The Interocitor

KaZaa should die

I'm very much not a fan of the MPAA and its clueless response to filesharing and all things digital. The Digital Millenium Copyright Act is a classic case of rent-seeking legislation when coupled with the repeated extensions of copyright terms. However, when I see things like this, I hope the MPAA takes every last dollar they have:

In what some people consider true irony, Sharman Networks has effectively shut down distribution of a version of its file sharing software that it said violated a copyright. The owner of KaZaa.com contacted Web sites offering downloads of KaZaa Lite K++ and cited its rights under Digital Millennium Copyright Act. According to ZDNet Australia, Sharman has succeeded in eliminating the software's availability. KaZaa Lite K++ did not require users to download advertisements, as the full KaZaa does. The Lite program also had features to help users remain anonymous when they were downloading files.

As I pointed out here the Sharman version of KaZaa is rife with spyware, adware and other malware. Under some circumstances, KaZaa can use your computer to do Sharman's network computing tasks. READ THE LICENSE AGREEMENT!!!!!

K-Lite was a free, 3rd-party hack that stripped out all the malware, providing only the basic "filesharing" functions. KaZaa, which makes its living violating copyrights, is using copyright law essentially to defend its right to hide malware in its products. While it is true that K-Lite is a copyright violation -- and both versions are aimed at the rampant copying of digital works -- this is like Michael Savage suing someone for hurting his feelings.

People who live by the sword shouldn't compain about other people's swords. I truly hope that the MPAA's many suits against Sharman utterly destroy them.

Posted by Kevin Murphy at December 8, 2003 11:43 AM | TrackBack