MPAA ‘Getamnesty’ scam
p2pnet news | Freedom:- Yesterday, I ran p2pnet stories featured by RIAA, MPAA, an item about a phoney Getamnesty program.
I suggested the RIAA and MPAA were equally responsible.
However, I must now humbly apologise to the RIAA. Apparently, it wasn’t them: it was the MPAA.
Not only but also, Ernesto, aka Torrentfreak, our friend over in Holland, had a story on the same subject. But he correctly named the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) first off.
In it, he said, “The MPAA and their fellow anti-piracy organizations send out thousands of infringement notices,” going on:
Only a fraction of these are played out in court, and those that do make it into court are settled at an early stage. So why not circumvent the whole legal system, and gently coerce people to pay for “amnesty”?
This is exactly what the suits at the MPAA must have thought, because they asked Nexicon to develop a program to convert infringement notices into cash.
The GetAmnesty program is a combination of both enforcement activities and efforts to turn infringers into paying “customers”. It tracks down copyright infringers by using a wide variety of methods. But, instead of sending out the regular infringement notices, they now include links for people to get amnesty. Basically they are asking to pay them an X amount of money, and they promise drop everything and go away.
A company called Nexicon, a one-time cigarette seller, is apparently acting as the MPAA’s agent.
But in my defence, it’s easy to see why I lumped the RIAA in with the MPAA.
Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG’s RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) started the fake ‘amnesty’ ball rolling with its failed Clean Slate programme which ran on between September, 2003, and April, 2004.
It said:
The Recording Industry Association of America (’RIAA’) is offering amnesty from copyright enforcement to individuals residing in the United States who have, or who believe that they may have, illegally downloaded or distributed copyrighted sound recordings on peer-to-peer networks such as Kazaa, Grokster, iMesh, Morpheus, Bearshare, LimeWire, Gnutella, Blubster, OverNet, Shareaza, Gnucleus, SoulSeek, Earthstation 5 and eDonkey (’P2P Networks’). As part of this Clean Slate Program, RIAA is agreeing not to support or assist in copyright infringement suits based on past conduct against individuals who meet the conditions outlined below. Only individual persons are eligible for the Clean Slate Program; businesses, groups and other organizations or entities may not participate.
The RIAA followed up this year with the equally ludicrous student self-incrimination programme through which it’s scamming people studying at universities across America to pay $3,000 to avoid being named in the lawsuit.
Many university administrations are co-operating with the RIAA in this, acting as copyright cops and doing the students they’re supposed to be educating a tremendous disservice.
Moreover, there’s no guarantee the information provided won’t be used against those who provided it at some later date.
Back to the MPAA version, p2pnet contributor Fred Wilhelms, the bane of the (un)SoundExchange, says in a comment post:
Ten years ago, Nexicon was known as Cyco, and, according to SEC filings, was primarily involved with selling cigarettes. They subsequently acquired two network security firms, Orion and Pluto. Their current client list includes the SIIA (Software Information Industry Association), and I suspect their amnesty program is being conducted for them.
As we pointed out yesterday, the programme is being run from the Simms Building (upper right) in downtown Albuquerque, says another Reader’s Write.
Jon Newton – p2pnet
(PS – Are the p2pnet stories linked to on the Getamnesty site still there? They are.)
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August 31st, 2007 at 8:35 pm
LOL! I wonder how many idiots will fall for this?
September 1st, 2007 at 8:41 am
Hey Jon,
The MPAA is simply not involved with getamnesty.com. I posted a challenge to both the ealier p2pnet and Ernesto’s Get Amnesty story at torrentfreak to call the MPAA and Nexicon for comment. Ernesto did the hornorable thing and the MPAA officially refuted any association. I also challenged you (Jon) on your “SafeMedia Saves America” story (http://www.p2pnet.net/story/13161)…and you immediately though better. I even wrote s decent post defending your honor against that SafeMedia apologist.
Think of it this way… When itcomes to PR, Nexicon is way hackier on the PR Hack ‘O Meter, than SafeMedia…way slimyier on the Slime O’ Meter. The point is, both company’s are trying to peddle FBOS (Flaming Bag of S#!t) technology…by presenting would be customers, and their influencers (e.g. politicians) with the sense of urgency of a fire; and at the end of the day all they have is feces on their shoes with little else to show for it. The funny thing is that the MPAA, RIAA, et. al. are well aware of the “value” of both company’s technology. It seems both think they can generate demand via outrageous PR, but I really think that is what they are telling current and would be investors to get cash. Shiny building nonetheless.
Keep it real Brother!
MNG
September 1st, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Well if the story IS trrue…whoever participates in this program…deserves what they get! You cannot “trust” the media companies…period.
So if you do this of your own accord and WILLINGLY admit filesharing to the mediua mafia, you may be suprised that it is not assimple asthey make it out to be.
Bottom line? DON’T FALL FOR IT!
September 2nd, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Bit of tenuous connection, at no time does it state anywhere on getamnesty that it is an official MPAA or RIAA sponsored site. Clever wording, but it simply implies authority, probably a lawyer trying to screw people (there’s a first!!) into paying money, which they will then deduct a huge percentage from before passing a balance on to the relevant body (MPAA/RIAA). That way what they are offering is legal, but offers no guaranteed amnesty.
September 3rd, 2007 at 8:47 am
All i can say is this, buy stocks in Nexicon (NXCN), if you cant afford it i suggest get a job instead of blogging