"Pirates" under pressure

A net "pirate" ruling may force ISPs to cut off "cheats":

..."As of [the day before the judgment] the law was that the ISP really had no obligation to take any steps to interfere in the activities of its users if it was acting merely as an ISP and if it had no other relationship with that consumer other than it was a user of those ISP services," said Clayton Utz's John Fairburn.

"So what this decision does is it unwinds that to some extent and says 'Well no, you've got to look at the individual facts and in this case ISPs do have the power to prevent the infringements by terminating accounts or by sending warning notices'. It all depends on the degree of knowledge that [the ISPs] have and even though we have three judgments there is consensus on that point," he said.

..."I think that’s what they are looking for; they’re looking for either suspension or termination ultimately for repeat infringers," Mr Gurnett said.

The un-questioned premise here is whether copying is actually theft? Is there anything wrong with an individual copying something? What is stolen? Who is the victim?

The obvious and standard "answer" that comes to mind is - the content producer... they have had "value" stolen from them. They have "lost" a sale. But you do not have a right to a sale or value. The real pirates here are those using a state granted monopoly privilege.

I don't think it is necessary to go into the rationale here, but feel free to browse and watch these videos that make the legitimate case against Intellectual Property "Rights". Or search our site here.