Comments on: Government to consult on legislation to curb illicit filesharing as industry agrees voluntary scheme http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/07/government-to-consult-on-legislation-to-curb-illicit-filesharing-as-industry-agrees-voluntary-scheme/ Protecting your rights in the digital age Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:21:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: The Open Rights Group : Blog Archive » Help ORG respond to UK consultation on illicit p2p http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/07/government-to-consult-on-legislation-to-curb-illicit-filesharing-as-industry-agrees-voluntary-scheme/#comment-164413 The Open Rights Group : Blog Archive » Help ORG respond to UK consultation on illicit p2p Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:27:30 +0000 http://www.openrightsgroup.org/?p=584#comment-164413 [...] month, the Government announced it would be consulting with the public on ways to curb illicit filesharing. ORG will be developing a response to the consultation over the next two months and we’d like [...] [...] month, the Government announced it would be consulting with the public on ways to curb illicit filesharing. ORG will be developing a response to the consultation over the next two months and we’d like [...]

]]> By: Quartz http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/07/government-to-consult-on-legislation-to-curb-illicit-filesharing-as-industry-agrees-voluntary-scheme/#comment-164319 Quartz Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:37:47 +0000 http://www.openrightsgroup.org/?p=584#comment-164319 What seems to have been missed in all the discussions I have read thus far is the legality of logging IPs by a commercial entity. Under recent european directives an IP address is classed as personal information and thus cannot be harvested into a database without the knowledge of the data protection commisioner, how does this square with the BPI gathering intelligence, and bt extension, your rights to amend incorrect information ? Have the BPI registered their activities and if so is there the potential of a case under human rights and data protection laws to head of this unchecked abuse of the masses ? Its technically possible to deliver a whole phallanx of headaches to those logging IP,s is this the way ahead, do they really want a war of attrition ? What seems to have been missed in all the discussions I have read thus far is the legality of logging IPs by a commercial entity.
Under recent european directives an IP address is classed as personal information and thus cannot be harvested into a database without the knowledge of the data protection commisioner, how does this square with the BPI gathering intelligence, and bt extension, your rights to amend incorrect information ?

Have the BPI registered their activities and if so is there the potential of a case under human rights and data protection laws to head of this unchecked abuse of the masses ?

Its technically possible to deliver a whole phallanx of headaches to those logging IP,s is this the way ahead, do they really want a war of attrition ?

]]> By: Matt http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/07/government-to-consult-on-legislation-to-curb-illicit-filesharing-as-industry-agrees-voluntary-scheme/#comment-164311 Matt Sun, 27 Jul 2008 09:25:36 +0000 http://www.openrightsgroup.org/?p=584#comment-164311 Everyone seems to missing a major point. Its irrelevent whether the music companies loose money, go bankrupt even. Legal alternatives to illegal filesharing are also irrelevent. Surely the most important point is that legislation should not be introduced just because someone is loosing money. We'd never have roof tiles, double glazing, 'new' music, electric guitars, different brand toothpastes etc. Every new thing looses money for someone. Thats just capitalism (its sad world when profit is all that counts). Should we ban roof tiles because they are putting Thatchers out of business? There are currently NO laws about filesharing over the internet. It is illegal to breach copyright but that does not include any details about the internet and how this really works. If we are all connected then potentially (as we know happens ) people can access anyones files without the owner knowing, isn't the owner breaking the law simply because they connected to the internet also? we are all potential illegal file sharers just by being connected to the net. Who is going to monitor Utube etc? How can you put a video up without music or a simpsons poster or advert in the background. The internet simply exposes the idiocy of copyright law and it needs to be banned altogether. You can't and shouldn't be able to profit from copying, thats what the music industry does not file sharers. Information should be free for all. Thats why the human race evolved to be what it is today. Everyone seems to missing a major point. Its irrelevent whether the music companies loose money, go bankrupt even. Legal alternatives to illegal filesharing are also irrelevent. Surely the most important point is that legislation should not be introduced just because someone is loosing money. We’d never have roof tiles, double glazing, ‘new’ music, electric guitars, different brand toothpastes etc. Every new thing looses money for someone. Thats just capitalism (its sad world when profit is all that counts). Should we ban roof tiles because they are putting Thatchers out of business? There are currently NO laws about filesharing over the internet. It is illegal to breach copyright but that does not include any details about the internet and how this really works. If we are all connected then potentially (as we know happens ) people can access anyones files without the owner knowing, isn’t the owner breaking the law simply because they connected to the internet also? we are all potential illegal file sharers just by being connected to the net. Who is going to monitor Utube etc? How can you put a video up without music or a simpsons poster or advert in the background. The internet simply exposes the idiocy of copyright law and it needs to be banned altogether. You can’t and shouldn’t be able to profit from copying, thats what the music industry does not file sharers. Information should be free for all. Thats why the human race evolved to be what it is today.

]]> By: EFFector Vol. 21, No. 25 July 25, 2008 « WealthShare Society http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/07/government-to-consult-on-legislation-to-curb-illicit-filesharing-as-industry-agrees-voluntary-scheme/#comment-164309 EFFector Vol. 21, No. 25 July 25, 2008 « WealthShare Society Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:42:21 +0000 http://www.openrightsgroup.org/?p=584#comment-164309 [...] ~ Parents to Be Punished for Children’s Net Piracy Households that are suspected of illegal downloads will be blacklisted and have Internet access curbed under new rules in the UK. http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/07/24/government-to-consult-on-legislation-to-curb-illicit-files... [...] [...] ~ Parents to Be Punished for Children’s Net Piracy Households that are suspected of illegal downloads will be blacklisted and have Internet access curbed under new rules in the UK. http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/07/24/government-to-consult-on-legislation-to-curb-illicit-files... [...]

]]> By: Sly http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/07/government-to-consult-on-legislation-to-curb-illicit-filesharing-as-industry-agrees-voluntary-scheme/#comment-164308 Sly Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:40:18 +0000 http://www.openrightsgroup.org/?p=584#comment-164308 @ m4dm3n Very well pointed, which highlights the main issue involved, the process of 'investigation' they use is no way near air tight. As torrent trackers use http protocals to bridge peers this means anyone that happens to click on a link relating to the tracker could be accused of fraud. As have been seen by tests in America when using a printer to contact a tracker. The only real bypass is via a VPN solution provided in another country, to which my feelings are... 'Why should we?'. Plus on the side of legality... With the BPI choosing what is infringement and what isn't they're playing by their own rules. I doubt they check all the content there looking for if it's an automated process meaning if an 'illegal' site has a legal torrent for say, Fedora 9, it might be picked up with the rest of the content and checked for UK IPs from the tracker. This is why we need a detailed report of how the BPI are getting there data and this is ultimately why they probably won't ever tell us. @ m4dm3n

Very well pointed, which highlights the main issue involved, the process of ‘investigation’ they use is no way near air tight. As torrent trackers use http protocals to bridge peers this means anyone that happens to click on a link relating to the tracker could be accused of fraud.

As have been seen by tests in America when using a printer to contact a tracker. The only real bypass is via a VPN solution provided in another country, to which my feelings are… ‘Why should we?’.

Plus on the side of legality… With the BPI choosing what is infringement and what isn’t they’re playing by their own rules. I doubt they check all the content there looking for if it’s an automated process meaning if an ‘illegal’ site has a legal torrent for say, Fedora 9, it might be picked up with the rest of the content and checked for UK IPs from the tracker.

This is why we need a detailed report of how the BPI are getting there data and this is ultimately why they probably won’t ever tell us.

]]> By: m4dm3n http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/07/government-to-consult-on-legislation-to-curb-illicit-filesharing-as-industry-agrees-voluntary-scheme/#comment-164307 m4dm3n Sat, 26 Jul 2008 19:22:38 +0000 http://www.openrightsgroup.org/?p=584#comment-164307 @Sp3c3d "if I encrypt my BitTorrenting, then all my ISP can see is the amount of data I’ve downloaded. Legal or not, even if it’s not music, I’m sure I still face one of these letters in the mail in the next few days." not necessary, ISPs don't "sniff" your traffic ( yet? ), they will just receive a information from outside organisation ( BPI, MPAA etc. ) stating that for example your IP is using to download "illegal" materials. Fact that You are using a encryption in BT client is not important - they still can connect to You using same way as You do, and get IP. If You are using BT only for legal files - You are safe ( in theory ;) . sorry for bad English regards @Sp3c3d

“if I encrypt my BitTorrenting, then all my ISP can see is the amount of data I’ve downloaded. Legal or not, even if it’s not music, I’m sure I still face one of these letters in the mail in the next few days.”

not necessary, ISPs don’t “sniff” your traffic ( yet? ), they will just receive a information from outside organisation ( BPI, MPAA etc. ) stating that for example your IP is using to download “illegal” materials. Fact that You are using a encryption in BT client is not important - they still can connect to You using same way as You do, and get IP. If You are using BT only for legal files - You are safe ( in theory ;) .

sorry for bad English

regards

]]> By: Lou http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/07/government-to-consult-on-legislation-to-curb-illicit-filesharing-as-industry-agrees-voluntary-scheme/#comment-164306 Lou Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:25:59 +0000 http://www.openrightsgroup.org/?p=584#comment-164306 Beyond all this, many people buy copies of CD's, etc. just to rip and remix to their satisfaction. There have been assaults on this activity as well. So beyond distribution, they want total control. Beyond all this, many people buy copies of CD’s, etc. just to rip and remix to their satisfaction. There have been assaults on this activity as well. So beyond distribution, they want total control.

]]> By: RazorJ http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/07/government-to-consult-on-legislation-to-curb-illicit-filesharing-as-industry-agrees-voluntary-scheme/#comment-164305 RazorJ Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:13:19 +0000 http://www.openrightsgroup.org/?p=584#comment-164305 ...The fact that the government wants to stop file sharing means that they clearly regard these industry trade groups as 'more equal' than the general public. They need to recognise the rights of the middle class! …The fact that the government wants to stop file sharing means that they clearly regard these industry trade groups as ‘more equal’ than the general public. They need to recognise the rights of the middle class!

]]> By: Just a troll http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/07/government-to-consult-on-legislation-to-curb-illicit-filesharing-as-industry-agrees-voluntary-scheme/#comment-164301 Just a troll Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:44:31 +0000 http://www.openrightsgroup.org/?p=584#comment-164301 1. Let ISPs and MAFIAA implement their evil plan. 2. Wait for the general public to get annoyed. 3. Found Pirate Party UK 4. ??? 5. Profit! 1. Let ISPs and MAFIAA implement their evil plan.
2. Wait for the general public to get annoyed.
3. Found Pirate Party UK
4. ???
5. Profit!

]]> By: Sp3c3d http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/07/government-to-consult-on-legislation-to-curb-illicit-filesharing-as-industry-agrees-voluntary-scheme/#comment-164300 Sp3c3d Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:02:20 +0000 http://www.openrightsgroup.org/?p=584#comment-164300 I'm just a normal user of uTorrent. I use it to download different files, mostly legal and free software that can be shared. Downloading a copy of Linux using bitTorrent is a lot more effective that downloading it from a website. As far as I know, (and correct me if I’m wrong) that if I encrypt my BitTorrenting, then all my ISP can see is the amount of data I’ve downloaded. Legal or not, even if it’s not music, I’m sure I still face one of these letters in the mail in the next few days. I’m currently under age to get a job in the UK. I know that a big group of people that torrent music along with other files is under age too. It’s not always a case of not wanting to pay, it’s that most of the people I know in the community cant. Just because you don’t have any money, dose that really mean you’re not allowed to be a fan? I wish musicians now actually cared about their music more than making money. I understand that everyone in the chain needs to be paid, but if the band is good, people will still pay to see them live. Instead of the UK going down the path the Americans are being forced to go down, which is where the MPAA (I think that’s what they are called) no longer need proof you are downloading music to sue you. What about a service like YouTube gives but using ads to pay for music download. The music industry needs to realise that things are changing; they need to keep up instead of just trying to throw their weight around. I’m just a normal user of uTorrent. I use it to download different files, mostly legal and free software that can be shared. Downloading a copy of Linux using bitTorrent is a lot more effective that downloading it from a website. As far as I know, (and correct me if I’m wrong) that if I encrypt my BitTorrenting, then all my ISP can see is the amount of data I’ve downloaded. Legal or not, even if it’s not music, I’m sure I still face one of these letters in the mail in the next few days.

I’m currently under age to get a job in the UK. I know that a big group of people that torrent music along with other files is under age too. It’s not always a case of not wanting to pay, it’s that most of the people I know in the community cant. Just because you don’t have any money, dose that really mean you’re not allowed to be a fan? I wish musicians now actually cared about their music more than making money. I understand that everyone in the chain needs to be paid, but if the band is good, people will still pay to see them live.

Instead of the UK going down the path the Americans are being forced to go down, which is where the MPAA (I think that’s what they are called) no longer need proof you are downloading music to sue you. What about a service like YouTube gives but using ads to pay for music download. The music industry needs to realise that things are changing; they need to keep up instead of just trying to throw their weight around.

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