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Submission + - 7,000 + SoundExchange artist list: the Full Monty (p2pnet.net)

Submitted by newtley
newtley writes: p2pnet has the latest 7,000 (and then some) SoundExchange artist list, together with a promise from its Laura Williams that the RIAA spinoff outfit will "do better keeping the lines of communication open". Nashville entertainment lawyer Fred Wilhelms responds to Williams — in depth and in detail. He says: 'It has come to my attention that SoundExchange has, through the adoption of a device known as the 'Manager's Amendment,' agreed to act as the collection and distribution agent for these direct license agreement. Such an arrangement appears to be in contradiction of the Copyright Act, which, as noted, limits the authority of an entity like SoundExchange to dealing with statutory licenses. So here are my questions: 1. Does the Manager's Amendment exist? 2. Why has SoundExchange failed to publicize it? 3. Under what authority does SoundExchange purport to amend the Copyright Act regarding the limitations on its power and authority?'

Submission + - Google unblurred Canadian StreetView pix (multibox.be)

Submitted by newtley
newtley writes: Canadian cities snooped by Google StreetView now include St John’s, Sherbrooke, London, Sudbury, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Nanaimo, Victoria, Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler, Ottawa Kitchener and Waterloo. But is Google is the Facebook of pix that can come back to haunt you? Because although Google promises to remove images on request, “Sneak View victims can ask to have their pix removed only if they know they’ve been photographed,” says p2pnet, running a series of images where faces and license plates are clearly visible for all to see.

Submission + - p2pnet wins precedent-setting onloine freedom of s (p2pnet.net)

Submitted by newtley
newtley writes: Vancouver, BC, businessman Wayne Crookes tried to use Canada's antiquated defamation laws to put a freeze on the net, But his efforts have been killed. Crookes had tried to claim p2pnet defamed him by merely linking to an article. But in a ruling with implications for not only Canadians, but for everyone everywhere with a net account, the Court of Appeal for British Columbia has agreed with BC Supreme Court judge Stephen Kelleher's decision that website owners aren't responsible for defamatory content on other sites to which they've linked.
The Internet

Submission + - P2P file sharing saves US $58 billion! (p2pnet.net)

Submitted by
newtley
newtley writes: "Two ploys used by vested-interest entertainment cartels to dominate the Net and turn it into an exclusive corporate pipeline are: P2P file sharing is responsible for "massive devastation" to the multi-billion-dollar movie and recording industries; and, P2P file sharing is a major contributor to organised crime. But maybe it's the other way around, suggests Australian economist Tom Koltai. P2P file sharing might, in fact, have lowered the crime rate, also saving the US an eye-popping $58,151,289,000."
Media

Submission + - Scientologists wearing yellow WWII Stars of David? (p2pnet.net)

Submitted by
newtley
newtley writes: "Scientology leader David Miscavige says he's "outraged". "Any and all CoS IP addresses are effectively banned on the Wikipedia, which in turn spells the end of the cult's use of it as a configurable propaganda and indoctrination engine," said p2pnet yesterday. Now, in the cult's Rant & Rave, Miscavige calls the ban a "despicable hate crime," and asks, "What's next, will Scientologists have to wear yellow, six-pointed stars on our clothing?" During World War II, Hitler forced Jewish men, women and children to wear a a yellow cloth star bearing the word Jude to brand them in the streets of Europe, and in the Nazi death camps."
Movies

Submission + - RIAA MediaSentry dead in US: alive in Australia (p2pnet.net)

Submitted by
newtley
newtley writes: "Disgraced and discredited 'private investigator' MediaSentry, fired by former patrons Vivendi Universal, EMI, Warner Music and Sony Music and their RIAA, may be dead and buried in America, but it's alive and well, resurfacing in Australia where it's once again plying its trade, probably under new management. "I currently (but not for long) reside at a student dormitory ... in Brisbane, Australia, says a p2pnet reader, going on: Yesterday I got called into the Managers office because the network manager had been contacted by Mediasentry and emailed one of the generic copyright infringement emails as a result of me downloading Angels and Demons. Now instead of studying for my exams and working on my final assignments I must take time to find a place to live before the 29th of May (2009).""
Music

Submission + - RIAA victim Jammie Thomas gets a new lawyer! (p2pnet.net)

Submitted by
newtley
newtley writes: "Only days after learning Brian Toder, her previous legal representative, had decided discretion was the better part of valour, leaving her fend for herself against the RIAA, Jammie Thomas says another lawyer has come forward with an offer of pro bono help. He's K.A.D. Camara from Camara & Sibley in Houston, Texas, says Jammie. And, "He's the youngest person in history to graduate from Harvard Law school with honors," she points out. Nor will her trial — or, rather, her retrial — be delayed, as was expected. It'll now go forward in June 15, as slated. "I'm so happy !" — Jammie said. That didn't take long. :)"
Government

Submission + - Obama DoJ gets another RIAA lawyer (p2pnet.net)

Submitted by
newtley
newtley writes: "With RIAA enthusiast Joe Biden as vice president, the Obama administration has appointed yet another RIAA lawyer to the Department of Justice. The Legal Times blog says,"Jenner & Block partner Ian Gershengorn has been named deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Division "with oversight of the Federal Programs Branch." At Jenner, Gershengorn worked with RIAA lawyers Donald Verrilli Jr and Thomas Perrelli, who are now at the DoJ. "As far as I know, Perrelli did not invent the RIAA's painfully wrongheaded approach of suing its own customers because it was conceived before he assumed his representation of the member companies in these cases," a senior copyright lawyer told p2pnet. "Instead, he stood forward as willing to commit the full resources of his law firm to implement that tactic — one that failed miserably in achieving its stated goals and that caused serious harm to many regular folks. The personal impact on the defendants of those attacks were predictable and intentional. It was an ugly business. Lawyers of his stature and skill know exactly what they are doing. These were not unintended consequences.Verrelli seriously mis-stated the RIAA and member company positions with respect to the duplication of masters for use on an iPOD in the Grokster argument and the court ultimately rejected his attempt to reshape and overturn the Sony decision.""
Music

Submission + - MediaDefender buys $20M MidiaSentry for $136,000 (p2pnet.net)

Submitted by
newtley
newtley writes: "SafeNet paid $20 million for MediaSentry in 2005, but has just sold it to rival MediaDefender for a paltry $136,000, with a promise of more later. MediaSentry's new owner says the combinbation will allow it to, "dramatically expand its effectiveness". Is it time for an official government inquiry into MediaSentry and the RIAA? A Chicago student said she was planning on killing herself because the RIAA promising her she'd land in court unless she paid almost $10,000 to 'settle' an alleged copyright infringement. She, "couldn't sleep, couldn't study, couldn't live a normal life because of the worry". The RIAA 'evidence' came from MediaSentry, accused of operating illegally."
Social Networks

Submission + - Facebook and The Pirate Bay: win-win for everyone? (p2pnet.net)

Submitted by
newtley
newtley writes: "The Pirate Bay now has a new feature — share with Facebook. Recording Industry vs The People fears this may ultimately unleash a new wave of RIAA lawsuits. Wired says the move could have "the possibly unintended side effect of increasing legitimate use of The Pirate Bay and the bit torrent protocol". p2pnet wonders if this could in fact represent a catalyst which could result in a win-win situation for everyone, Big 4 labels, social networking sites and music lovers alike?"
Security

Submission + - Pay us what you owe! - p2pnet tells McAfee: (p2pnet.net)

Submitted by
newtley
newtley writes: "'Security' company McAfee owes p2pnet a pile of money for using it to advertise SiteAdvisor without permission, and without paying for the privilege, says owner Jon Newton. And now it's had the further effrontery to hijack p2pnet to help promote the 'McAfee SECURE shopping' service which is "no more than a tacky come-on for shopping sites," he says. McAfee advisor/reviewer Dean states unequivocally: "This is no way that I can, in good conscience, recommend SiteAdvisor. Lately, the proliferation of green ratings for sites that distribute well-documented rogue software or obvious scams leave me no choice. It is downright dangerous to depend on SiteAdvisor's ratings.""
Music

Submission + - TechDirt's Masnick to Jim Griffin on WMG's Choruss (p2pnet.net)

Submitted by
newtley
newtley writes: "TechDirt's Mike Masnick writes the Warner Music Choruss licensing scheme amounts to a Bait-And-Switch operation. Not so, says Jim Griffin, the man charged to put it together. Masnick's story is "factually incorrect in every respect," he states. But, Griffin, "refused to name a single factual mistake," Masnick says, noting, "He fails to address the key problems that we outlined: 1. Why is this program even needed when plenty of musicians are coming up with business models that work today and don't need a new mandatory license (er... 'covenant not to sue') plan? 2. Why do we need a new bureaucracy and won't that divert funds? 3. Will the industry continue to try to shut down file sharing sites? 4. Will the industry continue to push a 3 strikes plan?"

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