Copyright-infringing printers

[aimeeandbeatles]

I posted this in one of the MegaUpload threads but I thought it would make an interesting discussion.

I actually had been meaning to post it awhile, but it seemed silly to do it over something that's not recent. But now with all the SOPA/MegaUpload stuff it seemed more relevant.

http://dmca.cs.washington.edu/

(I hope the spoiler'd picture works...)

Spoiler :

Basically, the researchers were able to generate DMCA notices to an IP address belonging to a network printer. As well, it was not downloading anything. It was just connecting and sitting there.

But the implications of this is that anyone can receive a DMCA notice if their IP happened to be the one connected -- even if it was spoofed, and they didn't even know you could download movies. (I've heard of cases of older people getting panicked because they received DMCA notices for pornographic material. I know it's not very nice but I laughed.) Also there is the issue that some ISPs tend to swap the IP addresses around. (I think it's called DHCP?) So you could get a DMCA notice because someone else happened to previously download stuff with your current IP.

Here are some more articles about it:
https://www.google.com/search?hl=&q=printer+dmca+notice

What are your thoughts on this.

One other note: It seems that in response to this, OneSwarm (it's p2p that's privacy-protecting) was developed. Take a look:
http://www.oneswarm.org/

 

[illram]

The way DMCA has played out is why SOPA was a bad idea. Notice and takedown is automated and IIRC Google claims that over the half the notices they get are meritless.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

I'm surprised they haven't outlawed photocopiers in libraries. Or photocopiers anywhere else. I once photocopied part of a Civ manual (Civ I) that I borrowed from somebody - there was no CivFanatics forum at that time, and my Amiga 500 was not capable of being connected to the internet. Somebody asked me how I had "gotten away" with so much photocopying.

Well, I went to a business that offered self-serve photocopying services, put my money in the machine, and pressed the appropriate buttons... the staff simply let me get on with it. They only intervene if somebody needs help, breaks a machine, or tries to run off without paying for their copies. Since I didn't fall into any of those categories, they left me alone.

These days, I don't have a printer hooked up to my computer - not enough physical room at the moment, plus it's too great a temptation to print everything. I used to have reams and REAMS of paper around because I'd print stuff. Well, not any longer. It's a bad habit, and my favorite photocopying place isn't there anymore either.

More on-topic comment: I think it's ludicrous to punish people for what is not their fault. I had no idea that computers at educational institutions would be permitted to download movies. But then I don't really understand that sort of thing anyway.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

More on-topic comment: I think it's ludicrous to punish people for what is not their fault. I had no idea that computers at educational institutions would be permitted to download movies. But then I don't really understand that sort of thing anyway.

Thats the frustrating thing about the whole copyright thing. If your IP address is implicated, the innocent until proven guilty seems to be flipped around. You're automatically presumed guilty, even if you have never touched any p2p or torrent websites.

BTW, for the study, nothing was downloaded. It was just connecting to a tracker. Not downloading anything.

I'm also reminded of some guy who sent a DMCA claim to a Canadian-based website to try to take his picture down because he felt insulted by the website. Obviously it didn't happen.

EDIT: I found this
https://www.eff.org/wp/unsafe-harbors-abusive-dmca-subpoenas-and-takedown-demands

 

[warpus]

I'm surprised they haven't outlawed photocopiers in libraries. Or photocopiers anywhere else. I once photocopied part of a Civ manual (Civ I) that I borrowed from somebody - there was no CivFanatics forum at that time, and my Amiga 500 was not capable of being connected to the internet. Somebody asked me how I had "gotten away" with so much photocopying.

Well, I went to a business that offered self-serve photocopying services, put my money in the machine, and pressed the appropriate buttons... the staff simply let me get on with it. They only intervene if somebody needs help, breaks a machine, or tries to run off without paying for their copies. Since I didn't fall into any of those categories, they left me alone.

That's because 1 person engaging in copyright infringement isn't really a big deal. You can photocopy a book, but it takes a lot of time.

Copying a file can be done really fast and spread to millions of people while doing the same with a photocopier would probably take months.

It's the reason they don't go after libraries, but people who make copies of copyrighted material like games or movies.

 

[Samez]

If you buy a copy machine, printer or blank cds in Germany the prize will always include a fea which will be paid to the copyright holders (who are represented by Gema or VG wort). This is theoretically a good idea but of cause with the internet things get a bit complicated. there were proposals the charge a copyright fea with every internet access contract but atm it's more lucrative for the copyrightholders to sue everyone who isn't clever enough....

 

[alva848]

The same happens here for blank dvd's and such, the problem is that suddenly everybody is guilty (you pay a fine no matter what you use it for) and also, they then want their cake as well, in that, after paying the fine, you're still not allowed to burn copyrighted material.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

In Canada I think you pay a special tax on blank optical discs. Its built into the price though. I'm not sure about other things like external hard drives or whatnot.

 

[Zelig]

I had no idea that computers at educational institutions would be permitted to download movies.

What computers at universities are "permitted" to do really has very little bearing on what students are actually able to use them for.