Legal Research

MPAA, Kindle and Downloading

I remain amazed that this isn't reported more:

MPAA Admits Mistake on Downloading Study

By JUSTIN POPE, AP Education Writer

"Hollywood laid much of the blame for illegal movie downloading on college students. Now, it says its math was wrong.

In a 2005 study it commissioned, the Motion Picture Association of America claimed that 44 percent of the industry's domestic losses came from illegal downloading of movies by college students, who often have access to high-bandwidth networks on campus.

The MPAA has used the study to pressure colleges to take tougher steps to prevent illegal file-sharing and to back legislation currently before the House of Representatives that would force them to do so.

But now the MPAA, which represents the U.S. motion picture industry, has told education groups a "human error" in that survey caused it to get the number wrong. It now blames college students for about 15 percent of revenue loss."

More past the link.

They used this false study to justify their aims in lobbying the legal process.

Imagine asking for $1.5 million fines for each CD! They're trying here.

If we don't think fair use of articles is still at risk, I worry.

Now the blogophere is reporting that it is unlawful to lend books via Amazon's kindle. Read more here , here and here.

I guess I won't be buying a Kindle.

Anyway, the rubber is hitting the road on all of these rights issues in 2008. Be careful out there.

Stephen

Full post as published by Stephen's Lighthouse on January 30, 2008 (boomark / email).