Should I stop using Kazaa?
#1
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Should I stop using Kazaa?
I've seen a rash of reports about people who use Kazaa and other music download programs being sued if they don't stop downloading. I've become increasingly paranoid, should I delete all my music and never use it again. Help, your opinions are needed. Thanks in advance for all replies.
#5
DVD Talk Hero
I'm coming to find you
I'm coming to get you
I'm coming to take you away
You traders are evil
You worship the devil
So listen to what I say
Come peacefully from out of your dorms
Or I'll have you little thieves prey
I want destroy you
Must play and toy you
And watch you wither away
Who's coming to get you?
I'm coming to take you away!
Find you guilty, downloader
'Cos I'm the RIAA General
The trial's begun and people come
From many towns around
I find them guilty just to please me
And feed them to a hound
I bite their brains and cut their veins
Strike them to the ground
Insult their bodies till they're dead
Let the soil be their surround
Who's coming to get you?
He picks us up, he knocks us down
He says he hates our slang
He plays with us like pawns in chess
Come on let's get a gang
If your connection's tight, he'll take a bite
Say thief with evil MP3s
So if you've hope, let's grab a rope
And watch that bastard hang
So you think you can beat me
Hang me completely
You should know better than that
I'll take your hard drives
Wipe them clean and
Feed them to a rat
So if you try me
Even deny me
I'll beat you, you're a pratt
So come on folks
Don't try provoke
'Cos to me you're a fragile gnat
'Cos I'm the RIAA General!
Last edited by Josh-da-man; 09-11-03 at 04:08 AM.
#8
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Originally posted by PalmerJoss
I am still using Kazaa, but I'm no longer sharing files. I have no plans to stop using Kazaa, either.
I am still using Kazaa, but I'm no longer sharing files. I have no plans to stop using Kazaa, either.
#12
How the RIAA catches file swappers
The Recording Industry Association of America sued 261 alleged file swappers Monday, launching a legal campaign against ordinary Internet users that could ultimately result in thousands of additional lawsuits.
But are you at risk?
If you or a family member have used Kazaa or any other file-swapping application recently and have left your computer open to the Net, the answer is possibly--although the odds of being singled out among an estimated 60 million people using peer-to-peer software remain small. If you've kept thousands of songs in the file you're sharing with other file swappers, then the odds are a little better, though still slim.
Here's a quick look at how the RIAA has done its investigations and what kind of information it has used to find people and file Monday's lawsuits.
Step one: Finding file-traders isn't hard. Anybody who opens a shared folder on Kazaa, Morpheus or any other file-swapping network is susceptible to potentially prying eyes.
In the most recent wave of investigations, the RIAA has used automated tools that look for a relatively short list of files. When it finds a person sharing one or more of those files, it downloads all or many of them for verification purposes. A complete list of these target files is not available, but a sampling of files cited in the early lawsuits includes the following artists and songs:
• Bobby McFerrin, "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
• Thompson Twins, "Hold Me Now"
• Eagles, "Hotel California"
• George Michael, "Kissing A Fool"
• Paula Abdul, "Knocked Out"
• Green Day, "Minority"
• UB40, "Red Red Wine"
• Ludacris "Area Codes"
• Marvin Gaye, "Sexual Healing"
• Avril Lavigne, "Complicated"
This is far from a complete list, but if you've downloaded and shared any of those songs recently, you may be at greater risk of finding your way onto the RIAA's list.
Step two: The RIAA uses features within Kazaa, Grokster and some other software programs to list all the files available within a person's shared folder and takes screenshots of that information. As filed in court, that provides a record of what in some cases has been thousands of songs shared at once.
Step three: The RIAA's software records the Internet address associated with a computer that is sharing one of the copyrighted songs the organization is investigating. Some file-swapping programs try to hide this by using mechanisms such as proxy servers, but most downloads still expose this information.
Step four: According to information filed as part of a related lawsuit, the RIAA also has the ability to do a more sophisticated analysis of the files that have been downloaded. The group checks the artist's name, title, and any "metadata" information attached to the files, looking for information that may indicate what piece of software has been used to create the file or any other. Some files swapped widely on the Net include messages from the original person who created the MP3 file, such as "Created by Grip" or "Finally the Real Full CD delivered fresh for everyone on Grokster and Kazaa to Enjoy!"
The RIAA has also analyzed in detail some files' contents. The trade group has databases of digital fingerprints, or "hashes," that identify songs that were swapped online in Napster's heyday. Investigators check these fingerprints against those found in a new suspected file swapper's folder, looking for matches. A match means the file has almost certainly been downloaded from the Net, likely from a stream of copies dating back to the original Napster file.
Step five: The RIAA files a subpoena request with a federal court. The subpoena allows the group to go to an Internet service provider and request the name and address of the subscriber who's associated with the Net address that was used to swap files. A few Internet service providers (ISPs) have fought back against these requests, but most have been forced to comply with the RIAA's request.
Many ISPs notify their subscribers when a subpoena comes in that targets their information. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has set up a database that allows people to see whether their online screen name has been the target of one of these subpoenas.
The RIAA said it has filed more than 1,500 of these subpoenas to date.
Step six: Once the identity of the ISP subscriber has been exposed, the RIAA puts together all the information gleaned through the earlier technical investigation and files a lawsuit. In earlier cases, it has accepted settlement agreements that range between $12,000 and $17,000. In this case, it has accepted some settlement agreements for as little as $3,000.
The Recording Industry Association of America sued 261 alleged file swappers Monday, launching a legal campaign against ordinary Internet users that could ultimately result in thousands of additional lawsuits.
But are you at risk?
If you or a family member have used Kazaa or any other file-swapping application recently and have left your computer open to the Net, the answer is possibly--although the odds of being singled out among an estimated 60 million people using peer-to-peer software remain small. If you've kept thousands of songs in the file you're sharing with other file swappers, then the odds are a little better, though still slim.
Here's a quick look at how the RIAA has done its investigations and what kind of information it has used to find people and file Monday's lawsuits.
Step one: Finding file-traders isn't hard. Anybody who opens a shared folder on Kazaa, Morpheus or any other file-swapping network is susceptible to potentially prying eyes.
In the most recent wave of investigations, the RIAA has used automated tools that look for a relatively short list of files. When it finds a person sharing one or more of those files, it downloads all or many of them for verification purposes. A complete list of these target files is not available, but a sampling of files cited in the early lawsuits includes the following artists and songs:
• Bobby McFerrin, "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
• Thompson Twins, "Hold Me Now"
• Eagles, "Hotel California"
• George Michael, "Kissing A Fool"
• Paula Abdul, "Knocked Out"
• Green Day, "Minority"
• UB40, "Red Red Wine"
• Ludacris "Area Codes"
• Marvin Gaye, "Sexual Healing"
• Avril Lavigne, "Complicated"
This is far from a complete list, but if you've downloaded and shared any of those songs recently, you may be at greater risk of finding your way onto the RIAA's list.
Step two: The RIAA uses features within Kazaa, Grokster and some other software programs to list all the files available within a person's shared folder and takes screenshots of that information. As filed in court, that provides a record of what in some cases has been thousands of songs shared at once.
Step three: The RIAA's software records the Internet address associated with a computer that is sharing one of the copyrighted songs the organization is investigating. Some file-swapping programs try to hide this by using mechanisms such as proxy servers, but most downloads still expose this information.
Step four: According to information filed as part of a related lawsuit, the RIAA also has the ability to do a more sophisticated analysis of the files that have been downloaded. The group checks the artist's name, title, and any "metadata" information attached to the files, looking for information that may indicate what piece of software has been used to create the file or any other. Some files swapped widely on the Net include messages from the original person who created the MP3 file, such as "Created by Grip" or "Finally the Real Full CD delivered fresh for everyone on Grokster and Kazaa to Enjoy!"
The RIAA has also analyzed in detail some files' contents. The trade group has databases of digital fingerprints, or "hashes," that identify songs that were swapped online in Napster's heyday. Investigators check these fingerprints against those found in a new suspected file swapper's folder, looking for matches. A match means the file has almost certainly been downloaded from the Net, likely from a stream of copies dating back to the original Napster file.
Step five: The RIAA files a subpoena request with a federal court. The subpoena allows the group to go to an Internet service provider and request the name and address of the subscriber who's associated with the Net address that was used to swap files. A few Internet service providers (ISPs) have fought back against these requests, but most have been forced to comply with the RIAA's request.
Many ISPs notify their subscribers when a subpoena comes in that targets their information. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has set up a database that allows people to see whether their online screen name has been the target of one of these subpoenas.
The RIAA said it has filed more than 1,500 of these subpoenas to date.
Step six: Once the identity of the ISP subscriber has been exposed, the RIAA puts together all the information gleaned through the earlier technical investigation and files a lawsuit. In earlier cases, it has accepted settlement agreements that range between $12,000 and $17,000. In this case, it has accepted some settlement agreements for as little as $3,000.
#13
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No need to stop useing KaZaa or any other P2P service. File shareing is not against the law. Just make sure you don't trade music that falls under the RIAA's juristriction.
Edit - Great post Cungar
Edit - Great post Cungar
Last edited by raiders757; 09-11-03 at 01:01 PM.
#14
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Of course, by using the program to get files, but not sharing files yourself, it sort of defeats the purpose of file-sharing. It's fine if enough people aren't concerned and continue to share while the rest just take. But the whole thing collapses if enough people stop sharing.
And that's what the RIAA is trying to achieve.
And that's what the RIAA is trying to achieve.
#15
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"Edit - Great post Cungar"
Although it is a direct cut and paste from a news site. Of course Cungar could have been the author of that article but I sincerely doubt it. Maybe a link to the site where the info was taken from would be more appropriate. Just my 2 cents
Although it is a direct cut and paste from a news site. Of course Cungar could have been the author of that article but I sincerely doubt it. Maybe a link to the site where the info was taken from would be more appropriate. Just my 2 cents
#16
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Originally posted by GatorDeb
Maybe one of you can help me. I have 0 files on my shared folder but it still says sharing 5 files. Is this normal?
Maybe one of you can help me. I have 0 files on my shared folder but it still says sharing 5 files. Is this normal?
#18
DVD Talk Legend
I don't know where his article is from, but here's a good one from the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Aug28.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Aug28.html
#19
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally posted by GatorDeb
So anyone knows why it says sharing files even though the folder is empty, and how to stop this?
So anyone knows why it says sharing files even though the folder is empty, and how to stop this?
#21
DVD Talk Hero
LEECHES!
#22
DVD Talk Hero
Originally posted by Snowmaker
I don't know where his article is from, but here's a good one from the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Aug28.html
I don't know where his article is from, but here's a good one from the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Aug28.html
How could the claim that she made the MP3s from her own CDs be a defense? That wouldn't give her the right to distribute them over a P2P network.
Why even bother looking for digital fingerprints on the files? If someone doesn't own the copyright, then they don't have the right to distribute the files. It doesn't matter where they came from.
Or is the RIAA started tring to go after people who simply have MP3s in their possession instead of just those who distribute them?
#24
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally posted by cungar
• Bobby McFerrin, "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
• Thompson Twins, "Hold Me Now"
• Eagles, "Hotel California"
• George Michael, "Kissing A Fool"
• Paula Abdul, "Knocked Out"
• Green Day, "Minority"
• UB40, "Red Red Wine"
• Ludacris "Area Codes"
• Marvin Gaye, "Sexual Healing"
• Avril Lavigne, "Complicated"
• Bobby McFerrin, "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
• Thompson Twins, "Hold Me Now"
• Eagles, "Hotel California"
• George Michael, "Kissing A Fool"
• Paula Abdul, "Knocked Out"
• Green Day, "Minority"
• UB40, "Red Red Wine"
• Ludacris "Area Codes"
• Marvin Gaye, "Sexual Healing"
• Avril Lavigne, "Complicated"