File sharing has legitimate, legal uses. The existence of file-sharing sites and software are not, in themselves, illegal. However, anyone who thinks that the majority of file-sharing traffic is NOT illegal, is simply living in a fantasy world.

However, recently, I've seen a disturbing trend in file sharing, p2p, and streaming media sites.

Filesharing software has begun to add disclaimers about use. p2p sites are putting up warnings that they are now required by law to share server traffic information with the RIAA, including your isp and what you're downloading. Streaming media sites have begun to put up little signs that say



Now, we've all heard of the RIAA lawsuits and fines:


(quoted from a torrent site)

or if that's not reliable enough for you, WIRED:
http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2007/10/copyright


and



Now, the RIAA, in regards to streaming media, has also argued in court that listening to unlicensed streaming media counts as downloading since a record of the streaming is kept in the computer (as cookies, cache files, temporary internet files, etc.), and as a record of the media is kept in the computer, it is therefore a download and subject to fines.

(a) Streaming media conspiracy theory.
basis: several websites were set up with the quote above about compensating artists, and including the disclaimer that the sites were not illegal because they do not host the media: they only provide links. The sites then encourage people to post the media. However, I soon discovered that the sites that had the 'media solution - compensating artists' notice (not ALL sites, only those with the notice), suddenly became filled with broken links. Every single link on the site was systematically, one by one, shut down. There are lots of sites where this did not happen: only those with the 'media solution' message.

Theory: Did the RIAA set up fake sites in order to get people to tell them location of illegally hosted content in order to shut them down?

Now, we can argue: the content is illegal. So what? However, it strikes me as being unnecessarily misleading.

Now, when the sheriff's department sends out special notes to the families of people who have warrants on them and are hard to find, notes saying they have won a special prize, and should show up in person to collect: I find it hilarious! I LMAO!

This, though, the fake website: disturbs me somehow.

( p2p and filesharing. These sites stay up, even though they are host to considerable traffic in illegally shared copyrighted material. The sites stay up. People continue to trade. However, RIAA: MONITORS it.

They basically let people get fat on pirated content: then lead them to the slaughter, charging them (as reported) 1000 TIMES the value of the content.

It seems to me that the RIAA people are using p2p and filesharing as a business. Its like opening a store and telling people everything is free: "Take what you want! Take as much as you want! See? It's ALLLLLLL free." Then hiring people to follow them home and spy on them. When they've taken a lot of stuff, they move in with the bill. "Look, you took all this stuff. Now you have to pay!"

Now, we can say, quite honestly: these pirates and downloaders and sharers are breaking the law. They are stealing intellectual property. I don't have a problem with the concept of 'break the law, get busted, pay the price. Do the crime, do the time" and all that.

What I have a problem with is the RIAA people USING these sites as a way to generate revenue. Not to punish people who stole: but to make money off of them.

I know this is, as conspiracy theories go, rather mundane. However, I think it speaks of corruption, greed and misuse, and it has rather important implications beyond this.

Did you know Sony was found to be using hidden software that, when Sony music CDs were played on a computer, secretly hid that software on the computer to track illegal content?

http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0547,smith,70217,22.html
http://antivirus.about.com/od/virusdescrip...sonyrootkit.htm

Did you know that Microsoft Vista sends information about licensing and rights management?

http://www.aaxnet.com/editor/edit042.html
http://badvista.fsf.org/what-s-wrong-with-...t-windows-vista

Did you know Windows Media Player does the same?
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsme...chitecture.aspx
http://www.theinquirer.net/en/inquirer/new...eds-your-rights

Did you know that Microsoft Genuine Advantage has been identified by some as spyware:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Genuine_Advantage
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,126387-page,1/article.html
http://windowssecrets.com/comp/060615/
(on the last one, scroll down)

Now, what's the point? The point is that corporations have successfully demonstrated in court that, when pursuing Digital Rights, the rights of the consumer have no meaning. Now, we can say: people are breaking the law, therefore they have no rights. However, Microsoft is LEADING the charge in software development for DRM on behalf of media corporations, and Microsoft's software is invading the privacy and annihilating the rights of people who have done no wrong except to buy microsoft products and legally install microsoft software.

This attitude has spread, as we can see with the underhanded actions of RIAA with regard to streaming media, file-sharing, and p2p.

I welcome all comments.
Question: Is there a conspiracy here?

hehe ah the good o'l days of the root kits - u want my opinion let them keep doing it, it gives me something to play with during sleepless nights :laugh: .

Oh your Microsoft Genuine Advantage tool isnt identified as spyware by some, it scans your machine for installed software so it knows what to update okay it takes all software & various configurations installed but hey, its not identified by some a spyware it fits exactly into the category of .......... it even morphs its behavour and even worse can alter setting on your computer without prompt.

Just to add something a little more helpful than my above post if you really are worried about what data is being collected when you surf : try downloading firefox browser and install a mod called tamper data : all this allows you to do is veiw and edit the data that your browser is sending to the web server - its very basic but neet since if you know a site is profiting from information on you, you can alter your data making there surveys results corrupt.

As for stopping the other apps you could try blocking said domain names in your firewall or not installing them at all but if you do this you also loose the advantages they offer.

Media player does have settings that turn off the gathering and sending of media licenses.

And if you really really are worried that someone unlawful is monitoring you making sure you dont have a trojan they can track then using a proxy will give them more fun while playing this game.

Just take a look at the windows license if your not worried - microsoft put a disclaimer in there telling you not to use windows in any situation where it could be life dependant - isnt this as good as admitting they know there selling you incomplete buggy software but hey what u gonna do

Soooo..Don't use Micro$oft products. Use Linux, make a humble Linux box and keep your "download folder" unmounted. So all you ever appear to download is not much, remember if you have 1000 mp3s in your download folder, and you use Limewire to get another, you are sharing your 1000 mp3s. So if big brother is looking and they see your lovely collection, being shared...your nicked mate. But if you have a separate folder, and you only keep 2 songs in there. You reckon they are going to chase you for 2 songs? I doubt it,....but then you never know, i guess it comes down to minimising the risks you are taking.

I actually get my MP3s from I-tunes. No, seriously! As for windows: I bought a Mac this year. Not out of security fears, but just because I got tired of crashes and buggy software.

So I actually have very little pirate treasure on my mac: and what I do have is all in old games that belong to dead platforms and whose companies have long since died.

Why is it if someone steels my car and wrecks it and gets caught, They usually end up paying less restitution then what it was worth.

I'm kind of tired so forgive me if this isn't a good comparison, but Who the fu** made the RIAA the police? What gives them the right to sue for more then the value of their product? Why so much policing for their business. I know a few musicians and they have told me the RIAA ripped them off in their record deals. The musicians aren't getting ripped off by the people, only the greedy corporate bastards.

I thought if you got caught with an MP3 song, you paid 99 cents per song. that was the fine. WTF is this 1000 dollar per MP3 bullshit. Screw the RIAA.

Fucking lawyers

Well said, Trog.
My point exactly.

Well said Trog, totally agree....

but can you tell me why the RIAA gets special privileges ? Why are they able to make their own rules for punishment?

Probably because they pay tax on every dollar they make, so if they lose out on millions of dollars whos not getting there cut, i think you can see where i'm going here.....

What I wonder about is what jurisdiction does the RIAA have over other countries, such as Australia (where i'm from). Now if i were to download a song from someone in the US would they come after me? I just never actually heard of any lawsuits against people over here, except a few large busts.

Well, if you're a big enough player, they could get the Australian police after you.

They even got the CHINESE police to shut down an operation in China (I heard they threatened entertainment sanctions against China - like blocking China from accessing certain websites and refusing to release media in China).

I can see someone who is making CDs and selling them on the black market but because someone has some on their computer and it gets downloaded it shouldn't be a big deal. People have been copying songs off the radio for years with 8 tracks or recording TV shows and it's no big deal. You might say the bandwith is crappy and it's not broadcast quality but some of the radio I recorded off of sounds pretty close.

Most songs on the internet in MP3 format are way less then Studio quality. Unless someone is burning an image file and then selling it, it shouldn't be a big deal. I still buy CDs and I plan on buying an record player and going to Berkeley to find old 70 and 80 lps that I can digitalizes, for my collection.. since most stuff I like can't, be found in stores or on CDs today.

Oh and I run or have been running a shoutcast radio in the past. that's what I meant by mp3 songs. Most of them are in the 120k at best. That's the max they let you broadcast. A top of the line mp3 runs at 360k or khz or whatever the measurment is.

I was running a radio off of my website but took it down because my uplink sucks.

regardless.. They're going after shoutcast, live 365 and all these other online radio sites. I don't get it myself. I don't think any radio station pays to run every song 0n their list. It used to be that bands would do anything to have their music played to the public. Probably even pay someone to push it out there. The majority of the money was from concerts and tshirts and other stuff sold with logo.

and as it was put lastly, Most stuff on these sites aren't even big namestuff. a lot of indie stuff is being pushed out on the sites for free. I bought a CD from a guy name Vavrik some months back. I'm thinking about buying his new band's album. They sent me a letter asking me to donate. The guy actually signed it for me too. I think he will be pretty well known at some point. I think he leased out one of his songs for a car commercial, i heard part of it one day on TV.

Tamper Data sounds like a great idea. I'm going to have so much fun with that.