John0904
09-28-2004, 01:54 PM
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,65062,00.html?tw=wn_story_top5
Now, any Californian who shares files with more than 10 people must add their e-mail address to the file. Those who break this law could be fined up to $2,500, spend a year in jail or both. Minors who break the law would pay $250 for their first and second offenses.
Stevenson said that the MPAA plans to use this legislation as a model for other states.
Critics said the law is a tricky way for copyright owners to get at file swappers. People are not targeted for copyright violations, rather, they are nabbed for not adding their e-mail to a shared file.
"No one believes that it's a crime to leave your e-mail address off of a file you're sharing," said Jason Schultz, an attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "It's a means to an end to get around the limits of federal copyright law and give state prosecutors leverage to bust people. Now they are going to be arresting people for forgetting to list their e-mail address."
Now, any Californian who shares files with more than 10 people must add their e-mail address to the file. Those who break this law could be fined up to $2,500, spend a year in jail or both. Minors who break the law would pay $250 for their first and second offenses.
Stevenson said that the MPAA plans to use this legislation as a model for other states.
Critics said the law is a tricky way for copyright owners to get at file swappers. People are not targeted for copyright violations, rather, they are nabbed for not adding their e-mail to a shared file.
"No one believes that it's a crime to leave your e-mail address off of a file you're sharing," said Jason Schultz, an attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "It's a means to an end to get around the limits of federal copyright law and give state prosecutors leverage to bust people. Now they are going to be arresting people for forgetting to list their e-mail address."