Justice Dept. probing for criminal file swappers

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Details to follow... is what I read.

When I first read the article, the details that are now there were not.

Nevertheless, there are two things going on here. The cases against the users of the network and the case against the Underground Network.

The users may have downloaded files and used them in a manner not in keeping with copyright laws. Bear in mind that possesion of copyrighted material is not illegal. If it is, I suggest you get rid of all your magazines and books before the Feds raid your house.

My corporation is in possesion of a great many copyrighted works. Some copyrighted by us, some our vendors and some oour clients. All perfectly legal. We share this copyrighted work in a manner in keeping with the copyright laws. We use these works in keeping with the copyright laws.

I am not saying that the five targets in question are innocent. I am just saying that there had to be communications between the Feds and the suspects on the network before they had a warrant to search. This was my eaarlier post. The early story did not have details. Now I am aware of a long presence on the network by feds where they could have gotten that probable cause or reasonable suspision.

In the case against the Underground Network, they have to prove that the Network had reasonable control over what was shared, was aware of illegal activity and could have stopped it.

I have used several P2P networks and although all but one of them required me to have items in my public folder, none of them required the items to be copyrighted and even if they were (and I have placed about five copyrighted works in my public folders in the past) that does not mean that 1) I have violated copyright laws or 2) anyone who downloads it is violating copyright laws or 3) anyone who uses it is violating copyright laws.

A specific example would be if the copyright holder gave me permission to do so. This is not the only example but one of a few. I have known "home" musicians to share their copyrighted songs, I have shared someof my copyrighted digital art and photographs and I have used copyrighted MIDI files in accordance to copyright laws.

News stations use copyrighted materials all the time. Mu point is that P2P networks are not illegal because they exist nor because they allow copyrighted materials to be shared. They are only illegal if they deliberately aide and abeit criminal activity.

Posted by: The King's Servant   Posted on: 08/25/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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