NYC cops busted for taking bribes from MPAA!

[stl]

Just wanted to pass on what I read in a local NYC paper yesterday. 2 cops were busted for taking bribes from MPAA investigators to raid suspected bootlegging sites.

Not that I condone bootleggers, but what is this? the MPAA is trying to hire it's own private police force or army?

MPAA should stand for Most preposterous A-hole Association.

[Joe Fenton]

That's common for the MPAA. They either use a group of MPAA employees dressed in cop-like uniforms, or when they can, hire off-duty police and security guards to make a brute-squad to confiscate anything they THINK may be bootleg. This is actually illegal, but the street vendor usually never goes to the cops to file a complaint because at least some of the material was bootleg, plus the people who confiscated the stuff look like cops (or are cops).

You see articles on this in the papers about every other month, but I've yet to see it make TV news. The TV stations want to keep their good relations with the movie folks, so they don't report the movies folks illegal doings.

[hartford]

I'm very interested to know which NYC paper.

Thanks.

[stl]

Hartford:

It was either the Post or Newsday 4/21/05 I think, I glanced through someone's paper at work, I didn't actually buy it, but it was on the 2nd or 3rd page.

Yes, I agree, some people are very cheap and greedy when it comes to downloading and I'm equally irritated when they know all these sites, yet ask me ridiculously simple questions about their PC.

Having said that, although I whole heartedly agree that part of the piracy problem is high cost (industry greed). I think that even if software, music, films, etc. were all very cheap and accessible there would still be people who would partake in piracy. So there is blame on both sides. Many people including myself would rather pay for quality, but to a point. Unfortunately entities like the MPAA and RIAA are so greedy they fail to understand this.

If they would spend as much time and money as they do on private armies and such, to litenting to and meeting the consumer's desires, they might achieve an acceptable balance between profit and piracy.

[Doom9]

here's a link: http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/23341.htm

[neo75903]

this is going over the limit, the police force is here to protect and not an instance to be used to intimitade the population.
MPAA should follow the law by starting a case.
This action is just to scare ppl off. It is a psychologic weapon.

[Shinigami-Sama]

Originally posted by stl

MPAA should stand for Most preposterous A-hole Association. [/B]
can't agree more
"m tried of hearing of peopleing getting busted over movies of all things
but thats america for corptizuim good thing I live in Canada or I;d alerady be in a grave :P

[Paulcat]

Considering how many people in the world starve to death each year, or are forced to work under apalling conditions to earn pennies a week, it's downright absurd to think how much fuss is being made over an issue such as this...seriously!

Also, I hear that the MPAA has a new uniform; black boots, brown shirts and a red armband...

[adam]

Axed, in a copyright suit the burden is always on the copyright holder to prove infringement, not on the accused to prove otherwise. If the MPAA were to file a frivolous lawsuit against you, then yes you may still have to go to court to defend against the accusations and that includes funding your own suit.

But as far as recourse, its the same as with any other ciivl lawsuit. When you file a lawsuit or any motion you swear that you are bringing it in good faith and that you have enough evidence to form a reasonable belief that your suit is not frivilous. If you bring a frivilous lawsuit then the court can order you to pay the other party's attorney's fees and court costs. You can also be sanctioned and forced to pay a penalty to either the state or to the other party. Under extreme circumstances the representing attorney can be subjected to additional penalties under the Bar's rules which includes the possibility of being disbarred.

As for the MPAA, its certainly no excuse, but I think the list of major organizations that have police on the payroll has probably got to be pretty massive.

[Axed]

deleted

[Shinigami-Sama]

Originally posted by Axed
Thanks for the great reply adam.

But, seriously, who can atucally afford to fight an organisation like the MPAA or RIAA? Cant they just drag you thru so many court proceedings until you run out of money, and then force you to settle out of court?

Im curious if thats how it works, because all i know about court cases is what i see on TV and read on the internet. And, i know these sources are highly unreliable when it comes to facts.
thats more less how htye bring down "piracy" websites like lokitorrent
but lolki messed up and let himself get blamed but it;s basicly hte same prosess from my veiw

[adam]

It is definitely not beneath the MPAA or RIAA to use legal pressure tactics, but really there isn't much need. 99% of the suits they file involve per se infringements. There's just so many blatant infringers out there that they don't have to do much more than find them to sucessfully sue them. The real problem is that tracking at the ip level is inaccurate, time-consuming, and costly so they are trying to circumvent procedural requirements to make it easier on themselves. THIS is where these organizations have committed their real transgressions.

The only "sue until they are bankrupt" suits involve suits against companies, not individual infringers. 321 Studio's is an example, but that was their own fault since they were the ones that sued, not the MPAA.

thats more less how htye bring down "piracy" websites like lokitorrent

I could not disagree more. Piracy websites like lokitorrent are blatantly infringing, and they are a dime a dozen. It doesn't matter how powerful the opposition is if you don't have a leg to stand on anyway. I represent clients who earn minimum wage and we have no problem getting infringing websites taken down. If you don't have a single legal defense then you try to avoid a civil suit. If that suit is still filed then you settle...period. It doesn't make a bit of difference how much power or money the Plaintiff has. Heck, almost all cases settle these days anyway (~98-99%.)

[hartford]

@Doom9

Thankyou.

[Axed]

deleted