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Uploading Pirated Books via BitTorrent Qualifies as Fair Use, Meta Argues

torrentfreak.com

21–30 of 289 posts

Re: Uploading Pirated Books via BitTorrent Qualifies as Fair Use, Meta Argues

#21
post #7

> Anyone who uses BitTorrent to transfer files automatically uploads content to other people, as it is inherent to the protocol. In other words, the uploading wasn’t a choice, it was simply how the technology works. What an argument to make in court. It can be proved false in minutes by the plaintiffs.

I agree, that people used to be called "leechers". Somewhat related xkcd https://xkcd.com/553/

Re: Uploading Pirated Books via BitTorrent Qualifies as Fair Use, Meta Argues

#22

I remember in the 90s and 2000s, the FBI would go after homeless people selling bootleg VHS and DVDs on the street lol

ICE played an important role in those cases with long supply chains. Seems quaint now, but I think we should acknowledge any criminal who does not participate in a child abuse ring. Those counterfeit DVDs were not illegal content, just illegal storefronts. If today’s ICE or FBI uncovered such a ring, who would they call first?

Re: Uploading Pirated Books via BitTorrent Qualifies as Fair Use, Meta Argues

#24
post #2

The world has become so strange. In my pirate youth, I would have never imagined the big companies to argue in courts like this, basically pro piracy. And the activists are now against it, because the big guys are doing it.

The problem is that laws don't apply to these big companies but to the small guys. It isn't as if piracy has suddenly become legal for everybody.

Oh no, its just legal for the big companies. The laws are different for everybody and that's what activists are worried about :)

Re: Uploading Pirated Books via BitTorrent Qualifies as Fair Use, Meta Argues

#27
post #2

The world has become so strange. In my pirate youth, I would have never imagined the big companies to argue in courts like this, basically pro piracy. And the activists are now against it, because the big guys are doing it.

I have no issue with anyone pirating. In my country — and soon in Italy as well — all storage media sales include a small levy (Artisjus) intended to compensate copyright holders for losses from piracy. One could argue it's unfair if you're not actually using the media for copying, but having been forced to pay it regardless, I have no moral qualms about pirating content I don't feel like paying for.

By the same token, AI companies are in no position to complain when their models are scraped and distilled.

Re: Uploading Pirated Books via BitTorrent Qualifies as Fair Use, Meta Argues

#29

At some point, the contradiction of "law as something impartial" and "law bends to the whims of power" will need to be resolved.

Wholly agreed.

The way Disney &co coopted law to pack their coffers is a travesty: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_Term_Extension_Act

Re: Uploading Pirated Books via BitTorrent Qualifies as Fair Use, Meta Argues

#30
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't believe that no one has ever tried that one before... So do we now roll back all of the previous copyright cases where downloading music with bittorrent has been prosecuted?

> So do we now roll back all of the previous copyright cases where downloading music with bittorrent has been prosecuted No, because those cases were pirating-while-poor. This is pirating-while-trillion-dollar-corporation, which falls under a completely different section of the law.

At this stage, you are going to far in claiming that. So far, all that happened is that Meta's lawyers claimed it was fair use. They are paid to try every argument they can think of that might work. Just because they make the argument doesn't mean the court will find it has any merit.
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