Don’t worry, Giganews tells AT&T Usenet users
p2pnet news view P2P:- “Please note that on or around July 15, 2009, AT&T will no longer be offering access to the Usenet Netnews service,” says AT&T’s Usenet site.
But we can help, Giganews is telling AT&T customers.
In Arista Records v Usenet.com, RIAA motions for discovery sanctions and for summary judgment were granted, “and the matter referred to the Magistrate Judge for determination of damages and an appropriate injunction,” said Recording Industry vs The People recently.
In the case, federal judge Harold Baer jr ruled in favor of the corporate music industry, saying Usenet.com was guilty of, “direct, contributory, and vicarious infringement”.
He also decided Usenet, “can’t claim protection under the Sony Betamax decision,” said CNet News.
But Giganews Usenet says it’s providing special discounts for people hit by AT&T’s elimination of the Usenet service.
For AT&T customers, Giganews is offering:
- 50% off for three months of Giganews’ unlimited Diamond Plan
- 20% off for three months of all other Giganews plans.
AT&T customers, and anyone else, who’s interested in Usenet services, can also sign up for a free 14-day trial at http://www.giganews.com/att-special.html, says the company’s Liz Kintzele.
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Recording Industry vs The People - RIAA wins case against Usenet.com based on discovery sanctions & summary judgment, June 30, 2009
CNet News – RIAA triumphs in Usenet copyright case, June 30, 2009
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July 9th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Liz rules.
July 9th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Thanks Surfer
-
Keep an ear out for more news from Giganews in the next few weeks- it has been an insanely busy time for us- in a good way.
Digging it!
July 9th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I’m sorry Liz, but this just looks like sharking for new bidness !!
July 9th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
No1uno-
bidness! I will use that all day tomorrow in very important corporate conversations- I dig it.
what do you mean? the special or the news?
befuddled and confused, please clarify.
Liz
July 9th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
“AT&T July 15 Usenet cut-off”
When I read this under the headline, my first thought was that AT&T was going start blocking the NNTP protocol, cutting its users off from using Usenet at all. I think my heart skipped a beat.
Of course it comes as no surprise that they’re doing away with Usenet. They already got rid of the binary groups and their news servers were a joke anyway.
Gee, since they’re reducing the services they provide, will customers see a reduction in their bills? Yeah, right…
July 9th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
@NO1UNO:
How about just ‘looking’ for new business? Is there anything wrong with that? At least, they’re offering something as well.
Cheers!
July 9th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
I think Liz and her company are only picking up left overs from a broken business model. There is no crime in providing a service that spineless corporations refuse to support due to sodomization by the fucking MAFIAA.
Comcast dropped usenet years ago, so I turned to GigaNews, and they are a service I gladly pay INSTEAD of the MAFIAA.
July 9th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Thanks Jon and Surfer
-
I love Giganews so have no problem recommending it and spreading the word.
it rocks.
July 10th, 2009 at 1:52 am
In another month Giganews’ 365d retention will be reached. It seems likely that another major spool-up will begin on “day 366″ to push retention far beyond Highwinds’ planned 400day retention – in order to justify charging double to triple the price of Highwinds’ service.
The Giganews management must be sweating bullets (or sh*tting bricks) since news of the Usenet.com judgement broke. “Direct infringement” indeed.
Usenet providers need to start a trade organization, something to represent their interests and stand up to the RIAA and MPAA. Otherwise it will be the enemies of internet freedom who will end up influencing the laws affecting the future of digital bulletin boards.
July 10th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Hey Reader’s Write-
Not saying it is not going to happen, but I would not consider that big news.
Increasing retention is not a game changer
This is the best article I have found (succinct and to the point) the Usenet.com case:
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/07/judge-throws-book-at-usenetcom-in-riaa-lawsuit.ars
July 10th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Giganews is way over priced, for what Giganews charges at $30US a month you can get the same service from Astraweb for $8US a month.
July 10th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
price and value are not the same Orbit. If you think GigaNews is overpriced, that is your determination, and your choice. I consider 30USD a price that seriously outweighs the value I receive for said 30USD. (mine is actually higher, I have a premium account).
If the MAFIAA had an ‘all you can eat’ buffet of content for the same price, they might possibly survive, however, their proclivity for greed and the almighty euro will never result is this type of scenario. So, instead Liz and GigaNews gets my dollar instead.
As for retention, I never considered this, didn’t even know it existed. I get what I want well in advance of its expiration (if that is what’s meant by ‘retention’).
stw
July 10th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
The $8/month Astraweb offer requires pre-paying for a year. It would be unwise to post binaries from that account unless you’re 100% certain that they are public domain or the copyright owner certifies permission.
Giganews has a history of locking people out of their accounts on the basis of unproven (emailed) accusations, and refusing refunds. Astraweb might some day do the same. (maybe it’s a good thing that Giganews does not offer yearly subscriptions. It would be a bitch to lose several hundred dollars over a bogus accusation)
July 10th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
WOW, i was just picking a bit and didnt even check back till now!
@ Liz, giganews is, i’m sure, a great service, i dont happen to use it.
If youre looking to truely help those who got dumped,(as everyone else on
here came to your defence on) more power to ya, and sure use the term
“bidness” all you want… I DID NOT mean to offend you !!
besides that, when do we get to see a pic of you??
stw
July 10th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
no worries NO1UNO. somewhere on this site there is a pix of me~ ask jon, he can pull it from the archives
Reader’s Write & Orbit-
small announcement coming later today or early next week, big announcement in about 2 weeks, announcement end of August, and then huge announcement in early fall- value, consistency and innovation is where we’re at. there is a reason Giganews
RW-
I have never heard of Giganews doing the above- ever. examples? seems like a baseless accusation of a “unproven (emailed) accusations”
seriously, if you have examples let me know.
July 10th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
If Astraweb’s yearly plan throws you off you can also signup for monthly service for $11US a month.
@Surfer
Having been a former Giganews costumer I’ve seen no difference between the two companies other then the $20 extra money in my pocket every month
@Iiz
It would have to be a very big announcement for me to switch back to Giganews. Given Astraweb has been matching every service improvements I doubt it will make me switch back.
July 10th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Orbit- keep posted
Matching is not the same as innovation- and innovation sometimes takes you beyond of what is expected.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
“I’ve seen more than one person complain about Giganews cutting them off over the posting of binaries …”
This thread is starting to look more and more like an upaid ad for another service. So I’m stopping it at this point. Cheers! Jon.)