French file share attack
p2pnet.net News:- So They finally did it – ‘They’ being Big Music’s French Connection, personified by the SCPP (Civil Society of Phonographic Producers) which has been beefing up its attack against French file-sharers since its national anti-P2P press campaign.
The first victim of their retaliation is Mr B, a 28-year-old teacher. He’ll be among 50 other Big Music victims scheduled to be sued in October, according to generationmp3.com.
The Big Four record label cartel attacks were launched this summer. On August 18, police raided Mr B’s home, seized his computer and hard drive, full of music files, and a number of home-made CDs. He was later charged with counterfeiting, an offence which carries a potential fine of $280,000 and a three-year jail sentence.
Mr B’s lawyer, Murielle Cahen, told Liberation, “He wasn’t selling pirated music – that was just for his personal use“.
Mr B is quoted as saying he started out looking for bootlegs and hard-to-find live concert recordings and then broadened his collection, although he already hold many of his downloads in CD format.
Using files, “was easier than manipulating copy-protected CDs”. He downloaded more and more music – and that’s how he was spotted.
The 28-year-old teacher says he’s bitter about the hypocrisy of high-tech companies such as Sony that sell music, mp3 players and CD burners, “and then attack consumers”.
“I do respect speed limitation on roads, I don’t drink, don’t smoke, but I’ve downloaded music”, he told Liberation.
Eight professional association of artists and four consumer defense associations – among them, the French Federal Union of Consumers, UFC-Que choisir – launched a joint statement condemning the cartel’s action, calling it an attack, “led by the music majors against the same people who buy their music.”
Thuan Huynh – Paris, France
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See:-
press campaign – Email from France – 1, p2pnet, May 5, 2002
generationmp3.com – Deuxième vague de procès P2P en france à partir d’octobre, generationmp3.com, September 29, 2004
personal use – Musique en ligne : la tactique du pire, Liberation, September 28, 2004
hard-to-find – Enseignant, 28 ans, et coupable idéal, Liberation, September 28, 2004
hypocrisy – IFPI shock-horror piracy report, p2pnet, July 22, 2004
UFC-Que choisir – .pdf download
October 1st, 2004 at 5:01 am
HE DOWNLOADED MUSIC !~!!!!!!!! Off with his Head!!!!!!! The unforgiveable SIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my Lord!!!!!!!! This guy deserves to Rot in Hell!!!!!! WHY because ” HE DOWNLOADED MUSIC!!!!!!!!!” What could be worst than that !!!!!! And a Teacher no less!!!!!! Just think of what their teaching your kids??/??? DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD !!!!!! Oh No!!!!!!!! I hope he beats the RAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 2nd, 2004 at 12:32 am
I suspect he has already surrendered.
No worries of these terrible downloaders invading US.
October 2nd, 2004 at 2:34 pm
The guy downloaded music – o.k. copyright infringement no harm there. He wasn’t selling music.
But they took his computer, an essential tool in his life and probably work. That is serious, that is like if the cops suspect you of hiding something they don’t search your house – they steal it.
Well maybe they’ll seize a computer belonging to a doctor and then there’ll be an outcry.
Or perhaps they choose their VICTIMS carefully.