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Downloads Cause Problems For Grandpa, Grandson
John Stith
Staff Writer
2005-11-02
 Insider Reports RSS Feed
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) once again charged after seemingly unlikely criminal when they filed suit against a man because his grandson downloaded four movies on their computer.
In move sure to rattle the digital piracy world, the MPAA charged after in one Fred Lawrence of Racine, Wisconsin to the tune of $600,000. The suit was filed for damages based on Lawrence's grandson downloading four films via iMesh. The suit was filed after Lawrence refused to settle for $4,000.
The Associate Press quoted Lawrence, "First of all, like I say, I guess I'd have to plead being naïve about the whole thing. I personally didn't do it, and I wouldn't do it. But I don't think it was anything but an innocent mistake my grandson made."
He went on to say he didn't have the $4,000 and that he "never was and never will be a wealthy person."
The motion picture and music recording industry both have legitimate issues with piracy of their property. But stories like this and the earlier Sony/rootkit story don't bode well for either industry. For public relations going after men and their grandsons isn't going to win many friends or court cases.
The bullying tactics are unethical. Instead of spending all this time trying to protect their old business model, perhaps they should reexamine their current model is obsolete and work out an alternative. Because the way things currently are, most people will root for the pirates and want the industry to lose.
About the Author:
John is a staff writer for SecurityProNews covering cyber security.
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