The RIAA has now set its sights on Usenet, that decentralized network of discussion groups, some of which happen to host copyrighted material. The cartel filed suit against www.usenet.com, a Usenet access provider, for offering—get this—”essentially the same functionality” as the Groksters of the world. (When was the last time anyone used Grokster? Why don’t we mention BearShare while we’re at it…) Usenet, if you’re not familiar, can be thought of as a giant decentralized message board of sorts, only you can attach files to your posts. That’s the Reader’s Digest version, at least. Since Usenet is sorta hard to figure out and not everyone has access to it (some ISPs give you access as part of your regular Internet subscription), it hasn’t been on the RIAA’s radar. But believe me when I tell you, having used it to “get things” for six years now, it’s the best resource for things out there for the average guy. Not everyone has access to topsites and the like.
Does the case have merit? Hard to say. I mean, does the RIAA expect the courts to shut Usenet down? That’s like shutting down the World Wide Web or Internet Relay Chat. Or, more likely, will the RIAA go after provider after provider until all the big guys (Giganews, Easynews, etc.) are forced out of business? That would stink.
I know I mention Usenet pretty much every other day on at least one post, but does anyone else here play in its shadows? How upset would you be if the RIAA knocked your favorite provider offline? I know www.usenet.com does itself no favors with its silly “download movies and music for freeeee” advertising, but it’s not like that’s all Usenet is for. Where else would you be able to debate who’s greater, Hulk Hogan or God (Hulk) and exactly how evil (or saintly!) George W. Bush is?
I hope the RIAA is just wasting its money in fighting this. Because if they win, hey, let’s go after http next. Hell, why not Gopher? I’m sure that’s used for piracy…
RIAA shifts legal battle to a new front, sues Usenet access provider [Ars Technica]
It’s been a while since I’ve even looked at anything posted to a usenet board. I had always suspected that RIAA would go after the usenet after it was done with KaZaa et al. I think you’re right, they’ll likely go after the providers for client lists, etc rather than attempt to target individual users – though they may go after a few token popular posters in some boards. It’s so easy to disguise where you’re posting from, RIAA will probably have a hard time.
It’s a shame, though. I always liked usenet and was actually thinking about reactivating my giganews account and getting nbpro again. Can’t a guy get something for nothing anymore?
There is no shortage of providers and most of them operate well outside the legal reach of the Luddites at the RIAA. I can’t see this affecting much for quite a while.
and shhh.. the first rule of usenet is to not talk ab…..
@ Andrew
Oh I know the rule. I’m sorry to have broken it just now, but some things can’t be avoided.
I’ll never speak of it again.
Heh. Death of Usenet. Wasn’t that first reported back in, oh, 1993?
Oh, and major negative points for not titling the post “Imminent death of Usenet predicted, GIF at 11:00″ =)
It’s not that surprising. If you have time for a longer read, take a look at Eben Moglen’s argument that what the RIAA asked for in the Grokster case was actually to shut down the internet in general: http://moglen.law.columbia.edu/publications/grokster-amicus.pdf.
Headline: “RIAA Sues Itself” How’s that, you say? Well, it’s a fact that Time-Warner Internet providers carry binary newsgroups, including the dreaded mp3 groups. And Time-Warner is also one of the world’s largest music companies and a RIAA member. So, when they get around to suing all the newsgroup providers, they’ll see themselves in court. Funny how things work these days in the corporate world, ain’t it?
Nice to see you guys have no problems with stealing artwork from other sites
and completely out of context as well.
http://www.usenetpedia.com/usenet-dead..html
My bearshare isn\t working on any of my computers? Any ideas? This started about 3 days ago.
God is the best…The Hulk is nothing…Blasphemy against the Lord will be repaid with Hell for eternity…Go repent and live your life right…Read Exodus 20…God bless you…
As for the RIAA…they suck…i cant stand them…i have used Limewire and Bearshare…it is also possible to download youtube music videos and to convert the flv file to an mp4 file…then u extract the audio and save it as an mp3…it may take longer, but it is better than being sued by the RIAA…also you can use http://www.cr3.mobi because it is like a giant media search engine…down with the RIAA’s stupid cases…why cant they just get rid of Limewire…and even Bearshare…But see, Bearshare uses DRM in its music files…so get a music converter compatible with DRM files and convert them to mp3…
BTW: Frostwire is just a remake of limewire…it took the source to Lmewire and rewrote a small part of it and released a “new” product…
God bless all of you…and please dont start with the feds…its not a good thing…
James Edwards: Actually, God doesn’t exist. But as everyone knows, Hulk Rules!!!
Yes!
Fight Club rules apply!