This is so mind-bogglingly stupid on so many levels I don't even know where to start.
Ah, hell.
1) it's a form of censorship 2) it's free publicity 3) it's biting the hand that feeds you 4) it's a dangerous precedent 5) it's closing the floodgates after the dam itself has collapsed 6) it's bad business sense, not to mention hypocritical, of Sharman Networks to harp on the same legalities that RIAA almost shut them down for 7) Google doesn't infringe on copyright by indexing links to illegal software (Kazaa Lite in this case) anymore than Kazaa does by displaying search results of same, and can NOT be held accountable for the actions of its users 8) Kazaa Lite can be downloaded from... Kazaa
Like, DUH.
Of course, the reason WHY Kazaa Lite gained so much popularity in the first place was because SN got a little too greedy and jam-packed Kazaa with ad- and spyware... but that's another discussion.
[ September 01, 2003, 07:45 AM: Message edited by: Cartman ]
Posted by MinutiaeMan (Member # 444) on :
Bwahahahaha! The same people who flout and hate the DMCA are now invoking it. What hypocrites.
This proves more than anything that we need to make a serious overhaul of copyright law to account for the vastly different realities and potentially huge advantages of the Internet.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
"Google doesn't infringe on copyright by indexing links to illegal software..."
Actually, during the whole DeCSS thing, some judge did declare that 2600 magazine was infringing just because they linked to sites which provided the DeCSS code. I'm not sure what the eventual outcome of that was, but it's possible that Google really could be held legally (if moronically) responsible for providing links to "illegal software".
Posted by Proteus (Member # 212) on :
They are talking about modification of Kazaa's software w/o permission. Not a movie or music.
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
How the hell does this make sense?
And why the hell did they just comply? I'd have thought better of Google.
Anyway, it is incredibly stupid and may be a sign that in the future, the internet will be totally regulated, filtered and censored. Because big companies and governments are scared of us.
Posted by Tora Regina (Member # 53) on :
They may try to regulate it, but I doubt they will succeed. The medium itself is too wide open.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Sounds like me discussing my, now, ex-wife just after we split up......
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Google has shown a willingness to avoid lawsuits by (at least temporary) compliance with demands in the past.