Unwanted Programs Coming to Your Network?
I don't like pirating and I don't like unwanted programs pushed on unsuspecting users. Here's a story that gets me mad coming and going. George Gardner at Tech.Blorge.com reports that a short lived site set up to catch those illegally download copyrighted videos pushes a program to scan users devices for stolen videos.
MPAA's Media Defender sets up 'fake' site to catch pirates
Don't get caught up in the Motion Picture Association of America's (MPAA) latest sting. Media Defender, a company which does the dirty work for the MPAA, has been caught setting up 'dummy' websites in an attempt to catch those who download copyrighted videos - entrapment comes to mind.
The site, MiiVi.com, complete with a user registration, forum, and "family filter", offers complete downloads of movies and "fast and easy video downloading all in one great site." But that's not all; MiiVi also offers client software to speed up the downloading process. The only catch is, after it's installed, it searches your computer for other copyrighted files and reports back.
I'm no apologist for piracy but no business should be pushing unwanted programs on anyone else, period. Law enforcement agencies need warrants to tap phone lines, read mail, and poke around your house looking for things. The MPAA is overstepping on this one.
I hope MPAA backs off before their little sting operation before someone downloads a monitoring program onto a corporate network that then opens the legal doors to go after MPAA for unauthorized access. If MPAA wants us to play by the rules, they need to as well.
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Comments
the MPAA (as well the RIAA) are unwanted criminal organisation that serve to legitimate (legal) purpose of any kind. The USA puppets goverment (controlled by the MPAA/RIAA) need to put is mickey mouse(tm) pants on and shutdown those notorious criminal gang.
Posted by: Enzo Matrix | August 29, 2007 6:50 PM
I for one am not a fan of MPAA and RIAA strong arm tactics but they're not criminal. I think they are self-defeating in the long run. The worst part is, these tactics are at best a short-term fix to a fundamental problem: content and media producers need another revenue model. MPAA and RIAA should work on that, not chasing college students with law suits.
Posted by: Dan | September 5, 2007 6:54 PM