NationStates Jolt Archive

More stupid lawsuits..

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051102/ap_on_hi_te/movie_downloads

Grandpa Is Sued Over Grandson's Downloads

MILWAUKEE - A 67-year-old man who says he doesn't even like watching movies has been sued by the film industry for copyright infringement after a grandson of his downloaded four movies on their home computer.

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The Motion Picture Association of America filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against Fred Lawrence of Racine, seeking as much as $600,000 in damages for downloading four movies over the Internet file-sharing service iMesh.

The suit was filed after Lawrence refused a March offer to settle the matter by paying $4,000.

"First of all, like I say, I guess I'd have to plead being naive about the whole thing," he said.

"I personally didn't do it, and I wouldn't do it. But I don't think it was anything but an innocent mistake my grandson made."

Lawrence said his grandson, who was then 12, downloaded "The Incredibles," "I, Robot," "The Grudge," and "The Forgotten" in December, without knowing it was illegal to do so.

The Racine man said his grandson downloaded the movies out of curiosity, and deleted the computer files immediately. The family already owned three of the four titles on DVD, he said.

"I can see where they wouldn't want this to happen, but when you get up around $4,000 ... I don't have that kind of money," Lawrence said. "I never was and never will be a wealthy person."

Kori Bernards, vice president of corporate communications for MPAA, said the movie industry wants people to understand the consequences of Internet piracy. She said the problem is the movies that were downloaded were then available to thousands of other users on the iMesh network.

"Basically what you are doing when you use peer-to-peer software is you are offering someone else's product that they own to thousands of other people for free, and it's not fair," Bernards said.

Illegal downloading costs the movie industry an estimated $5.4 billion a year, she said.

More stupid lawsuits..

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051102/ap_on_hi_te/movie_downloads

Grandpa Is Sued Over Grandson's Downloads

MILWAUKEE - A 67-year-old man who says he doesn't even like watching movies has been sued by the film industry for copyright infringement after a grandson of his downloaded four movies on their home computer.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Motion Picture Association of America filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against Fred Lawrence of Racine, seeking as much as $600,000 in damages for downloading four movies over the Internet file-sharing service iMesh.

The suit was filed after Lawrence refused a March offer to settle the matter by paying $4,000.

"First of all, like I say, I guess I'd have to plead being naive about the whole thing," he said.

"I personally didn't do it, and I wouldn't do it. But I don't think it was anything but an innocent mistake my grandson made."

Lawrence said his grandson, who was then 12, downloaded "The Incredibles," "I, Robot," "The Grudge," and "The Forgotten" in December, without knowing it was illegal to do so.

The Racine man said his grandson downloaded the movies out of curiosity, and deleted the computer files immediately. The family already owned three of the four titles on DVD, he said.

"I can see where they wouldn't want this to happen, but when you get up around $4,000 ... I don't have that kind of money," Lawrence said. "I never was and never will be a wealthy person."

Kori Bernards, vice president of corporate communications for MPAA, said the movie industry wants people to understand the consequences of Internet piracy. She said the problem is the movies that were downloaded were then available to thousands of other users on the iMesh network.

"Basically what you are doing when you use peer-to-peer software is you are offering someone else's product that they own to thousands of other people for free, and it's not fair," Bernards said.

Illegal downloading costs the movie industry an estimated $5.4 billion a year, she said.


Idiots

Idiots
Yup.

This is really bad PR for the MPA.

If you're going to go after people, go after the big DLers, the ones the public can sympathise less with.

Going after 67 year old Grandfathers does not make you look very good in the eyes of the public.

Granpa sued by MPA
Eutrusca got sued:eek:

*reads post*

Oh

*refrains from going into lenghty rant because he has to go to class*

I guess that as long as I stick to only pirating gay porn (and, no, I'm not talking about Tom Cruise's movies), I'll be fine, as the MPA doesn't seem willing to protect that.

Not that the MPA even could sue me, or anything, but, whatever.

Agreed. Some 12 yr old DL's a movie that the family already owns vs. the big time counterfieters (sp) that sell thousands at flea markets.

MPA's response: Attack the Grandfather of the kid.

Agreed. Some 12 yr old DL's a movie that the family already owns vs. the big time counterfieters (sp) that sell thousands at flea markets.

MPA's response: Attack the Grandfather of the kid.

Yes, very bad PR.

To win the battle against the big fish, you need the support of the public. Going after the small, old, and weak fish will not win you the support of the ocean.

"Basically what you are doing when you use peer-to-peer software is you are offering someone else's product that they own to thousands of other people for free, and it's not fair," Bernards said.
Can anybody else see her there, arms crossed, sulky expression, stamping her foot?

Can anybody else see her there, arms crossed, sulky expression, stamping her foot?

Looking like she hasn't gotten laid in four years and with breasts the size of duck eggs? Yes.

Is that completely wrong of me? :p

This is really bad PR for the MPA.

If you're going to go after people, go after the big DLers, the ones the public can sympathise less with.

Going after 67 year old Grandfathers does not make you look very good in the eyes of the public.

Good deal. Fight it grandpa. Hope he wins, and the MPAA has to pick up all attorney fees and has to pay a fine for harassment.

This is really bad PR for the MPA. Good.
If you're going to go after people, go after the big DLers, the ones the public can sympathise less with.

Going after 67 year old Grandfathers does not make you look very good in the eyes of the public.
Frisk the little old lady and strip search the baby. They are the mad terrorists you know. :rolleyes:

Good deal. Fight it grandpa. Hope he wins, and the MPAA has to pick up all attorney fees and has to pay a fine for harassment.

And if he wins, the MPAA will be embrarassed beyond belief!

"Basically what you are doing when you use peer-to-peer software is you are offering someone else's product that they own to thousands of other people for free, and it's not fair," Bernards said.
/violin

Wahhh! Cry more, MPAA noobs.

And if he wins, the MPAA will be embrarassed beyond belief!
They should be embarrassed beyond belief by the publicity this hopefully creates.

They should be embarrassed beyond belief by the publicity this hopefully creates.
They should be, but if I've learned anything about the MPAA and the RIAA over the last few years, it's that they're never embarassed, no matter how asinine they look as a result.

They should be, but if I've learned anything about the MPAA and the RIAA over the last few years, it's that they're never embarassed, no matter how asinine they look as a result.

I'm betting they live for piracy. It gives them an excuse to raise theatre prices.

I'm betting they live for piracy. It gives them an excuse to raise theatre prices.
Like they've ever needed an excuse before. I think the only big budget film I've seen this year was Batman Begins, and I loved it. Most of the films I see are small, independent, low-budget efforts.

They should be, but if I've learned anything about the MPAA and the RIAA over the last few years, it's that they're never embarassed, no matter how asinine they look as a result.
Sort of like the TSA... :rolleyes:

Well, we certainly wouldn't want Hollywood to lose money, now would we?:headbang:

The Grandpa should offer to settle for 30 dollars, which I'm sure is more than market price for the DVD of the video they didn't own.