to transmit the files being shared without the supernodes there will be no traffic across the fasttrack network and filesharing will grind to a halt...... no supernodes = no kazaa the other networks also use supernodes so the same thing applies, with winmx for example you have the choice of a primary or secondry connection those who connect with primary connections are infact the supernodes for the network

[mysticgohan17]

dont do this.

[The village idiot]

Looks like it's back to personal FTP site's for everyone

What a headache

[CloudBurst]

Ahhh screw it...back to usenet...lol

[poopyhead]

what happened to IRC

[The village idiot]

what happened to IRC

A lot of people that didn't belong went away, and started using kazaa.

So I guess nothing

Ahhh screw it...back to usenet...lol

Back? It never went away

I'm sure someone will come up with a new way to distribute files if the P2P things go away. Some form of point and click interface that makes it easy for anyone to trade files, with No Knowledge Neccessary. We'll just call it NKNware from now on.

[likwid8]

LOL... kazaa offers asf movies. LOL now thats something to get caught after.

[Yirkin]

Another way to not get sued is to stop stealing music.

Howard

[DereX888]

I'd like to see RIAA or MPAA suing few millions of people at once just in USofA alone and what about countries they have no jurisdiction whatsoever?

"News" like this (about MPAA/RIAA suing some unfortunate student caught sharing his music or movies collection for the sake of making him an example that they can do it) are basically targeted at stupidity of people; they intend to scare existing users of kazaa (or whatever p2p) and discourage any potential new users from using it. Every scared away person who stops using p2p is a victory for MPAA/RIAA obviously.

Another thing is reliability of such "news", i.e. publishing such advices as the one about unchecking "function as supernode" option in kazaa software - this kind of "news" is probably spreading directly from RIAA or MPAA themselves, because kazaa will come to halt if most of its users chose to not function as supernodes (there will be no file search or file transmission in the network), and thats what they want, isn't it?
They can't beat few millions of users with trillions of files by trying to flood p2p network with mere few thousands of fake files, they can't sue even 0.001% of users because it is technically impossible (you can't file single mass-suing against many different citizens in just one case, it would have to be as many cases filed to the court as many people they'd want to sue - even assuming they would be able to do so, it would take hundreds of years for all courts of law to process it all lol) etc etc, therefore MPAA and RIAA desperately try lately their only possible way to fight against electronical theft by p2p networks: misinformation about p2p and discouraging from use by scaring away its users

Using brain is free, painless, and guaranteed to give some results. Why not use it before spreading worthless information? Not everything is what it seems LOL

[housepig]

they can't sue even 0.001% of users because it is technically impossible (you can't file single mass-suing against many different citizens in just one case, it would have to be as many cases filed to the court as many people they'd want to sue

I guess you've never seen a lawsuit with 300 defendants.

I have. It's really fun to have to make 300 copies of the same 35 page brief and ship them out to all the associated attorneys.

You don't even have to name them all, if the names are unknown at the time of the suit, they can appear as "John Doe #1 through #xxxx".

[pacmania_2001]

And to continue on housepig's comment, I believe they are sending out 500 new subpoena's a week.

[DereX888]

housepig wrote:

guess you've never seen a lawsuit with 300 defendants.

I have. It's really fun to have to make 300 copies of the same 35 page brief and ship them out to all the associated attorneys.

well, I'm not a lawyer.

I assume them 300 people must've commited very same crime, then of course I agree - one case cover them all.

You don't even have to name them all, if the names are unknown at the time of the suit, they can appear as "John Doe #1 through #xxxx".

If John Doe 01 stole song A by Band A, and John Doe 02 stole song B by the same Band A, and John Doe 03 stole song C by Band B - they can't be sued in the same case, since they all commited different crimes, right? I never heard of cases where i.e. people who stole different cars on different days in different cities would have been charged under one very same for all of them single case of grand theft auto (or whatever its called). Therefore I think I'm right with what I said earlier - John Doe 01 cannot be sued together with John Doe 02 in the same case, since they both stole different goods (songs) on different date and in different locations.
Unless they just grab addresses of few hundred people who downloaded very same item (song) from very same server in very same time - which is possible - then yes, I'd agree with possibility of mass-suing.
But Im not a lawyer, I just applied 'common sense' to this subject, so if Im wrong please point out where have I failed in understanding it.

However here we come back to square 1: as its been said earlier - not everyone live in US of A, therefore MPAA/RIAA can just do sh** about most of foreigners.

Instead of harassing teenage american kids on the internet they should have go after real 'pirates' who sell thousands of copies of latest CDs and DVDs on the streets of Big Apple or any other bigger US cities (Terminator 3, Pirates of Caribbean, Tomb Raider 2 - all for just $5 yesterday in NYC, with covers, on a great quality factory-pressed DVDs not any DVD-R)... but I guess they're not interested in catching any 'big fish', its too difficult for them, or perhaps its still too profitable for some of their people

[poopyhead]

norah jones's website is offering FREE downloads of mp3's from her live performance at House of Blues

http://www.norahjones.com/news/main.htm#houseofblues041602.htm

right click->save target as

supposedly insane download speeds

credit: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=40&threadid=1102789

[bluuz]

I guess you've never seen a lawsuit with 300 defendants.

Can't say I have...But I don't see how the RIAA can sue multible downloaders in the same suit. The acts of infringement would be separate acts, plus you have the problem of venue if they don't all live in the same district.

[budz]

I find this prosecution of people downloading music totally insane!!!! Here we have a people committing crimes of funneling money illegally to campaigns for politicians and money laudering. This guy was prosecuted and given a damn slap on the wrist because he had been involved with the community. So he gets 5 years probation and his record will be cleared if he stays out of trouble. The felony charges were dropped. So basically I am bashing the government for saying they wanna prosecute people who download music but at the same time they let criminals who commit real crimes off the hook. Where is the damn justice in this USA?

[jacknjt]

i think it's da ppl that allowing the govt to get too powerful then they turn into more scary than communist. This shit wont happen in china, i dont they think they even allow stupid cases also even if they win the case the fine gonna be like 1dollar/song. Keep up the good work american voters. keep voting to take away your rites and ur kids in the future.

[poopyhead]

i think it's da ppl that allowing the govt to get too powerful then they turn into more scary than communist.

yep..i can see it now...those ppl in Hong Kong must want to be communist because they're afraid the RIAA might go after them

anywayz, communism is why china's per capita GDP is so low, compared with the US....

and let's not forget Chairman Mao's urging of ppl to have lots of kids....he screwed China (literally) into having 1+ billion ppl (another reason why China's per capita GDP is so low...lotta ppl, but not much money)... and forced the 1-child policy.

[DereX888]

Seems I was right earlier questioning RIAA's legality of suing multiple people in a single subpoena Not bad for just "common sense applying", hehe :P (maybe they read my post and got some ideas afterwards? )

Company called SBC Communiucations (an ISP) placed complaints in a court against RIAA exactly in this matter
Excerpts:
"RIAA's methods questioned again"
[...]SBC Communications has filed a complaint in a U.S. district court saying that many of the RIAA subpoenas have been done improperly.[...]RIAA has also grouped demands for information of multiple file-sharers under one subpoena. [...]

RIAA is a dying breed Hopefully in the next 5-10 years of their desperate agony there will be no more of RIAA, they know it already Too bad MPAA and Hollywood in general have much more money and politicians on their payroll, otherwise we could have witness their fall during our lifetime too... oh well, I'm young, I have time I bet $1 now that I will still be around while RIAA/MPAA mafias will be long gone and forgotten

Here is a link to the whole story:
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/4349.cfm

[dcsos]

JUST TO NOTE:
DOWNLOADING A SONG is usually what makes me buy a CD

without downloads, I doubt I'll be buying anything either...
ONE FUELS THE OTHER
DON'T THEY SEE
THEY MUST BE BLIND

[jolo]

To dcsos,

You have stated a proven fact by research, "DOWNLOADING A SONG is usually what makes me buy a CD ". Also the people who use P2P are the largest portion of their customer base.

I also contest that P2P swapping has not cost any artist one penny. They have been controlled by the RIAA cartel for years, which has screwed them royally up and down. Just watch the VH1s behind the music shows for that one.

The Pirates of the RIAA, are proven and have admitted to be illegal price fixers. In a settlement they agreed to pay $67.4 million and distribute $75.7 million in CDs to public and non-profit groups to settle a lawsuit led by New York and Florida.

If you have purchased a CD between 1995 and 2000, then you have been ripped off for approximately $5 per CD you have purchased. An estimated $477 million dollars. This is due to their policy of making stores a minimum amount for recorded media. This started when Wal-Mart wanted to sell a CD at $10, they were forced to increase the price by at least $5 or they could not sell anything from a large label.

I would encourage all to continue to use Kazaa (but use Kazaa lite), or other P2P methods, which is finally forcing the industry to change. Many artists are thankfully not re-signing with major labels and are going at it themselves. If t hey sell their music for $1 per song or $5 per CD, a 70 minute CD, with a online group, selling 100,000 copies will make them more than selling 1 million would with a record company.

For the legalize of this, you can check out this site.


http://www.musiccdsettlement.com/english/default.htm

You are in breach of the forum rules and are being issued with a formal warning. You can read my comments on my decision here.
/ Moderator vitualis

[discorules]

another thing we can do is never buy anything metalica puts thier name on. that greedy punk lars can take keep his sold-out poser "music" for all i care.

metalica's nothing but a bunch of sellout, stuck up losers. they have always said how they were for their fans- mabey their fans wallets.

i feel that if i buy something and i wanna share it - so what! this used to be a free country, right?

some people are tired of paying 15 bucks for 3 out of 14 songs that are worth listening to. thats an average of music to "filler" that "artists" are selling us these days.

keep sharing or die.

[tgm4883]

wow, all these posts and not one commenting that this might be against forum policy concerning warez?

[jolo]

Huh !!
Hey tgm4883, What the heck does this have to do with warez.

If this makes you feel uncomfortable, please go to a more comfortable forum. Do you even know what warez is ????? Whjy don't you to a music store and put all the prices higher by $5 to help the RIAA. So if you like communism and want to help us be controlled by lawyers and politicians, and big coorporations and want to have artists and consumers continually ripped of, then go say ignorant, uninformed stupid things like that. Worse than coorperating with the enemy is to do nothing, show no courage, stay stupid and uninformed and not fight when you have a handleful of extremely rich people screwing artists and consumers a like. Of the $500 million that they proved that they robbed from consumers in price fixing, I would say that they have robbed more from artists during that time as well.


Metallica is funny, those idiots have totally changed their down and allow all sorts of downloads of their music.

Hey Yirkin, nucklehead, no one is stealing EXCEPT for the proven thiefs who have stole at least $5 for every CD or album you have purchased since 1994 in a price fixing scheme. The RIAA has had a stranglehood on the insudtry and stole billions from artists and the public. READ a little but and you will understand the help that P2P has done for the insdustry. We are in a horrible economic state, customers want music to be delivered in a different way and realize that charging more than $5.00 for a CD or ,more than $1 buck is a ripoff.

The RIAA's biggest fear is not the smokescreen and stupidity they are doing by harrasing their customers, vut the biggest fear is that technology will increase and artists will communicate and sell directly to their customers without the needs of their communist like cartell !! This is starting to happen and it will happen more.

I dream of the day when artists take control and sell their products at .50 per song and $5.00 per CD, and then keep 50% of the money coming in and get their art distributed to people that they could not get to before as well as make about 10 times than they were making before. As well sa the freedom to create what they want, away from these phony record executives. I am telling you, this is what they are most afraid of because they can;t control all the distribution channels anymore, we can have a free market economy on music as well as CHOICE for consumers. And of course, they will not need their precious studio time anymore to create product. Software, computers, can aide in creation of high quality sounds and reduce the costs dramtically and the artists can be free. Support for RIAA is anti-artist.

These are the same geniouses who tried to make cassete tapes illegal, VCRs illegal, etc.

[tgm4883]

So jolo, let me get this straight, no one is stealing because CD's are overpriced to begin with? How about movies? Is it illegal to download movies off of kazaa? Just because cd's are overpriced doesn't mean that it's legal to download music. I think the new BMW Z4 is overpriced, do you think that I can just go to the dealership and take one? I will let you know what the food is like in jail. What does this have to do with warez and breaking the forum rules? I must have been the only one to read the AUP, here let me quote a few lines.

Warez rules
What is warez? Obtained IP (intellectual property: software/music/movies) either through download, serial, or crack in a manner that either explicitly or implied breaks the copyright or license for that IP.

Do NOT give warez / Do NOT link to warez
Distributing warez. This includes linking to warez either directly or to crack or serial sites. Offering warez in any fashion including PM or e-mail is against forum policy.

Do NOT ask for warez
Asking for warez. In any fashion this is unacceptable including but not limited to PM or e-mail requests or information on what p-2-p network has copies.

Do NOT provide information on how to obtain warez
Providing information on how to obtain warez.

Do NOT advocate warez
Advocate warez. Recommending the use of warez.

Let me answer a few questions for you.

Do I think that the RIAA is wrong in what they are doing? Yes. Do I think that CD's are way overpriced? Yes. Do I like communism? No. Can I get away with taking a BMW Z4 for free? Doubt it. Do I say ignorant, uninformed stupid things? Not often. Does this topic make me uncomfortable? No. Are there a lot of things that are overpriced? Yes

Will the RIAA win and continue to be the big bully? No, technology will find a better way to sell music. But until then, it is still illegal to download music. There, I have said what I have to say. Go ahead and call me all the bad names you want. It's always the ignorant ones that do.

[JohnnyCNote]

Bring back singles!

For years the record industry used to sell singles, but they got greedy (or greedier) and started pushing albums in the 70's. Now they want to gouge us with their CD's. I'd be happy to pay a buck to download a good copy of a song on demand. I used to think I was the only person who'd buy a whole album/CD for one or two songs, but now I find it's the rule rather than the exeption.

In any event, if greedy record companies would try selling single songs online, including "oldies", I bet they'd make up whatever they claim to have "lost". It's interesting that they count money they never had as a "loss". It would be nice if we could write off money I never earned, but "could have" as a loss.

Speaking of "oldies", the majority of songs I've downloaded are ones no longer available from any other source. There's next to nothing new that I'd ever want, and I have just about everything else that is out. I also wonder if they're going to try to restrict sales of used material, since I don't see where any of the revenues are going to the artists.

I have abolutely no sympathy for Metallica and other artists who've already made millions. They're extremely fortunate to be in the position they're in, considering how many thousands of musicians who are just as good but are not signed don't get a penny, or even pay to have their music heard. I know about this from personal experience, I might add.....

[SquirrelDip]

Think about the following idea:

What if the writers of any P2P network were to work into their software a simple password - a password that would be simple enough to guess or possibly find using a quick google search (but not availble through the program itself).

Now, if the RIAA were to search on this P2P system they must have entered the password and hence they are bypassing the security measures of a private system. Wouldn't the information they find be inadmissible in any court because they "hacked" into the system?

Just a thought...