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Originally Posted by Stroker Serpentine  Okay, I am going to rant my ass off here...I am sure everyone has seen the blog post by now where the content that was "apparently" removed over the weekend has since been restored.
I KNEW it was too good to be true that LL actually GREW SOME BALLS and targeted KNOWN content thieves whom have been AR'd and DMCA'd on numerous occasions and CONTINUE to pop back on the grid with the same content and a different account.
The official forums were ablaze with everything from "ZOMG..my sexbed is broke" to "I was wondering why LL chose now to act upon this..I have been complaining for months" Someone IM Craig Altman or Johan Durant and ask them if they intended for their animations to be included full perm in the BIB's and sexbeds blanketing the grid. The very ones that were obviously the target of this takedown. The ones I have been fighting because they were named "Sexgen insert"
Ask Craig about how confused he was when LL actually banned someone (so he thought) for being a thief. Ooops..they just put the content right back up. Sorrrry our bad! Inadvertent mistake!
Ask me why Rase Kenzo and Volkov Catteneo still have active accounts when they ADMITTED to stealing IP in a COURT ORDER!
I will tell you why if by now you may be a bit confused. It is all summed up and tucked nice and cozy into this blog today...
"Also be aware that persons who materially misrepresent copyright infringement in DMCA claims may be liable for damages, including attorneys’ fees and costs. In one case, a company that sought removal of content protected by the fair use doctrine paid over $100,000 USD. For more on this, see here."
The Diebold case is one of DMCA abuse. So lets send a message to all the residents of SL LaurapLinden that you could be SUED if you file a DMCA. For 100's of thousands of dollars no less!
Linden Lab does not give a rats ass about your content. Its all Fair Use people! How DARE they placate us like this. I am sooo PISSED.
Joshua, I hope you are reading this because you have won me over. The only way Linden Lab will ever protect your IP is if they are made to do so with a big fat class action suit.
I cant even type I am so mad. I wish they would just come out and say it...oh wait, they would be liable then. Duh! |
Quoted for truth.
Here's a precisely similar case that shows exactly how LL is not following the law:
Let's say that Hosting Company X has piratedfile.mpg on their servers. A DMCA is filed requesting piratedfile.mpg be taken down. Instead of taking it down, they simply remove all links to the file. However, the file is still accessible.
Would this fly? Hell no. And by refusing to take down the content and only specific references to it (IE objects in world or in inventory) they are doing EXACTLY the same thing.
So, LL is opening themselves to a world of legal hurt. It isn't a matter of if, but a matter of when a case related to this is taken to court and LL is listed at one of the defendants. And THEY WILL LOOSE.
Of course, they could actually grow a pair (as well as a brain) and actually do AT LEAST what is minimally required to follow the law, or preferably be more pro-active in protecting IP rights. However they won't, because they have been shown to have a corporate culture with a disdain for IP rights. This has been showing both indirectly by their actions and DIRECTLY by what the Lindens have said during office hours (that there is a "controversy" over IP right issues and linking to anti-IP right articles.)
This disdain isn't just found in LL; it is common among computer technologist circles. Partly it is the result of draconian tactics from the RIAA and MPAA, but just because some corporations try to abuse the system as much as possible doesn't mean it should be thrown out entirely.