AfterDawn: News

MPAA files new lawsuits

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has filed more lawsuits against file sharers in the run up to the Academy Awards ceremony. The MPAA is specifically targeting sharers of nominated movies including "Good Night and Good Luck", "Walk the Line", "Batman Begins", and "Memoirs of a Geisha." About 10 alleged pirates have been sued by the MPAA for sharing these movies. Of course, the MPAA hasn't been as active in the P2P crackdown as the RIAA, opting instead to devote most attention to physical piracy.

"In the wake of the Grokster decision last June, online users should know people who steal movies using peer-to-peer software are not above the law. There are plenty of legal ways to get movies online and through other means, like pay per view or satellite," said MPAA Chairman and CEO Dan Glickman. Users who are sued are given the chance to settle for a few thousand dollars. The only other options is to fight the suit, which could end up with a user paying $30,000 per violation.



Source:
Slyck

Written by: James Delahunty @ 10 Feb 2006 17:53

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• 17 comments

• msitarski

  i say this is a load of crap

  10.2.2006 20:53 #1

• riplord

  A few thousand for movies that grossed many millions.
  Is it just me or does this sound REALLY petty.
  This incident will deter few. If any at all.
  

  10.2.2006 22:27 #2

• sssharp

  I like how they give you the option to settle for 3grand or go to court and fight against them. Makes me think they dont have the right legal pull yet.

  11.2.2006 06:24 #3

• S2K

  While “legal ways” to obtain films exist online, highly sought after Academy Awards nominated films simply do not.
  
  Not true. they seem to be avaiable for download from many net sources and methods other than p2p. the MPAA has never once successfully asserted there is souch a thing as illegal downloads.
  

  11.2.2006 06:49 #4

• ZippyDSM

  much liek teh RIAA they dont get it,do you have any idea what ti takes to find music and vid files? not only do you have to go threw a day or 2 of downlaoding but theres a 50/50 chance that the file you get will be porn of a blank file,and lets not forget the horried qauilty most theatter rips are ><
  
  Besides its gotten sdo bad I have to download a movie frist to see if tis worth goign to the theater for thats abotu how bad thigns have gotten sicne much like games you see it you cant get your money back ><

  11.2.2006 10:29 #5

• adg

  If you take a look at the MPAA web site, they have a link to legal downloads, from there you can get dvd copy software and any movie you like. Seems to me if they want to prevent downloads then they should start in their own house first.

  11.2.2006 12:27 #6

• frankacne

  Unless such downloading is large scale involving one individual mastermind then short of bankrupting people there is little in this threat. Unless professional style piracy is involved i cannot see a Judge jailing anyone so its down to fines and costs.
  
  People who have little or no property have nothing to fear, it would take many tens of thousands of £s or $s in the courts to process each case and even the greedy thickoes in Hollywood know that the bottom line is profit and dont like getting burned. A few big cases would soon not only dent profits directly but also generate enormous amounts of bad PR for them. Remember for example the McLibel Two and their heroic fight against MacDonalds. The Golden Arches were badly screwed, got nothing back and suffered a further decline in sales.
  
  I also have to say that not one of the listed movies is worth the problem of either downloading or paying for so as far as i am concerned, they can keep them. I suspect any decline in sales of either Hollywood movies or Top Ten music contenders is down to increasing amounts of drek and though some consumers are Pavlovian and buy any old crap when the bells rings, the majority are probably not. What we really need to concentrate upon is any of their actions to outlaw peer to peer software and networks illegal. These have far to many totally legal and valuable uses for them to be allowed to be damaged by the cretins who run Hollywood or Tin Pan Alley.

  11.2.2006 15:51 #7

• toddvj

  Walk the line? Why haven't I seen this release yet?

  12.2.2006 05:07 #8

• zrdb

  The MPA and RIAA are up to their usual BS, trying to scare everybody, I can tell you that with all the heavyduty DRM crap and either HDDVD and especially Blu-ray I'm not buying either format, I'll stick with standard dvds and my upscaling dvd player.

  12.2.2006 07:44 #9

• zrdb

  The MPAA and RIAA are up to their usual BS, trying to scare everybody, I can tell you that with all the heavyduty DRM crap and either HDDVD and especially Blu-ray I'm not buying either format, I'll stick with standard dvds and my upscaling dvd player.

  12.2.2006 07:45 #10

• ZippyDSM

  Only reason I'd go buy blur ray and HD DVD is the 20+GB a disc storage for my COLOECTION :3

  12.2.2006 11:41 #11

• necronite

  I've been deterred: Only after I got nailed for downloading an academy award movie last year (can't even remember the name). We all get 1 freebie here, if your ISP is nice. After that it's eternal lurking and leeching. Sorry, but a leech is better than none at all.

  14.2.2006 04:04 #12

• ZippyDSM

  Sorry but I will download what I want,especially when I paid 50+ a month for the honor of Comcast cable net Heil comcast HEIL!!!!!!!!!!
  uhg...gotta stop doign that ><
  altho I have moved to a rual aera and tis going to be a long time befor DSL coems this way ><

  14.2.2006 17:32 #13

• S2K

  ecronite (Junior Member) 14 February 2006 9:04 Send private message to this user
  I've been deterred: Only after I got nailed for downloading an academy award movie last year (can't even remember the name). [i/]
  
  What are you talking about? no one has ever been "nailed" for downloading. there is no such thing. You may have gotten nailed for uploading, ie distributing, but you can't be nailed for downloading.

  21.2.2006 17:49 #14

• ZippyDSM

  S2K
  thats soemwhat true but they can get aroudn the hackign laws by hireing off contry companies 0-o

  21.2.2006 20:58 #15

• S2K

  "S2K
  thats soemwhat true"
  
  No it is completely true. the person is claiming they were "nailed" for downloading a film. there is no such thing. no one has ever been nailed, sued, charged or anything like it for "downloading" a film.

  22.2.2006 06:27 #16

• mtins

  POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

  30.7.2006 11:23 #17