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One MPAA Complaint Closes Free Ohio Wi-Fi Network
Apparently fighting Sony Pictures not worth the hassle
by Karl Bode Wednesday 11-Nov-2009 tags: Fileswapping · business · wireless
Techdirt directs our attention to the fact that a free Wi-Fi network in Ohio was shut down completely after just one user was found to be uploading a copyrighted file. According to the Coshocton Tribune, Sony Pictures Entertainment sent a copyright complaint to the network operator, who in turn decided to shut the entire network down. Safe harbor protections should have given the county the right to at least keep the network operational while they investigated the culprit, and shutting the entire network down seems absurd -- but perhaps the local government didn't want the legal hassle. Instead of admitting the move was excessive, the MPAA of course takes the opportunity to preach about the evils of piracy to the Tribune.

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Hazy Arc

join:2006-04-10
Greenwood, SC

How Sad

What else can be said?
gorehound

join:2009-06-19
Portland, ME

Re: How Sad

This is why I hate SONY and all these other MPAA Bastards.They will pay for this just like the RIAA will for their shit.
I have stopped buying any new movies from Hollywood or MPAA Stooges.I will now only buy new movies used so they will not get a dime out of me.

Wish I could make a network in Portland Maine.

BF69
Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN

Re: How Sad

said by gorehound:

This is why I hate SONY and all these other MPAA Bastards.They will pay for this just like the RIAA will for their shit.
I have stopped buying any new movies from Hollywood or MPAA Stooges.I will now only buy new movies used so they will not get a dime out of me.

Wish I could make a network in Portland Maine.
Here's an idea, why not hate the stupid idiot that was pirating the movies in the first place? That's who I hate. I mean how cheap can someon be not to pay a few dollars for content? Even Burger King pays you $7.25 an hour. More than enough to pay for a movie.

Your logic is like hating the cops for shutting down your favorite hangout because the owners were laundering money instead of hating the people doing the illegal activities.
NeoandGeo

join:2003-05-10
Harrison, TN

Re: How Sad

I laugh because your rant does nothing, and people will still do what they want, when they want.

I have no remorse for the RIAA and MPAA
Necronomikro

join:2005-09-01
No, it's more akin to cops shutting down a favorite hangout because one patron did something illegal there.

PaulHikeS2

join:2003-03-06
Manchester, NH

Re: How Sad

No, more akin to a local hangout deciding to close down because a patron did something illegal there.
--
Jay: What the @#$% is the internet???
quatrix
Premium
join:2005-02-11
Davie, FL
kudos:2
... while other patrons use the incident to somehow justify their own illegal behavior that hasn't been caught yet. I'm curious exactly how many people who badmouth the RIAA and MPAA have nothing to hide (very few) and how many are just making excuses (the vast majority). If you're going to steal, at least be a man, admit it, and don't try to blame your own mistakes on other people.

Matt
All noise, no signal.
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12

Re: How Sad

said by quatrix:

If you're going to steal, at least be a man, admit it, and don't try to blame your own mistakes on other people.
Exactly.
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nasadude

join:2001-10-05
Rockville, MD
Reviews:
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said by BF69:

Here's an idea, why not hate the stupid idiot that was pirating the movies in the first place? ...
I would rather hate the system that allows the MPAA to send shutdown notices with little or no proof whatsoever. There is nothing in the referenced article to indicate the MPAA has actual proof of an illegal download.

of course, there are dead grannies and people that don't own computers that can attest to how accurate the MPAA claims can be.

Matt
All noise, no signal.
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12

Re: How Sad

said by nasadude:

said by BF69:

Here's an idea, why not hate the stupid idiot that was pirating the movies in the first place? ...
I would rather hate the system that allows the MPAA to send shutdown notices with little or no proof whatsoever. There is nothing in the referenced article to indicate the MPAA has actual proof of an illegal download.

of course, there are dead grannies and people that don't own computers that can attest to how accurate the MPAA claims can be.
You are confusing the MPAA and RIAA. The MPAA is fairly reasonable when it comes to DMCA notices and doesn't fling lawsuits around like candy or extort users for $5,000 per infraction.

Anyway, a DMCA takedown notice just means they have to remove the infringing content, a completely reasonable request. It's the owner of the network who is at fault here as he decided to just shut it down rather than respond. If he would have simply ignored the error, nothing would have happened anyway.
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ReformCRTC
Support Your Independent ISP

join:2004-03-07
Canada
Exactly. And the Rays SUCK!

NOVA_Guy
ObamaCare Kills Americans
Premium
join:2002-03-05
If we keep using your police scenario, I'd say that the RIAA and MPAA are more akin to drug dealing cops who are shutting down the favored hangout because it's affecting their side income...

The RIAA and MPAA are hardly innocent poor organizations who have been molested and wronged. Quit trying to paint them as some sort of heroes or even as law abiding citizens.

While I don't pirate anything myself, I certainly won't discourage others from doing so. There has to be some good in any activity that causes harm and loss to the MPAA and/or RIAA.
--
To all liberals: I am NOT one of your parents, so get the heck out of my wallet. It's time for you to grow up and take some personal responsibility for taking care of yourselves, which means not relying on the government to give it all to you.
k1ll3rdr4g0n

join:2005-03-19
Homer Glen, IL
said by gorehound:

This is why I hate SONY and all these other MPAA Bastards.They will pay for this just like the RIAA will for their shit.
I have stopped buying any new movies from Hollywood or MPAA Stooges.I will now only buy new movies used so they will not get a dime out of me.

Wish I could make a network in Portland Maine.
Sony in a nutshell:
Lets invest millions to make each device we make use a different format of a memory card.
Lets invest more millions into DRM that will be useless to the general consumer, but to prevent a few consumers from making a copy of it.

**AA in a nutshell:
Lets send take down notices to ANYONE without any actual investigations, which includes printers.
Lets harass the elderly and young.

All this trouble all because they don't want to keep up with the technology and move all their content online. I can't understand why not. If its online then you don't have to pay for materials, which in turn could be paid to the sysadmins/servers to support this AND once you actually have the groundwork in place its easy money.
zipjay

join:2003-03-11
South Williamson, KY
Reviews:
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Re: How Sad

Because if they put the content online people wont pay as much as if it was on DVD. Know anyone who would pay 15.99 to see a movie on their computer once? And if its downloadable then at that point you might as well get the DVD so you will have a backup in case of harddrive failure. A DVD can be ripped/copied over and over, a file on the other hand is only good until the drive its on dies
k1ll3rdr4g0n

join:2005-03-19
Homer Glen, IL

Re: How Sad

said by zipjay:

Because if they put the content online people wont pay as much as if it was on DVD. Know anyone who would pay 15.99 to see a movie on their computer once? And if its downloadable then at that point you might as well get the DVD so you will have a backup in case of harddrive failure. A DVD can be ripped/copied over and over, a file on the other hand is only good until the drive its on dies
That is a common myth. DVDs are made from plastic which can become scratched or cracked which will make them unreadable in players. Even if you treat them like your newborn, the laser can wear down the material.

And I didn't say that people should pay 15.99 to watch it once. But, that 15.99 is part material costs, part distributing costs. You could probably knock that down to $5-10 easy to watch a movie once. If the quality was good, I am sure a number of people who pirate movies today would buy it.

If you have a DRM free file then you can throw it in a RAID which means that media will probably never disappear.
k1ll3rdr4g0n

join:2005-03-19
Homer Glen, IL
said by zipjay:

Because if they put the content online people wont pay as much as if it was on DVD. Know anyone who would pay 15.99 to see a movie on their computer once? And if its downloadable then at that point you might as well get the DVD so you will have a backup in case of harddrive failure. A DVD can be ripped/copied over and over, a file on the other hand is only good until the drive its on dies
Actually what about $25 to rent a movie?

»consumerist.com/5402972/sony-hun···-a-movie

I really do wonder what their thought process it.
ISurfTooMuch

join:2007-04-23
Tuscaloosa, AL

Someone wanted this thing closed

I'd be willing to bet that someone in the local government wanted this thing closed. Most towns of any size either have an attorney on staff or on retainer, so they could have easily learned they weren't liable. Furthermore, anyone with technical knowledge could have stated that, if the DMCA complaint had listed a time and IP address, the router logs could have been checked, and the MAC address of the user could have been found and then blocked from connecting to the network again.

No, someone wanted this network switched off, and this was just the excuse they needed.

Z80
1 point 77
Premium
join:2009-08-31
Amerika

Re: Someone wanted this thing closed

Or taxpayers aren't interested in spending thousands defending it because some leeching douche uses it for piracy.

knightmb
Everybody Lies

join:2003-12-01
Franklin, TN
said by ISurfTooMuch:

No, someone wanted this network switched off, and this was just the excuse they needed.
I have to agree, I run a wireless ISP in my area and have already received some letters for the same reason. It was trivial to track down the user. I never had to take down the entire network though, that's silly. So one could complain to AT&T and they shutdown all millions of their customers? Yeah right!
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ThrowDemsOut
If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Mullica Hill, NJ
kudos:4
said by ISurfTooMuch:

I'd be willing to bet that someone in the local government wanted this thing closed. Most towns of any size either have an attorney on staff or on retainer, so they could have easily learned they weren't liable. Furthermore, anyone with technical knowledge could have stated that, if the DMCA complaint had listed a time and IP address, the router logs could have been checked, and the MAC address of the user could have been found and then blocked from connecting to the network again.

No, someone wanted this network switched off, and this was just the excuse they needed.
Yes,this shutdown wasn't caused or even asked for by the MPAA. The local pols did this, for whatever reason. And if you read the ENTIRE news item, you will see that it hasn't been decided that this is permanent. After the gov't IT org investigates to see if it was an employee that did this, it looks like the HOTSPOT(and that is all it is and not some typical muni WiFi setup) will reopen.
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nasadude

join:2001-10-05
Rockville, MD
Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS

Re: Someone wanted this thing closed

said by ThrowDemsOut:

...The local pols did this, for whatever reason. ...
and that reason was fear of a debilitating lawsuit. you don't actually need the law on your side these days, just money to drag someone to court and threaten them with bankruptcy.

in the U S of A, justice is for those that can afford it; laws don't seem to have much to do with it anymore.

ThrowDemsOut
If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Mullica Hill, NJ
kudos:4

1 edit

Re: Someone wanted this thing closed

said by nasadude:

said by ThrowDemsOut:

...The local pols did this, for whatever reason. ...
and that reason was fear of a debilitating lawsuit. you don't actually need the law on your side these days, just money to drag someone to court and threaten them with bankruptcy.

in the U S of A, justice is for those that can afford it; laws don't seem to have much to do with it anymore.
Cities get sued all the time and have a lawyer on retainer. I am sure fear of an extremely unlikely lawsuit played no part in their decision at all.
--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page


Z80
1 point 77
Premium
join:2009-08-31
Amerika

Re: Someone wanted this thing closed

So having a retainer agreement makes defending lawsuits free then.

ThrowDemsOut
If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Mullica Hill, NJ
kudos:4

Re: Someone wanted this thing closed

said by Z80:

So having a retainer agreement makes defending lawsuits free then.
No, but it makes it business as usual.

Z80
1 point 77
Premium
join:2009-08-31
Amerika

Re: Someone wanted this thing closed

Yeah, the usual flogging of the taxpayer.
thevorpal

join:2007-11-16
Alexandria, VA
said by ThrowDemsOut:

Cities get sued all the time and have a lawyer on retainer. I am sure fear of an extremely unlikely lawsuit played no part in their decision at all.
GOLFnSUN failed to protect the taxpayers against massive lawsuit through his inaction. This demonstrates the failed policies and bumbling nature that has so marked GOLFnSUN's tenure. GOLFnSUN cost taxpayers millions in legal fees.

Don't let him destroy our town.

Paid for by 'your opponent' and I approve this message.

caster777

@sbcglobal.net

Just think of what whould of happed if it was child porn?

Just think of what would of happen if it was child porn?

Would the city it workers have to go to court over something that they did not do?

Would have to find and search all systems that used the network over the past year?

Ioweyou

@comcast.net

Shutting it down?

Of coiurse they shut it down. It was the perfect opportunity that came at the perfect time Being a FREE network they probably were finding it expensive to keep it going anyway so when the MPAA stepped in they just threw in the towel that they probably would have have thrown in, in a few months anyway. Of course thsi is just my opinion.
ackman

join:2000-10-04
Acworth, GA

Why not?

after all, corporate America has replaced the US government. The banking industry owns the US Senate. The "free market" knows best here, move along. Trust the corporation, be the corporation, love the corporation.

karlmarx

join:2006-09-18
iraq

Re: Why not?

Bank Robber: thousands of dollars stolen, but they go to a maximum security prison
ATM fraud ring: millions of dollars stolen, but they go to a medium security prison
Ponzi scheme: billions of dollars stolen, but they go to a minimum security prison.
Bankers: trillions of dollars stolen, and they're given more by the government with a bonus on top
--
The happiest countries are the most secular. The struggle AGAINST corporations is the struggle FOR humanity!
ackman

join:2000-10-04
Acworth, GA

Re: Why not?

spot-on...and don't forget that the bankers get key positions in federal government, running the same show that they destroyed. Obama: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...
Desdinova
Premium
join:2003-01-26
Gaithersburg, MD
People always get mad when they talk about Corporate America but they're just not looking at the picture the right way: pretty soon we'll have the coprorate wars and then they'll give us Rollerball and after that we can all watch James Caan play for Houston and blow up pine trees with fancy guns. What's not to like!?
chimera

join:2009-06-09
Washington, DC
Yet it still isn't as bad as it was before the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Things aren't good, but they can get better or worse which is why it's important to work for change instead of just complaining about the status quo.

DJ FAFNIR

@verizon.net

approval from:
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SONY is the bee's feces

It's an awful company. That's why I pirate all its software for use in my recording studio. SONY will get nothing from me. SOUND FORGE and VEGAS, baby!
Mr Matt

join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL
kudos:1
Reviews:
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1 edit

Don't forget the Sony BMG CD rootkit copy protection scandal

Originally Sony was a supporter of consumer rights during the BetaMax lawsuit. Things have sure changed.

If you Google Sony + Spyware you will see several articles about the Sony BMG CD rootkit copy protection scandal. Sony Music CD's included software that installed rootkits when played through consumers computers. See the article in Wikipedia:

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_C···_scandal
tmc8080

join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY
Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS

Re: Don't forget the Sony BMG CD rootkit copy protection scandal

said by Mr Matt:

Originally Sony was a supporter of consumer rights during the BetaMax lawsuit. Things have sure changed.

If you Google Sony + Spyware you will see several articles about the Sony BMG CD rootkit copy protection scandal. Sony Music CD's included software that installed rootkits when played through consumers computers. See the article in Wikipedia:

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_C···_scandal
Yes, this is a complicated web-- conflict of interest city. How much longer before cable companies and telcos who sell cable-tv try to screw the consumer since they own 99% of the last mile internet. Right now it might be the indie & municipal providers.. but this special interest is viscious and they won't stop at that. The XXAA's have even had an influence in Sweden.. land of the bays that pirate.
hemzer

join:2009-10-29

weird Logic?

Technically, should then the postal system should be shutdown because somebody mail ordered illegal porn?

Dryvlyne
Far Beyond Driven
Premium
join:2004-08-30
Newark, OH

Local ISP overreacted

Funny, I lived and graduated from Coshocton High School. My wife's family still lives there.

Anyway, I think the local ISP overreacted. Not too surprising though given that it's not eactly every day that a company the size of Sony Pictures contacts them. The community has been hit hard by the loss of manufacturing jobs in recent years and the recession has only made matters worse. I'd say this is definitely a case where the county was afraid of the potential legal ramifications and just thought it would be easier to pull the plug... at least for now.

Personally, I think it's crap that the MPAA, RIAA, and copyright holders in general can throw their weight around like this. It's simply ridiculous for them to expect for ISPs to play copyright cop for them. It's this kind of logic that could force ISPs in the US into implementing a 3 strikes rule. It kind of reminds of how medical doctors are forced to practice defensive medicine because of their fear of lawsuits.
--
In relative terms life is shorter than the blink of an eye. Remember that each and every day because in the end it's not about what you've done but how you've lived.

captnhook

join:2001-02-20
NY

1 edit

Just the facts ..plz

Said file was "downloaded"?
This article was woefully lacking in detail and information.
Was it really downloaded or was it in fact a file that was uploaded and to where?

Harddrive
Proud American and Infidel since 1968.
Premium
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Phone Room
kudos:2
Reviews:
·Comcast

i love it!

send a letter. get a free muni-wifi shut down. Sony didn't have to do a god damned thing except send a letter. no proof of the offense, nothing! just a simple 'someone on your network did something very bad'.
i wonder if the local telcom and Sony did this together to shut down the telco's competition?
maybe the MPAA should get some good publicity out of this and give the town the $2900 to buy and install the filtering hardware/software? nah, who am i kidding. they're just greedy bastards that only spend money on letters and lawyers.
--
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ctceo
Premium
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South Bend, IN
Reviews:
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What would be funny, though...

Is if everyone who has EVER allegedly pirated a movie or song confessed to doing so at the same time. They'd probably crap themselves if they didn't go into cardiac arrest first!

I can just see it now, a moment of $$$ in there eyes followed by a brief pause, then somebody in their offices screams "How the hell do we arrest half the globe"?

By the way, is that test prison, ahem, I mean colony spaceship ready for it's first load of pioneers?
--
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aaronwt
Premium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
Reviews:
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2 edits

Blame the person doing the illegal activities.

The only blame here is the person that was uploading illegally. If they want to do that, then do it from their own ISP, don't use a public spot.

They shoudl make sure they have a way to idnetify every user. And when something like this happens, publicy release their names and addresses so people in the community know who caused the problem.

Odds are they won't be doing it again, once the public finds out who they are.

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