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TechFocus' .htaccess File Gains Momentum
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The Fine Print:
The following comments are owned by whoever posted them.
We are not responsible for them in any way.
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Essentially, yes, we're giving them the finger. However, we're also implementing a technological measure which should be defensible under the Digital Millenium Copyright Act. As they've already taken our work once without respecting reprint rights (which are very liberal,) they have lost their ability to access our site. Should they choose to do so again, or should we see a record of access violations, they will be violating statutes within the DMCA. An Act which essentially only they have been using, but an Act which anyone can use.
It's important that organizations which implement such egregious laws upon us are held to the same standard that they hold us to. Their abuse of our site will not be tolerated, and we'll use any legal means available to hold them to that standard.
We don't abuse copyrights. However, in our discussion of these issues it is possible that a user who posts might sometime allude to the fact that they are in possession of mp3's or something of the sort. Based on the fact that the RIAA has repeatedly lied as to their intentions and actions, we see it as a very real threat that they will soon begin issueing subpoenas to websites to turn over user information such as the example above. As such, we see them as a litigious threat and are acting pre-emptively to protect ourselves and our users. As no violation has taken place on our site in those forms, we're slamming the door before they get there. Their assurance that they have no intention of doing so is hollow, based on their previous assertion that they wouldn't be going after individual users (among others.)
Just as a sidenote, this lack of honesty extends even today. The RIAA apparently claims to have apologized to us, but none of us have received any sort of contact from them. That's fine with us as an apology is irrelevant, but it's also an indication of their way of doing business on the internet.
In terms of future actions, we're working on a proposal to be submitted to users as to a way to keep this file updated as a 'living document' - one that will be updated and quality-controlled. The file will be distributed free of charge and in some sort of open-source licensed manner (which participants will be able to assist in determining.)
Just as service providers have been given UDP's (Usenet Death Penalties) for allowing spammers to use their resources to spam newsgroups, we are promoting the idea of implementing a similar tactic against the RIAA & MPAA. It may not make it internet-wide, but it's one heck of a lot better than just saying "I'm not buying any more CD's." This is an effort to limit their scope of operations and protects sites from predatory litigation - and all in a legal manner.
We're just glad so many sites and people have agreed with us!
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by
Anonymous Coward
on Wednesday July 30, @02:35PM (#906)
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RIAA_netblock="{12.150.191.0/24, ... 67.117.184.0/24}"
block in all on $ext_if from any to $RIAA_netblock
block out all on $ext_if from any to $RIAA_netblock
thanks bill!
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Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is too important to be
lost under the burden of juvenile folly and ignorant superstition.
- Isaac Asimov
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